Electric Handbrake

[Nigel L]

My current van has an electric handbrake, always had a manual one up to now.
I have always left the handbrake off went parking up between trips and left it in gear, as the space I park is level.
Does anyone know how to leave it off with an electric one, as it automatically goes on when turning the ignition off. Is there anyway to override this?
Thanks.

 

[Raul]

Try clutch in, first gear, then switch off. I park on a slight slope and do that, without the brake engaging.

 

[The Wino]

Does it not say in the handbook. I think in our car you have to switch the electric handbrake to manual operation turn the engine off and push down the handbrake switch.

 

[TizzyOnTour]

Not sure if it is the same on a Fiat, but on our van, I can release the electric handbrake by having the ignition on, without engine running, and pull the handbrake switch forward.

 

[ctc]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

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[Orion]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

One of the advantages if you have swivelling front seats is that there’s nothing to foul the driver’s one when rotating it.

 

[Guigsy]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

It's convenient. It means people are less likely to roll back on hills. For motorhomes, it makes it easier to spin the seat. For lots of people, the handbrake is hard to reach, so it'd be good for usability.

I know in the US that it's called the emergency brake. And as most vehicles just use Park on the auto box, it never gets used and has often rusted solid.

I use my handbrake a lot. I rarely hold on the foot brakes. I don't think I'd have an issue with an electronic handbrake.

 

[scotjimland]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

I have the same thoughts.. and.. it's just yet another electric gizmo to fail and cost £££££ to fix ..

my old school handbrake doesn't foul the swivelling seat.. it's a bit of a stretch to use, . but you get used to it..

 

[Guigsy]

I have the same thoughts.. and.. it's just yet another electric gizmo to fail and cost £££££ to fix ..

Probably about as complex as windscreen washers. I don't see many people wanting a return of that blister on the floor that you had to stamp on.

 

[Pausim]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

My wife has difficulty reaching the traditional handbrake and if it is on hard enough to stop the motorhome from rolling she has difficulty releasing it. There is also a several kg weight saving by removing the heavy metal bit and steel cables. The Fiat package that includes electric handbrake and keyless entry weighs in as a 6kg weight saving, enough payload for a couple more bottles of wine.

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[G7UXG]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

When it’s on, it’s on rock solid. On a tag axle, works only on the rear axle. No adjustment. Particularly useful on a tag axle (like mine). Adjusting a cable handbrake on four rear wheels on an Alko tag can be a real pain, and I believe it’s a common MOT failure.

As for an emergency, they can be used if necessary. Press the button and hold it whilst driving and it will come on progressively so as not the cause rear wheel lock-up, or so the Mercedes manual says. I haven’t tried it. On split circuit brakes, even if one circuit fails, the remaining circuit will be more effective than the ‘emergency’ brake anyway.

For me, it’s progress and I like it.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

I went from automatic electric handbrake back to conventional manual job and forgot to pull the bloody thing up for about 6 months!

 

[Googlebot]

They usually have an emergency overide. The BMW X5 has a plastic key to turn under some trim.

Day to day though, if you open the door, many come on automatically. It’s much safer that way and resolves the rolling down hills issue.

Doesn’t help though if you don’t want seizing brakes I admit.

 

[gus-lopez]

Press the button and hold it whilst driving and it will come on progressively so as not the cause rear wheel lock-up, or so the Mercedes manual says.

it doesn't on an audi q2 lift handle ,locks rear.

 

[Lenny HB]

Probably about as complex as windscreen washers. I don't see many people wanting a return of that blister on the floor that you had to stamp on.

That's a bit modern I remember a fairy liquid bottle full of water, wind the window down and squirt.

My wife has difficulty reaching the traditional handbrake and if it is on hard enough to stop the motorhome from rolling she has difficulty releasing it.

But you have a Comformatic with Hill Hold no need to use the handbrake when driving.

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[Pausim]

But you have a Comformatic with Hill Hold no need to use the handbrake when driving.

True to a point but unlike our cars the hill hold only cuts in on steeper inclines and it sometimes catches me out on the gentle slopes. I think my wife’s problem is mostly when I have parked and set the handbrake, she then needs two hands to pull it up enough to push the button in.

 

[scotjimland]

Probably about as complex as windscreen washers. I don't see many people wanting a return of that blister on the floor that you had to stamp on.

,, never heard of windscreen washers being controlled by the ECU .. ..

or do you just stamp on the floor to operate the electronic hand brake ?

quick google on failures.. ..

first one I came to...

The handbrake recently failed when I was parked at a petrol station forecourt and I wasn’t quick enough to run out and catch it before it hit a wall and thankfully got lodged against a metal pillar. Had the latter not happened, then it would have rolled over the wall, onto a footpath and into oncoming traffic.

wont be long until there a re no steering wheels, or any other foot controls.. and AI takes over.. wont even need to learn to drive.. or have a licence

RIP car driving,,

 

[scotzsue]

Even worse when they lock on, 2 hours in the cold while it was dismantled and then 'bodged' to get home

 

[Guigsy]

Even worse when they lock on, 2 hours in the cold while it was dismantled and then 'bodged' to get home

I thought they had manual release mechanisms? It normally involves pulling off some trim to reach it.

 

[Orion]

As for an emergency, they can be used if necessary. Press the button and hold it whilst driving and it will come on progressively so as not the cause rear wheel lock-up, or so the Mercedes manual says. I haven’t tried it. On split circuit brakes, even if one circuit fails, the remaining circuit will be more effective than the ‘emergency’ brake anyway.

For me, it’s progress and I like it.

it doesn't on an audi q2 lift handle ,locks rear.

According to the manual it’s also a feature on the Ducato with the electric parking brake:

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[dash300]

Electronic handbrake for me a boon, coupled with auto hold on inclines. Leave it off when parked level at home.
What I do miss is dipstick!

 

[The Wino]

,, never heard of windscreen washers being controlled by the ECU .. ..

or do you just stamp on the floor to operate the electronic hand brake ?

quick google on failures.. ..

first one I came to...

The handbrake recently failed when I was parked at a petrol station forecourt and I wasn’t quick enough to run out and catch it before it hit a wall and thankfully got lodged against a metal pillar. Had the latter not happened, then it would have rolled over the wall, onto a footpath and into oncoming traffic.

wont be long until there a re no steering wheels, or any other foot controls.. and AI takes over.. wont even need to learn to drive.. or have a licence

RIP car driving,,

I suspect that's driver error. On our car it automatically puts the handbrake on when you stop with the brake pedal depressed when it's in automatic mode. When you put it in manual mode the handbrake only comes on when you click the button. A couple of times after it's come back from servicing I've nearly got caught out because they left it in manual mode presumably so they could work on the brakes. I like all the modern extras like electric handbrake, automatic lights, automatic wipers,abs traction control, radar sensing etc. Of course there are some people who think we ought to still have starting handles!

 

[Burgo]

One of the advantages if you have swivelling front seats is that there’s nothing to foul the driver’s one when rotating it.

Or to get caught up the leg of your shorts when exiting a Ducato cab, thus inflicting a front wedgy.

 

[pappajohn]

What is the point of an electric brake? You can't use it in an emergency, most countries call the handbrake the emergency brake, you can't use it to rock the vehicle if stuck. What is the advantage?

Two points, you use the electric brake the same as a manual brake in an emergency.
MOT testers do this when testing the parking brake efficiency.
Point two....why would you use the brake if you're stuck.
You only need to allow the vehicle to return to the low point by gravity.
Simply clutch control is all that needed.

 

[ALI G]

Not a great fan of the electronic handbrake on my van but what I find strange is when the stop start kicks in the handbrake doesn't automatically activate when the engine stops.

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[Onemanandhisdog]

I thought they had manual release mechanisms? It normally involves pulling off some trim to reach it.

Yep, when you eventually find it and it's faulty it really makes your day!

 

[Oldrat]

I loved my Passat but hated the electric handbrake.

Returning to the dealer on day 2 of ownership (to pick up a spare key) I had to park with both N/S wheels on the, quite high, kerb.

When I returned, cars had parked close in front and behind.

I would usually use the handbrake to control the speed of the drop down off the kerb to make sure I didn't touch the car ahead.

Impossible with a ‘lekkie button brake.

All sorts of foot contortions later, and I was out.

But only iust.


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