Electric parking brake

Alter_ego

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Doesn't every sensible driver leave the car in gear when parking? That's the way I was taught.

Not a diesel!

poppasmurf_bewdley

Alter_ego wrote: »

Not a diesel!

Why not a diesel?

adouglasmhor

LandyAndy wrote: »

A hill start isn't a difficult manoeuvre with a traditional handbrake.

In my day (:cool:) you had to do one with hand signals as part of your test.:D

Did you signal to other traffic or just the chap with the red flag who had to walk in front of you as you proceeded?

Lum

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Doesn't every sensible driver leave the car in gear when parking? That's the way I was taught.

Most dont, and half of those that do forget to take it out again when they start the car.

In any case, don't park downhill of an Insignia if you believe these reports are true

Alter_ego

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Why not a diesel?

Diesels are a compression ignition engine. If one should roll in gear it could start and drive off unoccupied. Could happen in a shunt or on a steep slope.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Interesting that you push the thing to put it on, are you sure it's not pull on push off, Avensis is/was the only car to operate push for on, a stupid idea and an accident waiting to happen IMO as every single handbrake i've ever used otherwise, thousands, have been pull on...except in the case of foot operated parking brakes.

Most electric handbrakes come on and off automatically, and to be fair work fairly well, till they go wrong or your psst rolls off down the hill several hours after you parked it.

I won't be having one though, as above it's just something else to go wrong, parking on a fairly steep gradient can see the car roll away with you when you start up as the torque applied to the release mechanism by the incline is enough to trigger 'off'. i know this happens, several times personally with PSA cars.

As for leaving the car in gear, yes good sense, not such a simple thing to do with the average automated manual box though.

Doncha love progress, fixing things that were never broke in the first place.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Alter_ego wrote: »

Diesels are a compression ignition engine. If one should roll in gear it could start and drive off unoccupied. Could happen in a shunt or on a steep slope.

With an extremely old Diesel, yes this is true, but you'd have to go back to around 1970 or earlier to find a Diesel with a pull stop cable even in trucks, later designs stop via the fuel solenoid, and need power to operate the fuel injection system...no power no fuel.

Strider590

Wasn't this something to do with preventing the handbrake working whilst the vehicle's moving?
I know manufacturers don't like getting a "boy racer" reputation and maybe this is one way of discouraging them when the car is worth but a few pence in 6 years time....

Alter_ego

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

With an extremely old Diesel, yes this is true, but you'd have to go back to around 1970 or earlier to find a Diesel with a pull stop cable even in trucks, later designs stop via the fuel solenoid, and need power to oerate the fuel injection system...no power no fuel.

Agreed mostly, but some on diesels in the years since the 70's the stop solenoid simply pulled the same lever that the cable used to pull. Not arguing with your logic regarding modern diesels.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Alter_ego wrote: »

Diesels are a compression ignition engine. If one should roll in gear it could start and drive off unoccupied. Could happen in a shunt or on a steep slope.

Ever tried starting a diesel without putting the ignition on first? It's impossible, just like a petrol engine.