A6 handbrake

[alogbe]

I have a couple of questions about the famous electromechanical brake.

(1) Apparently, when you want to release the brake, it can't be done just by pushing the little button down. According to the handbook, and also according to a message which occasionally appears on the little screen, it should be possible to release the handbrake by pushing on the brake pedal. I could never get this to work either. After a few weeks of trial and error, I found that I can release it by doing both together (press pedal + push button down).

Now that I know, it's no great problem, but is it designed like that?

I should explain that it was always possible to release the thing by letting up the clutch and accelerating, but on a level road this made the car take off quite abruptly.

(2) Just out of curiosity: what is it exactly that keeps the brake on when the engine isn't running? Is it mechanically locked in some way?

I'm thinking of the cross-Channel ferries, where this brake is going to be the only thing that will stop the car from crashing around the parking deck if it gets rough.

[nick_j007]

Hi I have an A6 Avant 2.7 auto. On mine the seat belt must be inserted ( a safety feature) before you can drive off by just giving it a little throttle.

I partly love and partly hate this device!

Not having a manual I may not be answering the question, but might the seat belt have anything to do with it on yours?

Nick

[alogbe]

Thanks for the suggestion. I think my habitual routine is to attach the seat belt before trying to move the car, so the belt probably has nothing to do with the problem I described (well, not really a problem: let's call it a phenomenon).

I'm without the car for a couple of days but the next time I drive it I'll try moving off without the seat belt, just out of curiosity.

[lonky]

Assuming you have a manual, if your worried about the handbrake while on ferry, just leave the car in gear.

Auto's always have a transmission brake anyway so are very unlikley to roll

[Photo_wizzard]

On my A6 Allroad Auto the handbrake is released automatically upon driving forward when the seatbelt is engaged. If you do not want to engage the seatbelt, such as when simply moving the car out of the garage, put the car in drive (oe presumably 1st gear) then press down on the handbrake switch whilst pulling away - this disengages the brake. Only problem is that the seatbelt warning light will then start to nag you!

[alogbe]

Assuming you have a manual, if your worried about the handbrake while on ferry, just leave the car in gear.

I'm not worried exactly, just curious about how it works. I assume Audi knows what it's doing.

As for leaving it in gear, I usually do that with any car as a precaution, but I wonder whether that on its own would hold the car on a steep hill (or a ferry in a storm).

----------------------------------------------------------

CROSS-CHANNEL HORROR

HUNDREDS FLEE AS AUDI GOES BERSERK ON FERRY

[nick_j007]

Audi get loose like that?

[alogbe]

Sorry I gave you the opportunity for that one.

[nick_j007]

hehe. You set 'em up...I'll knock 'em down!

[alogbe]

Unfortunately - perhaps because people were distracted by our sparkling wit - nobody has answered the question: what keeps the brake on when the engine isn't running? I'm still curious.