Electric handbrake tom-foolery

[Slyjoe]

Evening all, can anyone tell me why 9 times out of 10 the electric handbrake will release itself and let you drive off, (auto cars) and the remaining one time you go to drive off you sit there rocking up and down on the suspension, pulling against the park brake that has not released?

I've got a Mini and a Mercedes, both auto, both do the same to me without rhyme-or-reason.
Obviously, I've not read any manuals to identify the problem.

[curlie467]

Because they're st.

[spookly]

Never had an issue with electric parking brake in either the VW or Merc I've had them in.

[Paul_M3]

Many won’t release if you haven’t put your seat belt on yet. Could that be it?

[anonymous-user]

curlie467 said:

Because they're st.

^^^ This. Huge backwards step. Utterly useless.

[anonymous-user]

I’d say yours are broken. Never had that problem once.

[craigjm]

rockin said:

curlie467 said:

Because they're st.

^^^ This. Huge backwards step. Utterly useless.

Why are they?

[Sheepshanks]

Slyjoe said:

I've got a Mini and a Mercedes, both auto,

Turn it off - auto handbrake (and autohold) don't add anything to an auto transmission car. They just get in the way.

[Johnnytheboy]

Who was on the focus group that convinced car makers that we all wanted electric handbrakes?

And how do I legally kill them?

[The Dangerous Elk]

I like them, but I have it on a load lugging estate car. Hill start assist is a great addition with a trailer loaded as well.

I do not have it on the others (classics) and do not miss it, but I do not do the same type of travel or carry weighty loads in those.

[TheStigsWeeBrother]

There is 2 things I am looking for in a new car,manual and a proper handbrake.

[Megaflow]

craigjm said:

rockin said:

curlie467 said:

Because they're st.

^^^ This. Huge backwards step. Utterly useless.

Why are they?

Because anything that means a computer is required to replace a consumable water item is just just stupid.

Plus they cost more than a lever and cables just to save a little space.

[craigjm]

Megaflow said:

Because anything that means a computer is required to replace a consumable water item is just just stupid.

Plus they cost more than a lever and cables just to save a little space.

It’s not just about saving space though is it.

[gamefreaks]

craigjm said:

Why are they?

Because the handbrake is a tactile, analog control. Not an on off switch.


I really struggle with electronic handbrakes on manual cars.

[Haltamer]

I struggle to percieve any benefit to the uer of an electronic handbrake - It's not a major feature enabler, as auto hill hold is available on my car with a manual transmission and manual handbrake, as with many others - I'm sure There's a brake hold / similar that has or could be implemented using the same mechanism, whilst still giving a 100% Manual failsafe option, and enabling handbrake turns....

[Ollerton57]

gamefreaks said:

Because the handbrake is a tactile, analog control. Not an on off switch.


I really struggle with electronic handbrakes on manual cars.

So how exactly do you use your handbrake in a non-binary way?

Note, I haven't had an electric handbrake in a manual car, only auto, however I have driven and owner many manual cars and only ever use a handbrake in a binary fashion.

[Ollerton57]

Sheepshanks said:

Turn it off - auto handbrake (and autohold) don't add anything to an auto transmission car. They just get in the way.

I always turn on auto-hold if I know I'm entering an area with lots of traffic lights e.g. Slough. Otherwise I have it off.

[Mr Tidy]

craigjm said:

rockin said:

curlie467 said:

Because they're st.

^^^ This. Huge backwards step. Utterly useless.

Why are they?

If it ain't broke, why fix it?

They're an answer to a question nobody asked - just more electronics to go wrong and cost a fortune to fix once the warranty has expired.

[Dapster]

I love it. I do a lot of city miles and I would never look at a daily without electronic handbrake, stop / start and auto gearbox.

[Mr Tidy]

Dapster said:

I love it. I do a lot of city miles and I would never look at a daily without electronic handbrake, stop / start and auto gearbox.

Maybe it's a case of horses for courses.

I don't do city miles, so would never look at a daily with electronic handbrake, stop/start or auto gearbox!

I can't help thinking stop/start was responsible for the death of the AGM coded battery in my 123d before the car was 5 years old, and the death of the starter motor before it was 7.

The regular battery in my Z4 lasted 11 years - no stop/start nonsense!