Electric handbrakes again

codprawn · 07 February 2008, 22:04

They should be banned on a car with manual transmission!!!

I know I have complained about the Passat's electric handbrake before but tonight took the biscuit. I parked on a very steep hill - prob a 1:4 facing downwards.

When I got back to the car someone had parked 2' in front of me. I went to reverse back and the brakes wouldn't release. The other option is to release manually by putting your foot on the brake. Trouble is without 3 feet how do you operate the clutch and accelerator at the same time? Heel and toe is out cos the pedals are crap. I tried again and then the brakes suddenly released when least expected. I shot forwards and this time I was about 10" from the car in front.

I was now in a bit of a predicament - I didn't dare try again that close. Luckily the house I was parked outside was having some building work done. They looked a bit suprised when I asked to borrow 2 housebricks but they did the job nicely!!! I wonder if all new VWs should come with a few in the boot..............

Lostboy · 08 February 2008, 09:01

Take your Landrover and then you won't have a problem apparently!

But then of course you'd have nothing to whine about!

Nos4r2 · 08 February 2008, 09:57

Enough.

Rodan · 08 February 2008, 12:38

Anyone here had the EPB fail on a Disco 3 yet?

DJL · 08 February 2008, 13:02

Do EPB's actually have an purpose other than making life easier for those who can't drive properly?

I've never used one, but it just seem to be over complicating something for no reason? (not uncommon)

codprawn · 08 February 2008, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodan

Anyone here had the EPB fail on a Disco 3 yet?

Yes - I took a brand new one for a test drive. Before I got in it i asked the salesman if there were problems with the EPD - no he said - they are great. We got into the car and there was a horrible grinding crunching noise. The look on the salesman's face was priceless. Yes it WAS the EPB playing up - it was an auto so had to use park instead!!!

codprawn · 08 February 2008, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostboy

Take your Landrover and then you won't have a problem apparently!

But then of course you'd have nothing to whine about!

And there was me thinking that by posting my experiences with a variety of hire cars I may just help people avoid problems - obviously not I am just whining.........

Kernow Buoy · 08 February 2008, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodan

Anyone here had the EPB fail on a Disco 3 yet?

Not on mine fortunately but there have been all sorts of issues with them especially on the 04/05 ones, LR did an 'enhancement' program early on which involved a mod to the actual shoes, been much better since then but those that use them for serious offroading have been advised to clean them every 3000 or so miles.

Lostboy · 08 February 2008, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

And there was me thinking that by posting my experiences with a variety of hire cars I may just help people avoid problems - obviously not I am just whining.........

Very community spirited. How come it took you so long to post the problems that you had with the Disco 3 then?

codprawn · 08 February 2008, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostboy

Very community spirited. How come it took you so long to post the problems that you had with the Disco 3 then?

I thought I had before.

Remember it is not one manufacturer I am attacking - it's the whole stupid concept of making things to complicated for their own good. If it aint broke don't try to fix it!!!

Nick Hearne · 09 February 2008, 10:59

No problem with mine on my 05 D3!

ADS · 09 February 2008, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I thought I had before.

Remember it is not one manufacturer I am attacking - it's the whole stupid concept of making things to complicated for their own good. If it aint broke don't try to fix it!!!

As much as i hate to agree with Codders he is right, electronic handbrakes are a backwards step. I posted my experiences of a Disco 3 manual and electronic handbrake combo in another thread, absolutely useless in a manual fine in an auto but that defeats the object.

Rodan · 10 February 2008, 07:52

I actually quite like the EPB itself but not the fact that it didn't make 20000miles. Replaced under warranty and the service center was excellent. the noise was truly awful!

codprawn · 08 July 2008, 12:16

Just had to drag this thread up again..........

I had a really important business meeting that I had been waiting ages for. The bloke I was supposed to be meeting phoned me and hour before to say he wouldn't be able to make it.

The electric handbrake on his Audi A6 came on while he was driving and brought him to a sudden stop. No way of releasing it. In the end the RAC bloke had to remove the brake pads so he could get to a garage.

Modern technology eh!!!

Bigmuz7 · 08 July 2008, 18:43

Well I was wondering what the 'release' tool in my X5 boot was for

..... now I know

bedajim · 08 July 2008, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Just had to drag this thread up again..........

I had a really important business meeting that I had been waiting ages for. The bloke I was supposed to be meeting phoned me and hour before to say he wouldn't be able to make it.

The electric handbrake on his Audi A6 came on while he was driving and brought him to a sudden stop. No way of releasing it. In the end the RAC bloke had to remove the brake pads so he could get to a garage.

Modern technology eh!!!

So he drove with no brake pads or was it recovered

codprawn · 08 July 2008, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

So he drove with no brake pads or was it recovered

I am not sure. It may be that there is a sperate caliper or they needed to release it to get it on the truck - I should see him on Monday to find out.

BogMonster · 10 July 2008, 11:42

The D3 has a separate cable operated set of pads for the handbrake so I imagine others will be the same. IIRC it is illegal to have a hydraulically operated handbrake or something, so you can't use the normal calipers and nobody wants to have cable operated service brakes in the 20th century

Poly · 11 July 2008, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

The D3 has a separate cable operated set of pads for the handbrake so I imagine others will be the same. IIRC it is illegal to have a hydraulically operated handbrake or something, so you can't use the normal calipers and nobody wants to have cable operated service brakes in the 20th century

you can have a cable operating in parallel with the hydraulics though - what doesn't make sense is how with brakes effectively jammed on you would actually get the brake pad out though!

chris123 · 04 October 2008, 09:55

I'll probably get shot for bringing this thread up again

but having had the very brief 'pleasure' of a Kia Carens hire car I just had to vent.

I've driven a few hire cars with EPBs, and whilst they strike me as pointless and a backward step I haven't had a major issue with them.

The Kia went one better though (roll on the drums...) - a foot operated parking brake

Basically you get a fourth pedal to the left of the clutch, and a little lever on the dash. To apply the parking brake, you push down the pedal with your clutch foot (so you have to hold the car on the brakes and put it into neutral before applying parking brake) - to release it you pull the lever on the dash.

I can see that this may be ok with an automatic, but in a manual?

Cheers

Chris