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Original poster

Electronic hand-brake...

55 replies

Fordian · 30/12/2023 11:22

Is it just me or is anyone else struggling with electronic hand brakes? We have a Mazda 6, I have 40 years' driving experience but I just can't get on with this stupid brake.

It's a rocker so you can pull it up or push it down, but doing hill starts, you find the biting point, flick it, but it stays on. Push it and you roll backwards.

I hate it, so I use the other car.

My DH 🙄 at me but I notice he gets a tiny roll back on every hill start, too.

Anyone else??

OP posts:
whoateallthecookies · 30/12/2023 19:44

We've got an electronic handbrake like the one OP describes, in a manual car. You always have to apply it manually, but it lifts automatically. I've had it lift earlier than I'd like, resulting in a (very small) roll backwards - I've learnt to be a bit more assertive with the accelerator than I'd prefer. We live somewhere flat, so it's not too much of an issue, but I could imagine it being irritating somewhere hilly.

When we first got the car, I was concerned the handbrake would lift if the battery failed, but they don't - we've tested that thoroughly!

Kazzyhoward · 30/12/2023 19:47

ButteryBiscuitBaseBiscuitBase · 30/12/2023 18:43

Lol I'm doing that thing where I assume everyone is near me - it's not that hilly here. I just keep my foot on the brakes at junctions until it's time to go, though I do that on hill starts too in a car I know well! We have an automatic now and it doesn't have a handbrake but an extra pedal next to the brake pedal, where the clutch would be, that puts the parking brake on. I only used it when I'm actually parking up.

Show quote history

If you get rear ended, you'll automatically lift your foot from the brake pedal so will shoot forward into traffic. You should put on the hand brake any time you stop for more than a few seconds, i.e. when traffic lights are red or where you can see lots of cars coming on the main road or roundabout meaning you're going to be there for a while.

Original poster
Fordian · 30/12/2023 19:53

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/12/2023 14:13

Are you sure it's working properly?

You should have "hill assist" with these type of brakes. Every one of mine in the last 9 years has.

My last 2 you had to push a little harder on the foot brake to engage it, my current one, it auto engages and then when you pull off, disengages.

How do you KNOW it has actually engaged?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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Driving & parking
Original poster
Fordian · 30/12/2023 19:54

MercianQueen · 30/12/2023 17:45

Is your gearbox manual or automatic? Electric parking brakes were made to go with auto boxes, so you have hill assist etc. I had one on a manual car and I hated it - it's a terrible combination. I'm a very experienced driver, but the thought of doing a hill start in that car brought me out in a cold sweat.

I now have an automatic and now get the point of an electric handbrake. And it does the hill assist job it's supposed to.

Manual.

OP posts:
Beebumble2 · 30/12/2023 19:54

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 30/12/2023 19:33

Seems like maybe there's some cars with electronic handbrakes that work well with no fuss, and others which are rubbish.

I guess VW charging extra for a manual handbrake is just that 'a fool and his money are soon parted' because honestly you don't need one on a Golf!

I didn’t buy a Golf.

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 30/12/2023 19:57

How do you KNOW it has actually engaged?

You can feel it but also there's a light on the dashboard on mine - I'd have thought that would be the norm?

Original poster
Fordian · 30/12/2023 20:04

Light on a dashboard? I drive my car by feel!

'Amusingly', I drove DH + others to a pub in Southampton. I had to pull over to the kerb so they could get out, and, in doing so, reverse back a bit to be in front of another parked car.

They got out and into the pub. I attempted to pull off, but every attempt had me rolling back a few inches. Closer to the parked car.

I messaged DH in the pub to help. He slightly irritated did so, hopped in, and promptly rolled back into the parked car behind, just a tap. No damage 😬

But. Every hill start starts with a small roll-back.

I felt vindicated 😂

OP posts:
NameChangerGameChanger2 · 30/12/2023 20:05

I utterly hate mine - Ford Focus, it does have auto hold but to do a hill start it feels like I have to be unnecessarily aggressive to move off.

bring back hand brakes!

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 30/12/2023 20:13

Light on a dashboard? I drive my car by feel!

Me too (I did say you can feel it) but there's a light as well if anyone wants reassurance.
If you can't feel yours engage or pull off without rolling back then sure, you've got a car with a rubbish implementation (or not working) but that doesn't mean they're not a good idea when done properly.

HelpMeGetThrough · 31/12/2023 04:05

How do you KNOW it has actually engaged?

I can hear it and feel it engage.

There is a message that shows on the screen, but I'm never looking at that when driving. I only see that when I'm about to switch off when parked up.

SinnerBoy · 31/12/2023 05:58

We had a Passat with an electric handbrake, it never rolled back. We now have a V 60 and that doesn't, either. Both were manual and showed a red light, when it's engaged.

hometimesanta · 31/12/2023 10:09

Fordian · 30/12/2023 20:04

Light on a dashboard? I drive my car by feel!

'Amusingly', I drove DH + others to a pub in Southampton. I had to pull over to the kerb so they could get out, and, in doing so, reverse back a bit to be in front of another parked car.

They got out and into the pub. I attempted to pull off, but every attempt had me rolling back a few inches. Closer to the parked car.

I messaged DH in the pub to help. He slightly irritated did so, hopped in, and promptly rolled back into the parked car behind, just a tap. No damage 😬

But. Every hill start starts with a small roll-back.

I felt vindicated 😂

Honestly, this doesn't t sound like a handbrake issue.

Anyway as for knowing when it's engaged, you can hear it. It makes a noise. If you sit in your car and put it off then on a couple of times before you drive, you will hear it. You do need to check the auto hold isn't disabled though as it doesn't sound like it's on, particularly if you are using the button for a hill start.

Seeline · 31/12/2023 10:45

I've had it in 2 cars - neither have made a noise when it goes on. I only know for certain by lights on the dash.
My previous car had a separate additional light to show the hill assist was in action.

hometimesanta · 31/12/2023 11:05

Do you always have music on? Or slightly hard of hearing? When the brake applies or disengages it's done by a small motor - you should definitely be able to hear that happening. It's not loud but it's very present.

LubaLuca · 31/12/2023 11:13

I think your auto hold isn't turned on. I don't know anything about Mazdas, but there could either be a button somewhere on your console or an option in a menu to turn it on and off.

SnappingCrackers · 31/12/2023 11:13

We've got a kia, hyundai and a nissan between us. All with electric handbrake, none of us have this issue in any of them.
I wonder if you should have yours looked at if both you and your husband have the issue.
If it was just one of you I would assume driver error, unless of course one of you taught the other to drive and you both potentially make the same mistake.

Seeline · 31/12/2023 11:19

hometimesanta · 31/12/2023 11:05

Do you always have music on? Or slightly hard of hearing? When the brake applies or disengages it's done by a small motor - you should definitely be able to hear that happening. It's not loud but it's very present.

No to either - I sometimes have music on, it often don't. My hearing is fine.

IrresponsiblyCertainAboutSexualDimorphism · 31/12/2023 11:24

I have a 7 year old Mazda CX5 manual and I don’t have this problem at all and can’t really visualise the problem. I hardly ever flick the handbrake off myself - it just does it automatically. I think there’s something wrong with your settings.

mycatsanutter · 31/12/2023 13:07

@Fordian your post resonates with me so much , I have an Insignia with this and cannot master the hillstart at all . In Leeds a while ago visiting my daughter and she lived on a very steep hill , I rolled into the car behind 3 times 😩 in the end I drove off with the handbrake on then obviously took it off quick , stupid thing

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 31/12/2023 13:07

hometimesanta · 31/12/2023 11:05

Do you always have music on? Or slightly hard of hearing? When the brake applies or disengages it's done by a small motor - you should definitely be able to hear that happening. It's not loud but it's very present.

I've never noticed a noise on mine

Original poster
Fordian · 02/01/2024 00:27

mycatsanutter · 31/12/2023 13:07

@Fordian your post resonates with me so much , I have an Insignia with this and cannot master the hillstart at all . In Leeds a while ago visiting my daughter and she lived on a very steep hill , I rolled into the car behind 3 times 😩 in the end I drove off with the handbrake on then obviously took it off quick , stupid thing

Glad it's not just me!

OP posts:
Clevs · 02/01/2024 00:54

No issues on my VW Golf. Auto hold is applied whenever I apply pressure to the brake. Electric handbrake is applied when I put it in Park. Or I can apply it manually by lifting the handbrake button or pressing to release. When the electric brake is on I have a green (P) light on the dash - the same symbol as the handbrake light but it's green instead of red. If I apply the handbrake manually it's red.

itsabouttoexplode · 02/01/2024 00:55

We have a similar age Mazda 6 estate. I also hate this break! I also hate the car. It's DHs and I try to avoid driving it. It's too wide and I also hate the thing where it cuts out when you stop. Stresses me out!
I'll ask about the hill assist. He says you have to start pulling away within half a second otherwise the break goes off. Would explain your rolling back. Now I'm thinking I may have had the same as you describe happen to me.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/01/2024 08:21

I don't think I ever had cause to touch the handbrake button on my golf all the years I had it. I'm curious when you might want to use it, @Clevs ?

Moonmelodies · 02/01/2024 09:39

It would be interesting to try and use an electronic handbrake to gently bring a car to a standstill from motorway speeds in the case of hydraulic brake failure.