Emergency release for hand brake?
Discussion
Hi,
There was an interesting discussion at work today because someone's car broke down leaving them stranded on a busy dual carriageway with an immobile car because the electronic had brake came on and couldn't be released.
Some suggested that the situation was there own fault for not knowing where the emergency mechanical release was and that they should have taken the time to read the hand book. The recovery people just dragged it onto a flat bed and didn't bother asking or looking for one.
I have never driven a car with one and no one else had come across this before so my question is, do cars with an electronic hand brake have an emergency mechanical release or not?
There was an interesting discussion at work today because someone's car broke down leaving them stranded on a busy dual carriageway with an immobile car because the electronic had brake came on and couldn't be released.
Some suggested that the situation was there own fault for not knowing where the emergency mechanical release was and that they should have taken the time to read the hand book. The recovery people just dragged it onto a flat bed and didn't bother asking or looking for one.
I have never driven a car with one and no one else had come across this before so my question is, do cars with an electronic hand brake have an emergency mechanical release or not?
k is wrong with pulling up a lever? Have we all got that anal that we need a fhmmm, had a company Passat, then an Insignia both with electronic Parking brakes over a 4 year period and it was a relief to get into my current 3 series with a proper, hand operated parking brake.
If I never got used to it after 4 years and 140k miles, then that tells me I am never going to prefer it.
If I never got used to it after 4 years and 140k miles, then that tells me I am never going to prefer it.
Interesting,
Those of the Daily Mail persuasion where saying "think of the huge accident and the people that could have been injured". Others who treat their car like a white good couldn't see what the problem was. The majority of us with any sort of automotive interest couldn't understand what was wrong with a good and fashioned hand brake that worked and was operated as the name suggested.
This really seems like a triumph of pointless technology for lazy nonthinking people who probably shouldn't bother driving over something that was practical and easy to use but required a tiny amount of effort and thougt.
Those of the Daily Mail persuasion where saying "think of the huge accident and the people that could have been injured". Others who treat their car like a white good couldn't see what the problem was. The majority of us with any sort of automotive interest couldn't understand what was wrong with a good and fashioned hand brake that worked and was operated as the name suggested.
This really seems like a triumph of pointless technology for lazy nonthinking people who probably shouldn't bother driving over something that was practical and easy to use but required a tiny amount of effort and thougt.
I had a hire car for around 6 weeks with a electronic handbrake. It was not something I could get used too. I ended up sitting at junctions and traffic lights with my foot on the brake blinding everyone because of the faff of using the handbrake button. You had to press the release button and then tap the foot brake to fully release it ! ( on an Audi)
I could neve fathom out how you would hill start in the bloody thing,you needed three feet, one for the clutch,one for the go pedal and another one to tap the foot brake.
Waste of time.
I could neve fathom out how you would hill start in the bloody thing,you needed three feet, one for the clutch,one for the go pedal and another one to tap the foot brake.
Waste of time.
The reasons for the electic handbrake are quite simple.
a) Free's up space (makes interior design easier)
b) No cables/rods/pulleys/compensator etc under car (cheaper, lighter, easier to produce)
I was speaking to a techy about this sort of stuff, this was his comments about the electronic dip stick when it 1st arrived.
The most reliable part on the car and they replace it with this P.O.S
a) Free's up space (makes interior design easier)
b) No cables/rods/pulleys/compensator etc under car (cheaper, lighter, easier to produce)
I was speaking to a techy about this sort of stuff, this was his comments about the electronic dip stick when it 1st arrived.
The most reliable part on the car and they replace it with this P.O.S
On my 5 series there's no emergency release which the three different tow trucks that came to move it off the drive after the keys were lost found out.
only got it shifted to BMW for a new key when the last truck arrived with four dollys and we jacked it up and hand balled it into winching position.
Needed four as we also couldn't free up the leccy steering lock
A brilliant system...
only got it shifted to BMW for a new key when the last truck arrived with four dollys and we jacked it up and hand balled it into winching position.
Needed four as we also couldn't free up the leccy steering lock
A brilliant system...
Panda76 said:
I had a hire car for around 6 weeks with a electronic handbrake. It was not something I could get used too. I ended up sitting at junctions and traffic lights with my foot on the brake blinding everyone because of the faff of using the handbrake button. You had to press the release button and then tap the foot brake to fully release it ! ( on an Audi)
I could neve fathom out how you would hill start in the bloody thing,you needed three feet, one for the clutch,one for the go pedal and another one to tap the foot brake.
Waste of time.
Try putting your seatbelt on next time, it won't auto release if you haven't got it on...I could neve fathom out how you would hill start in the bloody thing,you needed three feet, one for the clutch,one for the go pedal and another one to tap the foot brake.
Waste of time.
Had to drive a hired Zafira with this POS technology. Ok if you want to use it in a supermarket car park I suppose, but it wasn't brilliant trying to do a hill start in a wet, narrow Cornish lane with a 1 in 4 slope in the pitch dark. Once we could smell the clutch burning we managed to make progress (sorry Mr. hire company).
So help me, when all cars have electronic handbrakes I stop driving.
So help me, when all cars have electronic handbrakes I stop driving.
I had a horrid Pug 5008 'sport' 1.6 that although had a nice big button/ lever for the handbrake, woulnd't let you manually release it in any way, and reapplied it if I deliberately turned it off with the handbrake off.
The Insignias I've had do allow you to leave the handbrake off, and will allow it to be manually released with a foot on the brake and a downward press on the (annoyingly small) lever, instead of pulling it up. So you still have to be an adult and remember to set it before you leave. Shock!
Also an Audi A8 rolled across the car park at work, so I guess you can leave them off, too.
Although I hate the pointless devices, I think a lot of people have trouble with them (as above) becuase they're assuming you need to switch it off manually. I'd like to think not one is designed like that.
Guy I work with was reversing a car up a hill and the brake came off and he panicked and hit the foot brake. Ah it's rolling! I didn't understand the issue. Yes, lift the clutch and drive the car up the hill I said! Wierd.
The Insignias I've had do allow you to leave the handbrake off, and will allow it to be manually released with a foot on the brake and a downward press on the (annoyingly small) lever, instead of pulling it up. So you still have to be an adult and remember to set it before you leave. Shock!
Also an Audi A8 rolled across the car park at work, so I guess you can leave them off, too.
Although I hate the pointless devices, I think a lot of people have trouble with them (as above) becuase they're assuming you need to switch it off manually. I'd like to think not one is designed like that.
Guy I work with was reversing a car up a hill and the brake came off and he panicked and hit the foot brake. Ah it's rolling! I didn't understand the issue. Yes, lift the clutch and drive the car up the hill I said! Wierd.
DocArbathnot said:
The reasons for the electic handbrake are quite simple.
(cheaper, lighter, easier to produce)
The with addition motor on each (newly designed) caliper, the complicated cone-shaped actuator and all the associated wiring switch and sensors, certainly not cheaper, lighter and easier to produce.(cheaper, lighter, easier to produce)
Lorries have had this issue for years. The brakes default position is on & its the air pressure that releases them & holds them off, so if you lose air pressure the brakes come on & that's it wherever the truck happens to be on the road until recovery arrive & either restore the air or wind them back at the drums.
Can't help thinking we just get too clever for our own good with all the electrickery on modern cars, much of which strikes me as answers to questions that hasn't been asked.
Can't help thinking we just get too clever for our own good with all the electrickery on modern cars, much of which strikes me as answers to questions that hasn't been asked.
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