Anyone see Watchdog tonight

welly · 16th January 2008, 19:42

It seems Vauxhall have the same problem as Honda regards the handbrake, only with three models Vectra, Signum and now the new Corsa. They have even given out the same instruction regards not pressing the button whilst applying the handbrake.

FWH · 16th January 2008, 19:43

Same handbrake supplier?

dave525 · 16th January 2008, 19:49

MAYFIELD MAN SLAMS VAUXHALL OVER HANDBRAKE ISSUE

Vauxhall say tests show that the handbrake mechanism in Mr Calvert's Vectra is not defective.

But company denies claim that defective mechanism is to blame for crash

A GLENGORMLEY man has described how he watched in horror as his new car rolled down a residential street and smashed up a kerb before ending up in a garden.
Alex Calvert, who recently purchased the nine-month-old Vauxhall Vectra from the Townparks dealership in Antrim, is one of many Vectra and Signum owners across the UK who claim a defective handbrake mechanism is to blame for their cars rolling away when parked.
The Mayfield man revealed how he'd only had the car a day when it inexplicably trundled down the slope in his driveway when parked, and how a few days later it had rolled down the street when left outside a relative's house.
"The car was parked outside my wife's sister-in-law's house in South Belfast. She was looking out the window and she saw it roll off down the street. I ran out of the house, but I couldn't get to it and just had to watch as it rolled across the road, up the kerb and smashed through a hedge into a garden. It was unbelievable. It's just lucky that there were no children in the street and no-one was hurt," he told the Newtownabbey Times.
"I contacted Townparks and they implied that I mustn't have put the handbrake on properly. I've been driving for over 16 years and I've never had a car roll off on me and then with this car it happens twice in a week. I think I know how to put a handbrake on," he added.
Mr Calvert, who paid £14,000 for the car, is now demanding that Townparks or Vauxhall pay for repairs to his tyre, alloy wheel and steering.
"They say that there's no defect with the car and so they're not paying for the damage. They said that as I hadn't left the car in gear it's my fault, but the handbrake should be able to hold the car without it being in gear.
"There are loads of cases on the internet where people say that they've had the same problem with Vectras, yet Vauxhall deny that there's anything wrong with the handbrakes," he said.
A series of questions put by the Newtownabbey Times to Townparks about Mr Calvert's claims were passed on by the dealership to Vauxhall UK.
The company said they were aware of the case, but stressed that the dealership had found no defect with the handbrake mechanism in Mr Calvert's car.
"We believe that the handbrake system used in the Vectra and Signum is safe, however, we take all matters relating to the safety of Vauxhall products seriously. Safety remains our highest priority. Our engineers have therefore conducted rigorous reviews of several vehicles identified directly to Vauxhall. In addition, we have removed handbrakes from customer vehicles with alleged problems and put these mechanisms through an extensive test programme in an attempt to replicate the issue. To date, the tests have failed to identify fault with these handbrake mechanisms," a statement issued by the company said.
A report earlier this month by the BBC's Watchdog programme highlighted the plight of a number of Vauxhall customers, including two Vectra owners whose cars have rolled away.
Forums on a number of popular motoring websites also carry many stories of Vauxhall cars rolling away due to what owners claim are faulty handbrakes.
Vauxhall has acknowledged that there have been reported 'roll-away' incidents across the UK, but say that tests to date, carried out by themselves and the government's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), haven't shown up any defects with handbrake mechanisms.
However, during July and August Vauxhall did take the step of issuing more than a quarter of a million Vectra and Signum owners with stickers to put on their sun visors carrying information about how to park safely and the importance of leaving the car in gear.
"They're giving out stickers telling people how to park their cars correctly. I've been driving for over 16 years. I know how to put the handbrake on. It's absolutely ridiculous," Mr Calvert added.
It is understood that Vauxhall and VOSA are continuing their investigations into the alleged handbrake problems.
The company has advised any Vectra or Signum owners who have concerns about their car to contact Vauxhall Customer Service on 0845 090 2044.

FWH · 16th January 2008, 19:55

oooo they get stickers!

civicman1 · 16th January 2008, 19:56

I am just viewing the programme. Holy Sh*t. I own a 2003 Vectra and I always press the button. My driveway slopes downwards and I never leave it in gear. Just going out now to re-engage and put it into gear.

f**k too late, it's in the hedge !!! Only joking

Brodick · 16th January 2008, 19:57

Lost count how many times I mentioned this

Opelguy · 16th January 2008, 20:01

Why would you press the button while you engage the handbrake? It's wrong.

civicman1 · 16th January 2008, 20:12

If I can remember all those years back, I think this stems back to when I originally had driving lessons and my instructor told me to press the button. I took my test and the examiner never said anything. This then becomes habit and nobody has ever told me any different. I think there was also comment on the Watchdog programme that you could fail your test by not pressing the button. I am not sure how true this is.

FWH · 16th January 2008, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by civicman1

If I can remember all those years back, I think this stems back to when I originally had driving lessons and my instructor told me to press the button. I took my test and the examiner never said anything. This then becomes habit and nobody has ever told me any different. I think there was also comment on the Watchdog programme that you could fail your test by not pressing the button. I am not sure how true this is.

I have also heard else where that this is the way it is taught in the UK.

Dalboy · 16th January 2008, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by civicman1

If I can remember all those years back, I think this stems back to when I originally had driving lessons and my instructor told me to press the button. I took my test and the examiner never said anything. This then becomes habit and nobody has ever told me any different. I think there was also comment on the Watchdog programme that you could fail your test by not pressing the button. I am not sure how true this is.

I used to be a driving instructor and to my knowledge it has always been taught that the button should be pressed, the reason is to protect the ratchet from wear

FWH · 16th January 2008, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalboy

I used to be a driving instructor and to my knowledge it has always been taught that the button should be pressed, the reason is to protect the ratchet from wear

Seriously, you would wear out just about everything else in the car before you wear out the ratchet.

Maybe not on some of the old BL cars....

Dalboy · 16th January 2008, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWH

Seriously, you would wear out just about everything else in the car before you wear out the ratchet.

Maybe not on some of the old BL cars....

You are probably right, I was just giving the reason why it was taught that way, and some examiners would mark it as a fault if you applied the handbrake without pressing the button.

angie4m · 16th January 2008, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by welly

It seems Vauxhall have the same problem as Honda regards the handbrake, only with three models Vectra, Signum and now the new Corsa. They have even given out the same instruction regards not pressing the button whilst applying the handbrake.

Jings! Are they still going on about this on Watchdog? Its on every week!!!! At least Honda have said that there is an issue.

Did anyone see the one in which they showed you that the teeth were not engaging properly on the Vectra hence the fault

Bog · 16th January 2008, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by civicman1

If I can remember all those years back, I think this stems back to when I originally had driving lessons and my instructor told me to press the button. I took my test and the examiner never said anything. This then becomes habit and nobody has ever told me any different. I think there was also comment on the Watchdog programme that you could fail your test by not pressing the button. I am not sure how true this is.

It's standard practice in the UK for driving schools to teach you to press the button in when applying the handbrake. I was taught this when I learned to drive 17 years ago and my wife who learnt 2 years ago was taught the same.

As the guy on watchdog said, it should not matter what way you apply the parking brake, it should stay on! Manufactures have had enough years to get it right, but it's probably more to to do with cheaper components and cost saving.

welly · 16th January 2008, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by angie4m

Jings! Are they still going on about this on Watchdog? Its on every week!!!! At least Honda have said that there is an issue.

Did anyone see the one in which they showed you that the teeth were not engaging properly on the Vectra hence the fault

Oooh sorry.

I posted it as many of our users have similar issues and may find some of the footage useful.

Type S Bournemouth · 16th January 2008, 23:42

I have always pressed the button when applying the handbrake. Way I was taught do and just do it naturally without even thinking about it.

Stallion · 17th January 2008, 00:12

I heard that in the UK driving test if you don't press the button when engaging the handbrake you can get a minor, my driving instructor told me that 'some examiners find the noise of the handbrake ratchet irritating and therefore some will issue a minor'

I don't know how much truth is in that but hey...

Never mind.... Get over it

FWH · 17th January 2008, 07:09

What if you have a foot operated handbrake, like in a Mercedes?

Still a ratchet, but there is no button?
Release is by a seperate handle.

Kremmen · 17th January 2008, 07:15

There's got to be more to this. I always press the button, then by instinct now I always try and push the lever downwards just to see if it will drop.

It has always been solid and has never dropped down.

I still think it's to do with not getting the ratchet 100% into the slot. The harder you pull up on the lever the harder the spring tries to keep it in the slot - I assume.

alanwalne · 17th January 2008, 08:27

I has amazed by the guy it had happened to 3 times, that implies even after a failure he still decided not to leave the car in gear, some people are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road.

And before anyone goes on that you should be able to park a car as per your test THIS INCLUDED LEAVING A CAR IN GEAR. Cars with disc brakes no longer have a separate drum for the handbrake.

Forums about Vauxhalls had loads of stories about people finding cars in hedges with the handbrake still applied. Watchdog did not make clear whether all people reported found the handbrake in the down position.

16th January 2008, 19:42	#1 (permalink)
welly Supporter Wheelnut Join Date: 28th August 2007 Location: Mossley, Lancs. Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Anyone see Watchdog tonight It seems Vauxhall have the same problem as Honda regards the handbrake, only with three models Vectra, Signum and now the new Corsa. They have even given out the same instruction regards not pressing the button whilst applying the handbrake.

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This thread is about: Anyone see Watchdog tonight, it's in General Discussion at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; It seems Vauxhall have the same problem as Honda regards the handbrake, only with three models Vectra, Signum and now the new Corsa. They have ...

16th January 2008, 19:43	#2 (permalink)
FWH Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 3rd June 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 5,377 Thanks: 9 Thanked 48 Times in 43 Posts iTrader: (0)	Same handbrake supplier?

16th January 2008, 19:49	#3 (permalink)
dave525 Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 22nd November 2007 Location: Portishead Posts: 350 Thanks: 17 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts iTrader: (0)	MAYFIELD MAN SLAMS VAUXHALL OVER HANDBRAKE ISSUE Vauxhall say tests show that the handbrake mechanism in Mr Calvert's Vectra is not defective. But company denies claim that defective mechanism is to blame for crash A GLENGORMLEY man has described how he watched in horror as his new car rolled down a residential street and smashed up a kerb before ending up in a garden. Alex Calvert, who recently purchased the nine-month-old Vauxhall Vectra from the Townparks dealership in Antrim, is one of many Vectra and Signum owners across the UK who claim a defective handbrake mechanism is to blame for their cars rolling away when parked. The Mayfield man revealed how he'd only had the car a day when it inexplicably trundled down the slope in his driveway when parked, and how a few days later it had rolled down the street when left outside a relative's house. "The car was parked outside my wife's sister-in-law's house in South Belfast. She was looking out the window and she saw it roll off down the street. I ran out of the house, but I couldn't get to it and just had to watch as it rolled across the road, up the kerb and smashed through a hedge into a garden. It was unbelievable. It's just lucky that there were no children in the street and no-one was hurt," he told the Newtownabbey Times. "I contacted Townparks and they implied that I mustn't have put the handbrake on properly. I've been driving for over 16 years and I've never had a car roll off on me and then with this car it happens twice in a week. I think I know how to put a handbrake on," he added. Mr Calvert, who paid £14,000 for the car, is now demanding that Townparks or Vauxhall pay for repairs to his tyre, alloy wheel and steering. "They say that there's no defect with the car and so they're not paying for the damage. They said that as I hadn't left the car in gear it's my fault, but the handbrake should be able to hold the car without it being in gear. "There are loads of cases on the internet where people say that they've had the same problem with Vectras, yet Vauxhall deny that there's anything wrong with the handbrakes," he said. A series of questions put by the Newtownabbey Times to Townparks about Mr Calvert's claims were passed on by the dealership to Vauxhall UK. The company said they were aware of the case, but stressed that the dealership had found no defect with the handbrake mechanism in Mr Calvert's car. "We believe that the handbrake system used in the Vectra and Signum is safe, however, we take all matters relating to the safety of Vauxhall products seriously. Safety remains our highest priority. Our engineers have therefore conducted rigorous reviews of several vehicles identified directly to Vauxhall. In addition, we have removed handbrakes from customer vehicles with alleged problems and put these mechanisms through an extensive test programme in an attempt to replicate the issue. To date, the tests have failed to identify fault with these handbrake mechanisms," a statement issued by the company said. A report earlier this month by the BBC's Watchdog programme highlighted the plight of a number of Vauxhall customers, including two Vectra owners whose cars have rolled away. Forums on a number of popular motoring websites also carry many stories of Vauxhall cars rolling away due to what owners claim are faulty handbrakes. Vauxhall has acknowledged that there have been reported 'roll-away' incidents across the UK, but say that tests to date, carried out by themselves and the government's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), haven't shown up any defects with handbrake mechanisms. However, during July and August Vauxhall did take the step of issuing more than a quarter of a million Vectra and Signum owners with stickers to put on their sun visors carrying information about how to park safely and the importance of leaving the car in gear. "They're giving out stickers telling people how to park their cars correctly. I've been driving for over 16 years. I know how to put the handbrake on. It's absolutely ridiculous," Mr Calvert added. It is understood that Vauxhall and VOSA are continuing their investigations into the alleged handbrake problems. The company has advised any Vectra or Signum owners who have concerns about their car to contact Vauxhall Customer Service on 0845 090 2044.

16th January 2008, 19:55	#4 (permalink)
FWH Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 3rd June 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 5,377 Thanks: 9 Thanked 48 Times in 43 Posts iTrader: (0)	oooo they get stickers!

16th January 2008, 19:56	#5 (permalink)
civicman1 Wheelnut Join Date: 8th January 2008 Location: cheshire, uk Posts: 66 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I am just viewing the programme. Holy Sht. I own a 2003 Vectra and I always press the button. My driveway slopes downwards and I never leave it in gear. Just going out now to re-engage and put it into gear. f*k too late, it's in the hedge !!! Only joking

16th January 2008, 19:57	#6 (permalink)
Brodick Perfect Guy! Rocketship door handle Join Date: 2nd December 2006 Location: Central Scotland Posts: 1,720 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader: (0)	Lost count how many times I mentioned this

16th January 2008, 20:01	#7 (permalink)
Opelguy Valve Cap Join Date: 4th January 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Why would you press the button while you engage the handbrake? It's wrong.

16th January 2008, 20:12	#8 (permalink)
civicman1 Wheelnut Join Date: 8th January 2008 Location: cheshire, uk Posts: 66 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	If I can remember all those years back, I think this stems back to when I originally had driving lessons and my instructor told me to press the button. I took my test and the examiner never said anything. This then becomes habit and nobody has ever told me any different. I think there was also comment on the Watchdog programme that you could fail your test by not pressing the button. I am not sure how true this is.

16th January 2008, 23:42	#16 (permalink)
Type S Bournemouth Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 3rd October 2006 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 970 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I have always pressed the button when applying the handbrake. Way I was taught do and just do it naturally without even thinking about it.

17th January 2008, 00:12	#17 (permalink)
Stallion Supporter Valve Cap Join Date: 16th January 2008 Location: Norwich, UK Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I heard that in the UK driving test if you don't press the button when engaging the handbrake you can get a minor, my driving instructor told me that 'some examiners find the noise of the handbrake ratchet irritating and therefore some will issue a minor' I don't know how much truth is in that but hey... Never mind.... Get over it

17th January 2008, 07:09	#18 (permalink)
FWH Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 3rd June 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 5,377 Thanks: 9 Thanked 48 Times in 43 Posts iTrader: (0)	What if you have a foot operated handbrake, like in a Mercedes? Still a ratchet, but there is no button? Release is by a seperate handle.

17th January 2008, 07:15	#19 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,638 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	There's got to be more to this. I always press the button, then by instinct now I always try and push the lever downwards just to see if it will drop. It has always been solid and has never dropped down. I still think it's to do with not getting the ratchet 100% into the slot. The harder you pull up on the lever the harder the spring tries to keep it in the slot - I assume.

17th January 2008, 08:27	#20 (permalink)
alanwalne Who needs a 4x4?? Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 11th June 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 991 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts iTrader: (0)	I has amazed by the guy it had happened to 3 times, that implies even after a failure he still decided not to leave the car in gear, some people are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road. And before anyone goes on that you should be able to park a car as per your test THIS INCLUDED LEAVING A CAR IN GEAR. Cars with disc brakes no longer have a separate drum for the handbrake. Forums about Vauxhalls had loads of stories about people finding cars in hedges with the handbrake still applied. Watchdog did not make clear whether all people reported found the handbrake in the down position.