Handbrake Issues...

[TheSpiv]

So tonight hasn’t been the best.

Parked up on a hill to take some bird out of the van into our holiday home. Couple of journeys in and out, chat to one of the locals, next thing I heard an almighty bang.

My van ended up moving 20 yards down the hill, raised some stone steps just stopping before next doors cottage. Luckily no one was hurt, but the vans taken a beating. Superficially it’s big scuffs etc on the body work, it’s what I can’t see that is a concern. At least one alloy is goosed and water peeing ecertwgere.

But ...what VW and their responsibility. As far as I’m concerned the handbrake has malfunctioned. I’m covered on insurance but not sure what to do with regards to what I deem to be a VW issue and a handbrake that is not fit for purpose.

My van is a 67 plate, 16k on the clock.

Any input appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[Loz]

Sorry to hear about your issue. I’m not sure you will ger any joy with VW.
One thing that can happen after a long journey is the now hot rear disc will shrink a little as it cools down, and unless you have pulled up that extra notch on the handbrake, it can slip.
It happened to my neighbor’s A7 that rolled back off his drive and accross the road.

The water is most likely from the washer bottle that is behind the front bumper next to the fog light.

 

[carlg]

My next door neighbour did the same .
Parked up out side his house ,didn't leave in gear .Brakes cooled down car went down the road and through a garden wall over the road .

 

[HootingOwl]

I feel your pain.
It has been a known issue on the transporter for years. Always leave mine in gear now.

You will get nowhere with VW. Get some quotes for repair from independents and then decide is it worth claiming...

 

[Jean-Louis Bourdon]

interesting thread.
I come from an automatic transmission BMW. so have to put it in Park before I take the key out.
i always pull the hand-lever hard anyway (been told off by weaklings that they can't remove it lol)

my van will be manual.
Does it matter which gear you select: reverse if noise pointing down, forward if nose up? lowest or highest gear?

 

[xswind]

I have always left my T4's and T6 in gear when left, takes no time and is a secondary precaution.

 

[Teesix]

Does it matter which gear you select: reverse if noise pointing down, forward if nose up? lowest or highest gear?

No it doesn't matter.

Best to keep it in one of the lower gears. 1st or 2nd. I don't bother leaving it in reverse as there's no need.

 

[TheSpiv]

A lesson learnt. Next time I'll leave it in gear, as mentioned VW don't want to know.

It's now on a flatbed on its way back to my home town, I'm on a bus and train!

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Tourershine]

Can you clarify the first part of your initial statement at the top? The part just after 'tonight not being the best' (unless the two are related)

 

[TheSpiv]

Can you clarify the first part of your initial statement at the top? The part just after 'tonight not being the best' (unless the two are related)

Ha ha! I've just re read this, bloody predictive text, where the hell did 'bird' come from?! That should read 'stuff'!

If only my life was that exciting!!

 

[Tourershine]

Ha ha! I've just re read this, bloomin predictive text, where the hell did 'bird' come from?! That should read 'stuff'!

If only my life was that exciting!!

Brilliant.
I did wonder if you'd meant to put that, but then we do get a huge variation of members in here, and no one judges.

PS.
Don't edit it. That whole second paragraph makes perfect sense if you read it with an open mind.

 

[Jean-Louis Bourdon]

if there is a handbrake problem, i am surprised VW hasn't issued a recall
a few year ago jeep killed a famous star trek actor because of a similar issue
tens of millions of $ in settlements.

 

[HootingOwl]

I am not at all surprised. If it happened in the USA then VW of America would have sorted it immediately.
Because this is in the safe haven of the EU, the German car industry is allowed to get away with murder. In the USA, VW bought back their dirty diesels and were fined heavily. In the EU, they issued a bodge that buggered up the Egr and driveability of the cars
Crappy DQ200 DSG transmissions? Ten year extended warranty in the USA. In Europe there is no known issue with this transmission so once your three year warranty is up, you are on your own.

VAG UK really do not give a tinkers toss about you once they have your money. They have the UK motoring press in their pocket and nobody dares criticise them

 

[Steve H]

Vehicle recalls and faults

 

[Jean-Louis Bourdon]

i can understand for the dsg.
most likely vehicle breaks down, and end of story (although in Australia a woman was killed by a truck when her dsg golf or sirrocco seized in front of a truck, no braking)
there 's a video on YouTube from john cadaugan on the VW DSG death

but for handbrake, the potential is much more than a breakdown or occupant(s) death. imagine the van is parked on an incline and the handbrake slips, potentially running over several people, silently

that's why i think even in europe, and they also sell the transporter in Australia, they'd issue a recall if there is a problem

why i am stressing about this is sometimes i plan to use the van, sitting at the back, with engine running as a generator. obviously can't leave it in gear then...

wish there was a park gear on manuals now!

is it possible the lever was barely pulled?
could it be a LHD/RHD conversion mishap?
do pulling the lever HARD guarantees the van won't move?

 

[TheSpiv]

Quick update, van all fixed now, luckily relatively minor damage, and have since bypassed the dealership and gone straight to VW. I was told despite the issue of expansion and contraction due to build up of heat the handbrake should still hold the van on a hill. The crash repair centre said that they will also do a test in the handbrake for me in the new year and I will then follow this up with VW again.

Regarding the above questions, the van is a 67 plate, no ext At work has been carried out to the van and the handbrake had been engaged, it was left for no more than 20 minutes, then decided to have a roll downhill on its own.

Once I’ve spoken to VW I’ll update again.

Cheers for all the input.