Auto Handbrake

[John Robertson]

Hi All


This is my first post


Could anyone tell me how the electronic handbrake system works on my 2006 Passat
1.9TDI S Model.I have the dash switch and what I do is put my foot on the brake then press the button on the dash to operate, to release I have to press the button again.Is there any another way than pressing buttons to release the
brake i.e press the clutch and brake then the accelerator then it come's off
automatically !

The other thing I have found is the 5 speed box is notchy compared to my 2000 V plate car.The older car has a slick change and has given me not one problem since day one mechanicaly.One drivers electric window motor and it had the recall on the suspention thats it, great car.

The fuel pump and brake press button was replaced under warranty at 55,000Miles ON THE 2006 MODEL 1.9 TDI S

The car goes fine and I am enjoying it but suffers from the dashboard gremlins
like the a lot of othere peoples cars on the forum.

I have a 2000 v plate 1.9 TDI 110 bhp with 54,000 miles and seems to built a lot
better its like a tank everything solid.I think they built the new Passat on a budget to compete with the main rivals.In my opinion they have cut some corners on quality, the same type of problems seem to come up on a regular basis on this forum.

[kesselrun]

The handbrake will auto release if you get the clutch up to the biting point, but you must have your seat belt on and be in first gear for this to work.

I had one as a hire car not too long ago and it took me a day or two to work that one out. I agree with your sentiments on the 1.9 TDI, it's quite sluggish - the 2.0 TDI is much more refined, has a 6 speed box and generally has a lot more poke in my opinion.

HTH :D

[Quatrelle]

Hi John and welcome

As kesselrun says, you must have your seatbelt on, although it is not necessary to be in first because the handbrake will also release in reverse of course. It is imperative to put the clutch right out, then as you apply gas and lift your clutch foot it will (should!) release. There is no need to press the button.

It is a controversial 'innovation' (but is becoming more common on other makes), and has been done to death on here. If you do a search for 'handbrake' or something similar you'll get quite a bit of reading on the subject.

[james_tiger_woo]

I was about to say about making sure the clutch goes all the way in...

However, if you start the car, put your foot on the brake and then press the handbrake button, it'll release the handbrake too....

[Quatrelle]

I was about to say about making sure the clutch goes all the way in...

However, if you start the car, put your foot on the brake and then press the handbrake button, it'll release the handbrake too........which definitely saves a lot of faffing around if you're just getting the car out of the garage!

I was holding mine on the clutch on a slope yesterday and decided to put the handbrake on. Pressed the button, which lit up, pushed the clutch right out to put it cleanly into neutral, and the handbrake promptly released and the car started to roll backwards :Blush2:

[Stuart W]

The handbrake will auto release if you get the clutch up to the biting point, but you must have your seat belt on and be in first gear for this to work.


It also seems to help if you give the throttle a nudge as well, ie even if you only want to move the car a couple of feet if you don't give it throttle then even if the clutch bites then the brake won't release.

At least, that's how mine seems to work, and others on here have mentioned it also - you can have the car moving like a rocking horse if the clutch is biting but the brake isn't releasing, but if you use the throttle then usually it releases very smoothly.

Another one that I didn't quite get to start with is that the door must be closed, but once when I was just trying to move forward a couple of feet with the door not fully closed the display was telling me to press the footbrake (ie release it manually) when it should really have been telling me to close the door!!

[Stuart W]

I was holding mine on the clutch on a slope yesterday and decided to put the handbrake on. Pressed the button, which lit up, pushed the clutch right out to put it cleanly into neutral, and the handbrake promptly released and the car started to roll backwards :Blush2:

What I've found under this scenario is that the brake won't engage at all sometimes, but you only realise this when you disengage the gears and the car rolls back. Thus I now look at the switch to ensure it lights up, but if yours was lit up then presumably it's a different problem. I suspect it's a related problem though - in my case the brake is failing to engage, whereas in yours it has clearly engaged then disengaged again, perhaps for a similar reason that mine wouldn't engage in the first place:aargh4:

[John Robertson]

Hi All


I will try your remedys when I get the chance.



Thanks again all that replied

[james_tiger_woo]

....which definitely saves a lot of faffing around if you're just getting the car out of the garage!

I was holding mine on the clutch on a slope yesterday and decided to put the handbrake on. Pressed the button, which lit up, pushed the clutch right out to put it cleanly into neutral, and the handbrake promptly released and the car started to roll backwards :Blush2:

Which is better than what I normally do and not put the clutch all the way in and end up yelling at the car/handbrake in a comedy Basil Fawlty kind of way.... :biglaugh:

[cappuccino]

Hi ,, Anybody tried putting on the handbrake yet whilst the car is still moving forward either in gear or freewheeling ?????

[james_tiger_woo]

Hand in the air....

Just don't press and hold it at speed...

[gamichea]

How does the parking brake know to auto release? Its my guess it senses the car trying to move forward against the brake and needs to detect what it thinks is sufficient force for the situation to release. Otherwise how would it know to wait for more force for an uphill start than a level start? When I first had the car I found just raising the revs with no clutch bite would release the brake in a downhill start situation when gravity/the weight of the car alone was enough to apply force at the rear wheel calipers. I soon learned to stop that :Blush2:.

[henley_regatta]

gamichea,

I don't know how it senses release if I'm honest, but like you I found I could "spoof" the mechanism.

Try pulling away by setting revs with the accelerator then depressing and raising the clutch to the biting point.... but with the gearbox in neutral. The handbrake still releases and away you'll roll.

NB: The author does not condone this behaviour and especially will not be held responsible for any ill effects incurred to you or other drivers if you try this on a hill..... :-)

[Quatrelle]

gamichea,

I don't know how it senses release if I'm honest, but like you I found I could "spoof" the mechanism.

Try pulling away by setting revs with the accelerator then depressing and raising the clutch to the biting point.... but with the gearbox in neutral. The handbrake still releases and away you'll roll.

NB: The author does not condone this behaviour and especially will not be held responsible for any ill effects incurred to you or other drivers if you try this on a hill..... :-)Exactly. The whole thing revolves around a touch of throttle and pressing the clutch pedal to the floor. If you're lazy and don't floor the clutch completely (as when changing gear - well I don't!) the handbrake won't disengage.

As much as I am used to mine, and like it, the release is not 100% reliable, but a second depression of the clutch pedal to the carpet usually works.