[KenB]

Does anybody know if there is any adjustment on the clutch position before the electric handbrake comes off ?

Mine is so sensitive that unless my foot is hard down on the floor the brake is off.
I have rolled a couple of times now.


I know I can keep my finger on the switch - and do so if on a hill - but it just seems a bit too sensitive to me.

 

[Grumps]

I thought it was more of a time thing.

If you keep your foot on the clutch and take your foot of the foot brake it holds the car for a couple of seconds regardless of where your clutch pedal is.

Its like that on my Antara and other cars I have driven with hill start on.

 

[HugoRune]

This is something I struggled with at first. You need to press the foot brake on a hill before doing a hill start in order for the hill start assist to work. In the way I was taught to do a hill start using a manual handbrake, you didn't use the foot brake at all.

The sequence that works for me is to press both the foot brake and the clutch at the same time, engage first gear and only take your foot off the brake when you are ready to press the accelerator. This gives you two seconds to find the biting point of the clutch and pull away (which sounds shorter than it actually seems in practice).

 

[bronze]

i thought engine revs (more than tick over) took the electric brake off ?

 

[KenB]

Thanks for the input guys.

i thought engine revs (more than tick over) took the electric brake off ?

This definitely is not the case with mine - if I so much as move my left foot a fraction the brake is off.

if you keep your foot on the clutch and take your foot of the foot brake it holds the car for a couple of seconds regardless of where your clutch pedal is.

only take your foot off the brake when you are ready to press the accelerator.

Thanks - I will give this a try.
I too have driven for 40+ years and relied totally on the manual handbrake.
It looks like a small learning curve is due

Edited by: KenB

 

[HugoRune]

I must admit that I can cope with the electric hand brake, but I would have preferred a manual one. I don't really see the benefit, for me it's just a slightly confusing gadget that has more potential to go wrong than a manual hand brake.

 

[Inchindown]

I can honestly say I've not had any problems with the electric parking brake. It always works as I expect it to. My previous car also had an electric parking brake, so it was nothing new to me when I got the Antara.
As I have an automatic, I supposeit might be a bit easier to use than on a manual car.

 

[Grumps]

If in doubt just apply the handbrake and then drive away and it will release itself anyway.

 

[KenB]

Thanks again for your input guys - I will take your advice on-board and give it a try

 

[PeteB]

My wife is disabled and has always had a problem with a handbrake, the electric handbrake is a dream come true for her. I must admit, I like it too!

 

[KenB]

Hi PeteB

I don't dislike it ....as such...I had rolled backwards once and forwards once.
It seems I should have had my foot on the brake and didn't.
Hopefully I will be able to correct this habit - used to a manual handbrake for far too long.

 

[Spantara]

What is the point?

IMHO, an electronic handbrake is just yet another device which can and, at some time will, go wrong. True, I have had a mechanical handbrake fail when the brake wire snapped but that is easily fixed whereas I have no idea of and even less faith in the electronic wizardry in the electronic handbrake.

I appreciate that for someone with a weak arm or otherwise handicapped that the electronic handbrake is a good thing but why not just opt for the automatic gearbox which will not let you roll back anyway?

The older I become, the more I favout the KIS (Keep It Simple) principal for essentialitems. Non essentials, such as air-con, board computeres, GPS etc can be as complicated as you like but other essential systems should be as fool-proof as possible. Thye may have an electronic assist function but, if that fails, the basic system must be there allowing the vehicle to be operated safely.

Cheers all!

 

[Inchindown]

What is the point?

IMHO, an electronic handbrake is just yet another device which can and, at some time will, go wrong. True, I have had a mechanical handbrake fail when the brake wire snapped but that is easily fixed whereas I have no idea of and even less faith in the electronic wizardry in the electronic handbrake.

I appreciate that for someone with a weak arm or otherwise handicapped that the electronic handbrake is a good thing but why not just opt for the automatic gearbox which will not let you roll back anyway?

The older I become, the more I favout the KIS (Keep It Simple) principal for essentialitems. Non essentials, such as air-con, board computeres, GPS etc can be as complicated as you like but other essential systems should be as fool-proof as possible. Thye may have an electronic assist function but, if that fails, the basic system must be there allowing the vehicle to be operated safely.

Cheers all!

If you're after simple, maybe this would be more your style.

 

[KenB]

Or this .......

High-tech handbrake on show

Advantage ....... better mpg than the Antara.


I have to agree - The more complex anything is the more likely it is to go wrong.
(and I taught Electronics for 26 years !! )


Edited by: KenB

 

[Spantara]

LOL - thanks for the pics guys. I like Ken's best.

Someone once said, "As the complexity of a system approaches infinite, the mean time between failure approaches zero".

Incidentally, a Messerscmit 3-wheeler in good condition will cost as much as a new Antara today. A BMW Isetta bubble car would come in only slightly cheaper

 

[wilma08]

I like Inch's the colour is unique lol