New Tuscan- Handbrake Nightmare!!
Discussion
Hi guys,
Two days ago I picked up my perfect Tuscan, and its been a rollercoaster...
Unbelievable car in every way (that spitfire noise, WOW)- ive had a grin on my face for 2 days running, seriously my face muscles are sore!
Until this afternoon that is. I parked on a friends drive (putting the handbrake on fully), which is on a slight incline. 10-15 minutes later I come out to find the car has just rolled down the road and gone back end into a fence/house.
I spoke to a dealer (not my supplier) and he said it was a common problem as the brake discs cool down and the discs start to contract.
Im angry cos my dealer never warned me of this otherwise would have taken care to leave it in gear when parked.Oh well, hopefully its only fiberglass damage and everything else is fine.
Just out of interest, is there any chance of me getting the dealer who sold me the car to pay up for this 'fault' or will I have to claim on insurance?
Do you think that I could get a refund if worst comes to worst?
Thanks,
Dave
Two days ago I picked up my perfect Tuscan, and its been a rollercoaster...
Unbelievable car in every way (that spitfire noise, WOW)- ive had a grin on my face for 2 days running, seriously my face muscles are sore!
Until this afternoon that is. I parked on a friends drive (putting the handbrake on fully), which is on a slight incline. 10-15 minutes later I come out to find the car has just rolled down the road and gone back end into a fence/house.
I spoke to a dealer (not my supplier) and he said it was a common problem as the brake discs cool down and the discs start to contract.
Im angry cos my dealer never warned me of this otherwise would have taken care to leave it in gear when parked.Oh well, hopefully its only fiberglass damage and everything else is fine.
Just out of interest, is there any chance of me getting the dealer who sold me the car to pay up for this 'fault' or will I have to claim on insurance?
Do you think that I could get a refund if worst comes to worst?
Thanks,
Dave
This is a problem on any car with rear discs. They cool and the pads loosen off a bit. Maybe your handbrake could do with a little adjustment though. How easily does it hold the car on an incline?
My T350s handbrake is ace, 1000% better than my old Chimaeras (which actually worked). Can't see why a new Tuscans should be any worse if adjusted right.
My T350s handbrake is ace, 1000% better than my old Chimaeras (which actually worked). Can't see why a new Tuscans should be any worse if adjusted right.
Agree with Targarama, any car with rear discs is prone to the handbrake losing grip as the discs cool down. I have always been told not to trust the handbrake after "enthusiastic" driving and braking.
You could try and get the dealer to pay, but I wouldn't hold my breath I am afraid.
You could try and get the dealer to pay, but I wouldn't hold my breath I am afraid.
The handbrake mechanism that TVR use, particularly on Tuscans, is CRAP. Cars roll away, even after not-so-enthusiastic driving. The factory are well aware of this, and have done squat to improve it - believe me.
It will be an insurance job - UNLESS you have cause to believe that someone is at fault for not having supplied the car with a handbrake that works (brand new car) or if they have failed to adjust it properly, and the car has just had a service. I talk from experience (and posted a thread asking similar questions to you last summer), that Chimaera and Tuscan handbrakes may as well be made from cheese. OK, some will be alright...but in the main, they are dire.
I have heard of several instances of cars rolling away. One was a brand new Tamora that apparently rolled away (somehow) into a petrol station. It then crashed and caught fire. It was a brand new car and the subject of much legal wrangling afterwards against TVR.
Good luck and hope the damage is minimal.
It will be an insurance job - UNLESS you have cause to believe that someone is at fault for not having supplied the car with a handbrake that works (brand new car) or if they have failed to adjust it properly, and the car has just had a service. I talk from experience (and posted a thread asking similar questions to you last summer), that Chimaera and Tuscan handbrakes may as well be made from cheese. OK, some will be alright...but in the main, they are dire.
I have heard of several instances of cars rolling away. One was a brand new Tamora that apparently rolled away (somehow) into a petrol station. It then crashed and caught fire. It was a brand new car and the subject of much legal wrangling afterwards against TVR.
Good luck and hope the damage is minimal.
My Tuscan 2 was delivered 1st March 05 and as soon as delivery guy pulled hand brake on it went twang!
One of the nylon restraints that are supposed to sit in the slot had not been slotted in correctly, thus rendering hand-brake U/S. I clambered underneath whilst on the delivery ramps and pushed it back in with the aid of large driver and a knocking stick and has been fine since. I always leave it in gear and only use hand-brake for hill starts.
Sad to hear of your demise, I hope you get TIV back pristine, does sound like an insurance claim though I would still let all and sundry know how pi***d you feel, get it off your chest and then move on.
Richie
One of the nylon restraints that are supposed to sit in the slot had not been slotted in correctly, thus rendering hand-brake U/S. I clambered underneath whilst on the delivery ramps and pushed it back in with the aid of large driver and a knocking stick and has been fine since. I always leave it in gear and only use hand-brake for hill starts.
Sad to hear of your demise, I hope you get TIV back pristine, does sound like an insurance claim though I would still let all and sundry know how pi***d you feel, get it off your chest and then move on.
Richie
Agree, noticed on my MK 2 initially the handbrake was great then bit by bit required more and harder pulling to engage correctly !! Also, on an incline with the handbrake on, if my partner moved in the passenger seat there was a gross 'creaking' from under the car as if any cables were about to snap !!! In for service so hope its fixed. By the way TV05CAN
super looking car, love the colour, looks fantastic !!
super looking car, love the colour, looks fantastic !!
fireblade2000 said:
Also, on an incline with the handbrake on, if my partner moved in the passenger seat there was a gross 'creaking' from under the car as if any cables were about to snap !!! In for service so hope its fixed.
Tell her to lose a bit of weight.
The handbrake on my MK 2 seems infinitely better than the one on my old Tus but its early days. I tend not to use the handbrake at all if things are hot and always leave the car in gear.
The hadnbrake on a Tuscan doesn't act on the disc pads, it has a seperate shoe brake built in to the hubs, hence the over use of the brakes should have very little effect - the reason people are advised to not apply the handbrake on track days is that it can cause uneven cooling of the disc and so cause warping, the seperate handbrake should avoid this
My Chimaera and my tuscan have bot had no problems with the handbrakes, my Tuscan lives on the street on a slop and never had any problems. I guess this is either because I am the worlds strongest man and pull the lever harder (no chance of that) or my dealer (Walldonway) could adjust the things properly
Graham
My Chimaera and my tuscan have bot had no problems with the handbrakes, my Tuscan lives on the street on a slop and never had any problems. I guess this is either because I am the worlds strongest man and pull the lever harder (no chance of that) or my dealer (Walldonway) could adjust the things properly
Graham
fireblade2000 said:
Agree, noticed on my MK 2 initially the handbrake was great then bit by bit required more and harder pulling to engage correctly !! Also, on an incline with the handbrake on, if my partner moved in the passenger seat there was a gross 'creaking' from under the car as if any cables were about to snap !!! In for service so hope its fixed. By the way TV05CAN
super looking car, love the colour, looks fantastic !!
Thanks Fireblade, I have been out to the garage and told him he purred I should buy you
James here:
You should always leave a car in gear when parked. I would put it down to experience and learn from it. I wouldn't say TVRs are any different from any other rear disc car. Lisa learn it agian after the Volvo was parked without it in gear...one dented mini later as it rolled accross the pub car part
You should always leave a car in gear when parked. I would put it down to experience and learn from it. I wouldn't say TVRs are any different from any other rear disc car. Lisa learn it agian after the Volvo was parked without it in gear...one dented mini later as it rolled accross the pub car part
Endorse the above by James. Any car should always be left in gear in addition to handbrake, especially on a slope. I don't think you will have any recourse to the dealer. He will view it that you should have known. (Similar to: always knock a car into neutral before you start her up, in case the clutch has stuck together)
Always worth trying it on though, you've nothing to lose except future goodwill.
Always worth trying it on though, you've nothing to lose except future goodwill.
Tend to agree with the Rear Discs / Poor Handbrake theory. Had a Peugot 406 that suffered badly from this as does my current 5 series BM along with the Griff. I have got into the habit of parking in gear. Why not take the car to your friendly MOT station and get them to check the handbrake complies with MOT standard. That way you may have some ammunition to present to the dealer. I do this routinely when buying a different car and they are normally quite happy to oblige for a small sum inserted in the back pocket.
As an interesting aside, I tested a brand new Tamora and in addition to the external passenger door button and half of the LCD not working the handbrake literally had no effect. It didn’t even appear to be connected to anything, sort of goes without saying that I decided to stick with the Griff.
As an interesting aside, I tested a brand new Tamora and in addition to the external passenger door button and half of the LCD not working the handbrake literally had no effect. It didn’t even appear to be connected to anything, sort of goes without saying that I decided to stick with the Griff.
Always best to take the belt and braces approach by leaving in gear - as said several times above.
But my experience with TVRs is - don't necessarily trust that it has gone into gear correctly. Especially when parking in reverse gear - put in 5th first before going for reverse. Just one of the other idosynchrosies of the Borg-Warner gear box!
But my experience with TVRs is - don't necessarily trust that it has gone into gear correctly. Especially when parking in reverse gear - put in 5th first before going for reverse. Just one of the other idosynchrosies of the Borg-Warner gear box!
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