Handbrake handbrake self release (inc recall letter)

[Doubtingthomas]

alanwalne My CTDi will definitley start in gear, perhaps the i-shift does not. While I am not scare mongering, a diesel civic will start in gear, I cannot comment about manual petrol because I haven't got one.

Thank you Alan. I do have an i-shift. I was reading from the owner's manual.
If I have misled any person, apologies.

[Bronn]

I know you have this "fear" of starting the car in gear, but the Civic won't as you can only start in neutral (and with your foot on the footbrake if an i-shift).

I saw your post last night and tried to start the car in gear this morning. Yep - it will start! If it hadn't been for the handbrake it would have jumped a good bit. Phew! I have a fear of starting a cr in gear becasue I saw it happen to my neighbour. He forgot to check, started the car and smashed in through the porch door. He had a Renault Megane back then and that car was nothing but trouble, so I don't know if his smash was deliberate or not!!

It may take a bit of getting used to but I still wouldn't trust your handbrake alone, even a modified one. Only trying to help.

No worries - help is appreciated. I think I'll have to get used to leaving the car in gear though, despite my worries. The potential of forgetting about the gear v's the potential of handbrake failure... I would be one sick parrot if my worries caused €2,000 worth of damage. Or worse.

Sorry to hear of your not very good Honda Customer Service from your local dealer. I sometimes despair when I hear such stories, but I think they will have a little more respect for you next time. Well done.

Cheers! I'd like to think they would be a bit more respectful next time but I suspect if there are any other problems they be all, "Oh no! It's You-Know-Who on the blower again!"

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by Bronn

I'd like to think they would be a bit more respectful next time but I suspect if there are any other problems they be all, "Oh no! It's You-Know-Who on the blower again!"

I have every confidence you will be able to handle it. Good luck!

[flyguy40@]

I am picking my type R GT up on monday,if it was'nt for my niece working at a honda dealers in wales i would not have known about this problem,got to say glad i found this forum,at least now i know to keep it in gear!!!Thanks

[bucketp]

Nearly Spring and we can all start parking on hills again

[FWH]

Originally Posted by bucketp

Nearly Spring and we can all start parking on hills again

I was wondering why the recall took such time - but of course they are waiting for the new Spring to come along....

[bludot]

So i've picked up new EX i-shift today and am quite worried about the handbrake failing. How do you put an i-shift in gear while parking? is it even possible?

[eyemdee]

^^^ - Yes, just ensure that display shows A-uto or 1 if facing uphill or R if facing downhill, foot on brake and switch off engine. You do have to move the lever to N-eutral and apply brake in order to restart the engine.

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by bludot

So i've picked up new EX i-shift today and am quite worried about the handbrake failing. How do you put an i-shift in gear while parking? is it even possible?

Exactly the same as you would with a manual car, there is nothing to worry about so just enjoy your spaceship

[mrt]

Originally Posted by angie4m

If its a Health and Safety issue then they should!

What if the car was parked on a slope and a pedestrian was walking in front of the civic and the handbrake released? would this be an health and safetey issue? HONDA should be ashamed to release a vehicle that is potentially dangerous. Im afraid i have no faith in the power of dreams anymore, personally I hate owning a car that has a fault of this nature and think its disgusting that a company like Honda can not take something that is potentially dangerous seriously and recall all units asap. I remember in the old days of the 1200 civics when it was discovered due to collapse of a shock absorber that all civic 1200's where immediatley recalled for shocker testing and lower arm testing replaced if necessary and all civics where inspected and undersealed, of course that was in the reputation building days. The company obviously is now too big to worry about the competition from other manufacturers.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by mrt

...and think its disgusting that a company like Honda can not take something that is potentially dangerous seriously and recall all units asap.

There will be a recall around April according to the letter.

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by mrt

What if the car was parked on a slope and a pedestrian was walking in front of the civic and the handbrake released? would this be an health and safetey issue? HONDA should be ashamed to release a vehicle that is potentially dangerous. Im afraid i have no faith in the power of dreams anymore, personally I hate owning a car that has a fault of this nature and think its disgusting that a company like Honda can not take something that is potentially dangerous seriously and recall all units asap. I remember in the old days of the 1200 civics when it was discovered due to collapse of a shock absorber that all civic 1200's where immediatley recalled for shocker testing and lower arm testing replaced if necessary and all civics where inspected and undersealed, of course that was in the reputation building days. The company obviously is now too big to worry about the competition from other manufacturers.

Well you could always get a Toyota Auris with the same problem or how about a Vauxhall with the same problem, at least Honda have been up front with it ,it took a TV program to expose Vauxhall and Toyota have kept very quiet about their faulty handbrakes, so take your pick.

[eyemdee]

[quote=Doubtingthomas;153068]

Originally Posted by frankenstein

Insurance company reluctant to pursue since car found after smash with handbrake off. How do I prove in law it was self release and not just me not putting it on (which I know it wasn't)? And how do I prove I'm not making up Friday's incident just to strengthen my case?

Think about this. Is it possible that you could have got out of the car without applying the handbrake AND failed to notice that the car was rolling away as you got out?! If the incline was sufficent for the car to roll away when the brake released, then it was sufficient to start rolling before you got out!!

I would pursue this claim most vigorously. If you have Legal protection Insurance then involve them to recover any costs you have incurred as a result of this failure.

[bludot]

Originally Posted by eyemdee

^^^ - Yes, just ensure that display shows A-uto or 1 if facing uphill or R if facing downhill, foot on brake and switch off engine. You do have to move the lever to N-eutral and apply brake in order to restart the engine.

Originally Posted by jazzman

Exactly the same as you would with a manual car, there is nothing to worry about so just enjoy your spaceship

Ah Thanks alot!

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by mrt

What if the car was parked on a slope and a pedestrian was walking in front of the civic and the handbrake released? would this be an health and safetey issue? HONDA should be ashamed to release a vehicle that is potentially dangerous. Im afraid i have no faith in the power of dreams anymore, personally I hate owning a car that has a fault of this nature and think its disgusting that a company like Honda can not take something that is potentially dangerous seriously and recall all units asap. I remember in the old days of the 1200 civics when it was discovered due to collapse of a shock absorber that all civic 1200's where immediatley recalled for shocker testing and lower arm testing replaced if necessary and all civics where inspected and undersealed, of course that was in the reputation building days. The company obviously is now too big to worry about the competition from other manufacturers.

Please look no further than my signature..........

[Andiww]

Two months ago I got a letter from Honda Motor Poland, that the handbrake may not work properly and they will start a service campaign on march 2008. It is also said in the letter that to be sure your handbrake works properly before you get it fixed, you should put it on without pushing the button - it must scroop when putting it on. I'm not sure if this includes only selected cars produced in some period of time or evry single Civic. Does anyone elso from Poland got this letter?

[Andiww]

Anyway I don't have any problems with my handbrake.

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by Andiww

Anyway I don't have any problems with my handbrake.

There are Civic owners, like myself, in the UK awaiting their car to be recalled and fitted with a modified handbrake, who have not experienced any problem with the handbrake. However, after having received the "official letter" from Honda UK, there are a few reported cases where the handbrake has failed. One or two, I believe, even after applying the handbrake without pressing the button in. I think most, if not all, UK Civic owners, also leave their car in gear now when parking their car.

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by FWH

I was wondering why the recall took such time - but of course they are waiting for the new Spring to come along....

g r o a n ......

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by Doubtingthomas

There are Civic owners, like myself, in the UK awaiting their car to be recalled and fitted with a modified handbrake, who have not experienced any problem with the handbrake. However, after having received the "official letter" from Honda UK, there are a few reported cases where the handbrake has failed. One or two, I believe, even after applying the handbrake without pressing the button in. I think most, if not all, UK Civic owners, also leave their car in gear now when parking their car.

Agreed and strangely enough although I`ve had no problems I`ve always left it parked in gear as I have all my non fully automatic cars.