how the handbrake works !

[carl s]

It suddenly dawned on me today whay so many people were having problems getting used to the electronic handbrake compared to myself...

I noticed today that the handbrake will only dissengage if the accelerator is pressed as well as the clutch. Previously I've not noticed the need for the accelerator as a pre-requisite for the handbrake to dissengage.

I have a 2.0fsi car whereas most people here seem to be TDI drivers, what difference does this make? the torque of the TDI means that a lot of people lift up the clutch with little or no accelerator to move away from standstill when parked.

So it seems that in order to remove the handbrake automatically you need to have;

- Seatbelt on
- all doors shut
- at least some accelerator is used.

[Quatrelle]

....and put the clutch right out, as mentioned in the other threads. My TDI would probably stall if I tried pulling away on tickover (seems to have a very light flywheel compared to my Laguna) and it's not the usual way to move off of course. Also, there is probably no more torque at 800 rpm with a TDI than with a petrol car. It seems to be a problem for some people how little torque there actually is with the TDI at very low revs. I'll try it again tomorrow.

[carl s]

I guess the real reason for my posting was the fact that I was surprised that some accelerator pedal travel was needed to dissengage the handbrake !

[Quatrelle]

Yep, I messed about with it this morning, and it needs just the lightest pressure to work - doesn't do anything on idle. I suppose it works on the principle that if you aren't pressing the accelerator pedal you don't want to go anywhere!

John

[iaint]

I disagree on this one I'm afraid. When I first got my Passat I experimented on my drive (which is on a slope) to see just where in the clutch travel the handbrake disengaged.

I can say that mine is definitely linked just to the clutch and the car will start to roll forward before the clutch bites and without any press of the accelerator.

[Quatrelle]

Were you in gear? What you are saying in effect is that just pressing the clutch disengages the brake. I'll try it all again tomorrow, but I'm guessing you have a problem there - most people think they have a problem getting it to release! Yours sounds downright dangerous.

[iaint]

Were you in gear? What you are saying in effect is that just pressing the clutch disengages the brake. I'll try it all again tomorrow, but I'm guessing you have a problem there - most people think they have a problem getting it to release! Yours sounds downright dangerous.

No, I don't think I've made it clear how my release mechanism works. It doesn't release when I press the clutch down, it's when I raise it whilst in gear that it releases.

However having said that, I tried again last night and I stand corrected. But there seems to a slight difference in how the handbrake and the auto hold release themselves and this has led to my comments above. I only actually use my handbrake when parking up at the end of a journey and hence only use the auto release when setting off for the first time. All other times I use the auto hold to prevent the car from rolling. The auto hold option, unlike the handbrake that mechanically holds the car and you can definitely hear it engage/disengage, simply seems to keep the footbrake on while stopped.

To release the auto hold brake, I need to have the car in gear and as I raise my clutch the footbrake realeases just before the clutch bites. It does this without any press of the accelerator and when it releases the car will roll down my drive. As I made a definite effort to prove this last night, I can confirm this to be 100% the case.

To release the handbrake, again I have car in gear but simply raising the clutch (past what I assume is the same sensor the auto hold brake uses), the handbrake won't release unless I press the accelerator, although it only needs a very slight touch.

If anything I'm now more confused than before as to why there are two different brake release mechanisms, which probably use the same sensor to determine clutch travel, and one needs an input from the accelerator and one doesn't.

[Quatrelle]

Yes, I think we were talking at slightly cross purposes. I don't have autohold on mine so am not familiar with it. Not being funny, but have you read the driver's manual thoroughly on this? It still sounds a bit dodgy to me if the second you put your foot on the clutch to engage a gear it rolls away, and well worth a query at your local VW dealer.

John

[iaint]

Yes, I think we were talking at slightly cross purposes. I don't have autohold on mine so am not familiar with it. Not being funny, but have you read the driver's manual thoroughly on this? It still sounds a bit dodgy to me if the second you put your foot on the clutch to engage a gear it rolls away, and well worth a query at your local VW dealer.

John

It's not rolling away when I put my foot on the clutch. I press the clutch to the floor, select 1st and as I raise the clutch to set off it releases the brakes just before the bite point.

I hope this clears it up, sorry for any confusion
Iain

[Quatrelle]

Just had a ride in the latest Picasso - exactly the same handbrake, same principle. Imagine if it didn't release until you put your foot hard on the accelerator, you'd be off down the road like a rocket!

One day all cars will have one....
John