Comments on: Vauxhall’s Handbrake Problems Part 2 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html Car Blog & Car News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:34:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mike http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-90616 mike Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:34:14 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-90616 As a saab and gm technician for over 30 years let me assure all vauxhall owners that Vauxhalls excuse about handbrake releasing itself is total garbage, all good drivers have always been told hold the button in when applying as to minimise the wear on the rachet wear. this is just another escape route for GM to swerve their duty as a so called quality car maker..thus all for damage and injurie caused. As a saab and gm technician for over 30 years let me assure all vauxhall owners that Vauxhalls excuse about handbrake releasing itself is total garbage, all good drivers have always been told hold the button in when applying as to minimise the wear on the rachet wear. this is just another escape route for GM to swerve their duty as a so called quality car maker..thus all for damage and injurie caused.

]]> By: John Taylor http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-90613 John Taylor Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:39:50 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-90613 Dear Alec and others Vauxhalls position as established at Court is that certain of their models can have an uncommanded release of the handbrake allowing the vehicle to run away if not left parked in gear. They deny any responsibility or liability saying that this only happens when the driver fails to apply the handbrake correctly. ?!? They say that according to their hand book the hand brake must be applied WITHOUT USING THE HAND BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON (my emphasis) They say that if the hand brake is just firmly pulled on (thats when you get that grating niose from the internal ratchet) then the hand brake will not release itself. By using the hand brake release button the internal mechanism can fail to engage properly leading to a possible release unde certain conditions. They say that is a misuse of the handbrake and consequently they are not liable. That does not seem to me to be a satisfactory position though Vauxhall seem satisfied with it and litigation is continuing. They have instructed their dealerships to add a further internal spring in the handbrake of affected models though it is not clear that this modification is being advised to all customers/owners. I would very much like to see the letter they sent Alec John Dear Alec and others
Vauxhalls position as established at Court is that certain of their models can have an uncommanded release of the handbrake allowing the vehicle to run away if not left parked in gear. They deny any responsibility or liability saying that this only happens when the driver fails to apply the handbrake correctly. ?!? They say that according to their hand book the hand brake must be applied WITHOUT USING THE HAND BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON (my emphasis)

They say that if the hand brake is just firmly pulled on (thats when you get that grating niose from the internal ratchet) then the hand brake will not release itself. By using the hand brake release button the internal mechanism can fail to engage properly leading to a possible release unde certain conditions. They say that is a misuse of the handbrake and consequently they are not liable.

That does not seem to me to be a satisfactory position though Vauxhall seem satisfied with it and litigation is continuing. They have instructed their dealerships to add a further internal spring in the handbrake of affected models though it is not clear that this modification is being advised to all customers/owners. I would very much like to see the letter they sent Alec

John

]]> By: Alec Williams http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-90605 Alec Williams Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:56:05 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-90605 Have in the last few days received a letter from Vauxhall informing me that due to a small number of instances there words not mine my vehicle Vectra Sri 150 is being recalled to check with regards to handbrake mechanisum issues,it goes onto say that when the handbrake is incorrectly applied it may partially release.My drive is on quite a steep incline have never trusted the handbrake since i purchased the car on numerous occasions when getting into the it has moved looked down at the handbrake appears to be fully on,luckly no serious incidents!. Have in the last few days received a letter from Vauxhall informing me that due to a small number of instances there words not mine my vehicle Vectra Sri 150 is being recalled to check with regards to handbrake mechanisum issues,it goes onto say that when the handbrake is incorrectly applied it may partially release.My drive is on quite a steep incline have never trusted the handbrake since i purchased the car on numerous occasions when getting into the it has moved looked down at the handbrake appears to be fully on,luckly no serious incidents!.

]]> By: philip smith http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-90593 philip smith Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:12:23 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-90593 my 10 plate vauxhall astra has been back to the garage now twice with a seized right back driver side break seizure .It appears when the weather is cold the handbreak seizes .I drove only two miles from work and my wheel was smoking . It went to garage stripped down and could find nothing .drove next day same and same happend .not fun at 4.00am when leaving work .it is now in garage awaiting technichaal advice from vauxhall .I spoke to my son in law and he said his engineers have the saffira and are experiencing the same thing on them .they have to wait for it to defrost .does anyone else have the same problem as we are getting fobbed off . my 10 plate vauxhall astra has been back to the garage now twice with a seized right back driver side break seizure .It appears when the weather is cold the handbreak seizes .I drove only two miles from work and my wheel was smoking . It went to garage stripped down and could find nothing .drove next day same and same happend .not fun at 4.00am when leaving work .it is now in garage awaiting technichaal advice from vauxhall .I spoke to my son in law and he said his engineers have the saffira and are experiencing the same thing on them .they have to wait for it to defrost .does anyone else have the same problem as we are getting fobbed off .

]]> By: John Marsh http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-84632 John Marsh Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:30:07 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-84632 We have a French Reg 2001 Opel Astra 1.7tdi brake. This week it had a recall, we took it into the local Opel dealer, where we bought it from in May 2008 (Pontivy, Morbihan) and left it there for an hour, when we returned we were given the keys and told it was ready. We have no idea what the recall concerned or whether any work was required or carried out. Have you any information as to what the recall is all about? We are quite concerned as we have no paperwork to say the vehicle has been checked. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks John. We have a French Reg 2001 Opel Astra 1.7tdi brake. This week it had a recall, we took it into the local Opel dealer, where we bought it from in May 2008 (Pontivy, Morbihan) and left it there for an hour, when we returned we were given the keys and told it was ready. We have no idea what the recall concerned or whether any work was required or carried out. Have you any information as to what the recall is all about? We are quite concerned as we have no paperwork to say the vehicle has been checked. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks John.

]]> By: Mark http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-78862 Mark Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:08:09 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-78862 Hi, I own an 04 Vectra SRi 120, I have had an on going problem with the n/s rear calliper seizing. I have replaced the part 4 times now and it has just seized again! The cables, disks, pads and Flexi hoses are new as well. The callipers seem to last about 6-8 weeks. Has anyone else had similar problems? The Issue seems to be related to the handbrake and the point of failure has been identified as the operating lever on the calliper. Any replies would be gratefully received. Hi, I own an 04 Vectra SRi 120, I have had an on going problem with the n/s rear calliper seizing. I have replaced the part 4 times now and it has just seized again! The cables, disks, pads and Flexi hoses are new as well. The callipers seem to last about 6-8 weeks. Has anyone else had similar problems? The Issue seems to be related to the handbrake and the point of failure has been identified as the operating lever on the calliper. Any replies would be gratefully received.

]]> By: Mandy http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-74195 Mandy Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:15:52 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-74195 Great news for me as finally got a result and Vauxhall have brought our car back from us. Feels like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders and am just so pleased that the 10 month nightmare we have had is over. Great news for me as finally got a result and Vauxhall have brought our car back from us. Feels like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders and am just so pleased that the 10 month nightmare we have had is over.

]]> By: H Barns http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-72567 H Barns Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:02:16 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-72567 My Vauxhall Corsa 60 plate went into the local dealer last week due to a brake bearing recall. I have just been advised by the same garage that there is now a handbrake recall on the car (pity they didn't know about it when it was in there 5 days ago). This is the first I knew about brake problems (or any) on Vauxhalls and am hoping it's the last. My Vauxhall Corsa 60 plate went into the local dealer last week due to a brake bearing recall. I have just been advised by the same garage that there is now a handbrake recall on the car (pity they didn’t know about it when it was in there 5 days ago). This is the first I knew about brake problems (or any) on Vauxhalls and am hoping it’s the last.

]]> By: John Taylor http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-71290 John Taylor Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:13:33 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-71290 Eelco - sorry to hear about that. Opel vehicles use the same hand brake as Vauxhall ones. The are all made by the same European sub contractor. See the above post regarding Scottish Court actions. Despite what Vauxhall say publically there does appear to be a problem and if anyone has suffered a loss I would strongly suggest they refer matters to a solicitor and refer that solicitor to the solicitor dealing with the Scottish actions for a professional consulatation. Eelco – sorry to hear about that. Opel vehicles use the same hand brake as Vauxhall ones. The are all made by the same European sub contractor. See the above post regarding Scottish Court actions. Despite what Vauxhall say publically there does appear to be a problem and if anyone has suffered a loss I would strongly suggest they refer matters to a solicitor and refer that solicitor to the solicitor dealing with the Scottish actions for a professional consulatation.

]]> By: Eelco http://www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-vauxhall-handbrake-problem-part-2.html#comment-71240 Eelco Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:03:07 +0000 http://www.cararticles.co.uk/?p=319#comment-71240 Not sure whether my story is related to the above, but I hired an Opel (so not a Vauxhall) Astra in Ireland last week. At one point, I parked it on the handbrake on a VERY gently sloping surface. Got back to the place where it was parked, only to find out that it had rolled backwards into a small lake (fortunately shallow). The interesting part is that the whole episode was captured on CCTV. I have a clip from that CCTV footage, starting at 14:40 hours (seeing it stationary) and you can see that it starts to roll back by itself at 15:29:41 hours....fortunately at that point in time, there were no people around (there were in the minutes leading up to that moment, so I thank God that it didn't crash into somebody). Not sure whether my story is related to the above, but I hired an Opel (so not a Vauxhall) Astra in Ireland last week. At one point, I parked it on the handbrake on a VERY gently sloping surface. Got back to the place where it was parked, only to find out that it had rolled backwards into a small lake (fortunately shallow). The interesting part is that the whole episode was captured on CCTV. I have a clip from that CCTV footage, starting at 14:40 hours (seeing it stationary) and you can see that it starts to roll back by itself at 15:29:41 hours….fortunately at that point in time, there were no people around (there were in the minutes leading up to that moment, so I thank God that it didn’t crash into somebody).

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