Ever wondered what happens when you push the handbrake button whilst driving ?

[DSGboy]

I guess one of the morals of this story is that even in emergency situations people never seem to press the brake as hard as might be helpful. I suspect the car can stop a whole lot quicker than people might be used to, and the handbrake button is a demonstration of this.

It's a shame drivers don't get more of a chance to practice this, I would like to myself but think of the tyre damage! The driving test these days hardly prepares anyone as you only do stops from 30 max and most people never have to do one on a test. Pity that.

[iaint]

Carl s, you don't have to take the key all the way out. You just press it down to release it, then press it down again to start it. You can do this quite quickly, especially in a panic!

One good thing about the Passat key/starter button is that is does have a dual role. I believe that if you stall a car with a separate starter button then you have to first turn the key off and on, then reach somewhere else on the dash to push the starter button. You can't simply hit the starter button to get going again.

Now this may not be the case with every manufacturer but a friend with a BMW has moaned to me about this before. At least ours is all together in one place.

Cheers
Iain

[chrisvw]

I pressed the button while doing about 30. It beeped and I'm fairly sure it also braked the wheels. Braking with a standard handbrake feels completely different to footbraking and is nowhere near as effective.

I think the hazards only come on when braking above a cetain speed. I had to brake very hard on the motorway from about 70ish mph, but not hard enough to trigger the ABS I don't think, and the hazards started to flash. They stopped on their own - I'm not sure whether it was when I released the brake or slowed below a certain speed as I was otherwise distracted.

[claranet]

Did it this morning by mistake, ( I know...) doing about 30mph round a small country lane, reached for the keys to stop them clunking around, went over a large bump, hand slipped on to the handbrake switch...

And I'm pleased to inform you the car didn't lurch to a halt. It looks like the fact that I had my foot on the accelerator means that the car decided to beep at me and throw up an error rather than apply the handbrake;

"Handbrake fault, please see owners manual"

A yellow brake warning light popped up on the dash. I stopped a bit later down the road in a lay-by. Pressing the handbrake button a couple of times seems to clear the error, and it all starts working again.

The moral of the story? If something rattles/clunks leave it be, it's far less stressfull...

I am surprised that this occured, because the construction and use regulations state that there must be a back up in the case of brake failure - in other words, the handbrake !

Whether the ABS kicks in I know not. It will be interesting to see what happens next year, when the first of the B6s will have their MOTs !! ;-)

claranet

[carl s]

I must try the stall/restart again. Trouble is stalling the car due to too high a gear isn't that good for it!

[BenR]

I have done it - the button won't stay down and it sounds a loud tone for as long as you press it. The car brakes hard and then a small pallet knife comes out of the dashboard and scrapes your nose off the windscreen.

[james_tiger_woo]

I tried this on a company car last year just to see what happens at varying speeds - above 15 (I think it was) and nothing happens.

Childish - I know :-)

[twvw]

Hi all,


I accidentally pressed the handbrake button coming up to a junction and the car braked. The manual says it can be used if there is a brake failure to bring the car to a halt.

When I picked my new Passat up I asked the dealer about the automatic hazard light activation under heavy braking as I had read it was a feature. He told me that it is disabled in the UK as it is against some road traffic legislation.

Do any of you have a problem stalling at low speed - like in traffic jams or getting out of the multi storey car park? I do!! Is it me or the car??

[macc70]

Re: stalling at slow speed
Yes I have stalled several times while going slow and put it down to a new car and me.
I have since had two people mention this to me and you are the third STRANGE I think
I now just use a bit more concentration than I did with previous cars in slower situations (golf diesel)

[Quatrelle]

Re: stalling at slow speed
Yes I have stalled several times while going slow and put it down to a new car and me.
I have since had two people mention this to me and you are the third STRANGE I think
I now just use a bit more concentration than I did with previous cars in slower situations (golf diesel)

Have a look at this thread and then the link to another. I have been in situations recently when I'm sure I would have stalled the car, but it's been fine (famous last words again).