Handbrake Failed on Lease Car!

Jaybee_16

A couple of years ago I received a letter from the manufacturer of the car I owned advising that due to known problems, the model of car I owned should be parked in gear and to not rely on the handbrake. No service recall though.

dogshome

You haven't listed the make model of the car, but do a search for 'The Owners Club' on the web, there could well be a plethora of hand brake problems being reported

Long time ago there was a BBC consumer programme who set up a test on particular Citreon model, on which owners were complaining of handbrake failure - They set the car up on ramp and waited, and waited, then just as they were discussing that it was all a wast of time, the car rolls down the ramp, damn nigh injuring members of the production crew 

AdrianC

dogshome said:

Long time ago there was a BBC consumer programme who set up a test on particular Citreon model, on which owners were complaining of handbrake failure - They set the car up on ramp and waited, and waited, then just as they were discussing that it was all a wast of time, the car rolls down the ramp, damn nigh injuring members of the production crew 

Xantia, launched 1993. Handbrake on the front discs, as every hydraulically-suspended Citroen had had since the DS was launched in 1955, because the wheelbase changes as the car settles on the suspension over time with the engine off - if they were left in gear with the handbrake on, there would be stresses on the gearbox as a result.

As has been mentioned above, disc handbrakes work the other way round to drum ones, and slacken as hot brakes cool, rather than applying harder. Front brakes obvs get hotter than rears.

The recall removed the first couple of teeth of the quadrant, to ensure drivers pulled it on adequately...

Sea_Shell

I'd read/heard about doing something similar if you drive into or get caught in too deep water and your car stalls and won't restart.

Put it in gear, and lurch it out on the starter motor.  

Is that true or urban myth?

BOWFER

Sea_Shell said:

I'd read/heard about doing something similar if you drive into or get caught in too deep water and your car stalls and won't restart.

Put it in gear, and lurch it out on the starter motor.  

Is that true or urban myth?

True, on older cars that don't need the clutch pressed in to start.
Modern cars that need the clutch pressed won't engage the starter motor with the clutch out.
I had a clutch cable fail on me once and the only way to get the car going in first was to switch it off, put it into gear, let the clutch out and turn the key.
It would lurch forward on the stater motor until it fired up, then would drive off normally.
Gearchanges without a clutch are easy enough once going.

AdrianC

Sea_Shell said:

I'd read/heard about doing something similar if you drive into or get caught in too deep water and your car stalls and won't restart.

Put it in gear, and lurch it out on the starter motor.  

Is that true or urban myth?

It won't do it if the car's had a drinkie and hydraulic-locked.

It'll do it if the car simply won't restart because the electrics are damp. BUT it might help suck more water through and hydraulic lock it...

Best thing is just to get it dragged out.

Or, even better, don't drive through overly-deep water in the first place.

oldagetraveller1

Sea_Shell said:

I'd read/heard about doing something similar if you drive into or get caught in too deep water and your car stalls and won't restart.

Put it in gear, and lurch it out on the starter motor.  

Is that true or urban myth?

Might be a problem if, depending on it's location and water resistance, the starter motor has gone belly up due to being submerged in said water.

I would personally, with a very red and embarrased face, call for and await breakdown assistance.

Embarrasement for trying to be clever and drive through deep water in the first place.

Sea_Shell

Well, that's my theory blown out the water then.

Yes, our car won't start unless you've got the clutch depressed, so that's a non-starter.

(sorry - puns not intended!!)

And I agree, best not to get stuck in the water in the first place.   But then flash floods are a thing.