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[geoffr70]

Hello, as mentioned in previous posts my mate works for Audi delivering cars all over, occassionally I go with him.

Today was an A8 to Glasgow.

Anyway, as you may or may not know, some have electronic handbrakes, on the centre console where the H/B would usually be. It is an up down button (like electric window button), so up for on, down for off.

There is a safety feature where you have to depress the foot brake then take off the handbrake, presumably to stop naughty little Johnny form taking it off.

My question is, unless you have three feet, how do get the bite on the clutch, before taking the h/b off, as your foot is taken up by pressing the foot brake? This of course would be compounded when doing an uphill start. Surely balancing the car on the clutch alone with no revs can't be the answer?

Also, going back to old driving methods that I doubt many people will even know of now, if the h/b is electronic I presume it's either on or off with no inbetween, therefore if you have a brake fail you can't use the h/b to reduce speed, as you would with a cabled h/b?

Just curious, as when I drive a manual at least, I like to use the h/b like day 1 week 1. Surely a learner taking a test in a vehicle with an electronic h/b would fail their test for not having the vehicle under control due to rolling back or not having either any brake applied or drive to the vehicle?

Thanks

[geoffr70]

BTW call me a geek if you want!

[Broomies Mate]

These electronic handbrakes will self release when you push the throttle.

They also stop you from rolling backwards.  They should auto engage as the car starts to creep back when stationary on a hill.

I just want to know how they are going to pass an MOT.

[geoffr70]

Thanks BM, not being funny, just ignorant, but why would they not pass an MOT?

You still can't use them for reducing speed though if your brakes fail.

[Vamps]

These electronic handbrakes will self release when you push the throttle.
They also stop you from rolling backwards. They should auto engage as the car starts to creep back when stationary on a hill.

I just want to know how they are going to pass an MOT.

Yep, My Citroen works like that.....

[Broomies Mate]

Thanks BM, not being funny, just ignorant, but why would they not pass an MOT?

You still can't use them for reducing speed though if your brakes fail.

Exactly.  The Handbrake, or Parking Brake is actually an Emergency Brake.  It's efficiency has to be 16% of the weight of the vehicle to pass the MOT.

These Electronic jobbies, you cant engage them when the car is in motion, so they would be 0% of the mass of the vehicle, even though they might be amazing once the vehicle has stopped.

I just dont see how they will pass an MOT.

[geoffr70]

Thanks BM, not being funny, just ignorant, but why would they not pass an MOT?

You still can't use them for reducing speed though if your brakes fail.

Exactly.  The Handbrake, or Parking Brake is actually an Emergency Brake.  It's efficiency has to be 16% of the weight of the vehicle to pass the MOT.

These Electronic jobbies, you cant engage them when the car is in motion, so they would be 0% of the mass of the vehicle, even though they might be amazing once the vehicle has stopped.

I just dont see how they will pass an MOT.

Oh yeah thanks! I knew that just didn't relate the two! Prefer "normal" handbrakes anyway!

[Broomies Mate]

Thanks BM, not being funny, just ignorant, but why would they not pass an MOT?

You still can't use them for reducing speed though if your brakes fail.

Exactly.  The Handbrake, or Parking Brake is actually an Emergency Brake.  It's efficiency has to be 16% of the weight of the vehicle to pass the MOT.

These Electronic jobbies, you cant engage them when the car is in motion, so they would be 0% of the mass of the vehicle, even though they might be amazing once the vehicle has stopped.

I just dont see how they will pass an MOT.

Oh yeah thanks! I knew that just didn't relate the two! Prefer "normal" handbrakes anyway!

The car I have spent most time in with one of these stupid things, is a Citroen C4 Picasso.  It stopped the car from rolling on a hill, it held the vehicle when stopped no bother.

It would switch itself off if you 'forgot' even when you applied it manually, in a car-park say.

But you could hit the massive button on the dash when driving, and it wouldn't engage.

The RR test for the MOT has the car on the rollers moving then the handbrake is applied to show efficiency.  I just dont see how this is possible, unless there is already an amendment to the Handbrake section of the MOT procedure for these vehicles fitted with a computer to control the Emergency Brake.

[aaronjb]

What if the electronic handbrake controller monitors only the speed of the front wheels to determine vehicle motion;  if that were the case it would think the vehicle were 'stopped' when on the rollers?

Still wouldn't be any good on the actual road, mind!

[Kevin Wood]

I really don't understand what's wrong with a couple of feet of cable and a lever, myself. :-/

Either they are trying to dumb down driving to the point that you don't even have to remember to take the handbrake off when moving away or it's a couple of pence cheaper than a mechanical one.

Either way - not for me, I'm afraid.

Kevin

[Broomies Mate]

I really don't understand what's wrong with a couple of feet of cable and a lever, myself. :-/

Either they are trying to dumb down driving to the point that you don't even have to remember to take the handbrake off when moving away or it's a couple of pence cheaper than a mechanical one.

Either way - not for me, I'm afraid.

Kevin

I completely agree.

Since driving an Auto, I have used the handbrake once, and that was when I replaced the Handbrake shoes.

[aaronjb]

I really don't understand what's wrong with a couple of feet of cable and a lever, myself. :-/

Either they are trying to dumb down driving to the point that you don't even have to remember to take the handbrake off when moving away or it's a couple of pence cheaper than a mechanical one.

Either way - not for me, I'm afraid.

Kevin

It has to be that, surely - I can't imagine how it could possibly be cheaper than (as you rightly say) a couple of feet of cable and a lever..

I guess the dumbing down of driving has become necessary - lets face it, an alarming number of people don't seem to be able to steer properly, keep an appropriate speed or drive in the rain without hitting things, so....

[Kevin Wood]

I completely agree.

Since driving an Auto, I have used the handbrake once, and that was when I replaced the Handbrake shoes.

Oh, I use mine. A little peg in the gearbox output shaft is not something I want to rely on. Besides, if you don't use them they don't work come MOT time.

I like a car that has a couple of controls that aren't interfered with. A switch that cuts power to the ignition coils, a brake that has a mechanical connection to the friction material and a gearbox that can be slipped into neutral by a linkage. Not too much to ask, surely? It is if you are buying new these days.

I've had a few "stuck throttle" moments so without the above a car isn't something I'd want to drive.

Kevin

[Broomies Mate]

I really don't understand what's wrong with a couple of feet of cable and a lever, myself. :-/

Either they are trying to dumb down driving to the point that you don't even have to remember to take the handbrake off when moving away or it's a couple of pence cheaper than a mechanical one.

Either way - not for me, I'm afraid.

Kevin

It has to be that, surely - I can't imagine how it could possibly be cheaper than (as you rightly say) a couple of feet of cable and a lever..

I guess the dumbing down of driving has become necessary - lets face it, an alarming number of people don't seem to be able to steer properly, keep an appropriate speed or drive in the rain without hitting things, so....

It's a gimmick.  It makes people think that the company is moving into the future.  Fair enough, it does have it's merits...... you dont have to pull a handle when you switch the engine off, it does it for you. WHOOPIE!

When I stick my car in 'Park' the handbrake is set, as far as I'm concerned.  My car doesnt roll back on hills as my foot is on the brake.

[aaronjb]

If this is the future then where is my flying car!

(Sorry.. couldn't resist that almost obligatory reference )

Still, probably right.. it's the "ooh flashing lighs!" effect..