Not being funny but if it's 'quite a steep hill' why are you relying solely on your hand brake? You should always leave the car in gear incase of a handbrake failure.
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Handbrake failure
- Thread starter Bennyball
- Start date
Depending whether (when you reached your runaway car) you found the handbrake fully off (alternative is still on but not enough, if you see what I mean) then you'll find all my thoughts in the other thread (to which I posted a link in this thread on 10th August 2016). And also check out the thread on the RAC forum (link in same post above).
This forum has a "Private Message" system, feel free to contact me that way if your problem seems very similar to mine. But can't promise a blindingly fast response as I have a huge amount on at the moment (not car-related !).
Of course people do get hurt when handbrakes fail. Sad news only last week from Macclesfield where a 13-year old boy was killed by a car that rolled silently down a residential close. You won't be surprised to learn that I was curious whether a SEAT had been responsible for that tragedy. I never found out, my "googling" only served to show (as dw911 points out above) that handbrake failures are not confined to SEAT or even VAG. But the way mine failed (yours may not be the same) did seem to be down to the state of the handbrake cable (maybe just a few cars) and the weakness of the spring that pulls the pawl into the handbrake ratchet (probably all Leons).
Hi Bantra,
Thanks for that, My handbrake was fully down when I got to the car. Understand this isn't exclusive to the Leon but still, given that there's quite a few incidents with them you would think they'd recall them. I don't think I can PM you until I've submitted 10 posts (I'll do that later as I'm just heading out to collect the courtesy car).
Much obliged Bantra.
Thanks for that, My handbrake was fully down when I got to the car. Understand this isn't exclusive to the Leon but still, given that there's quite a few incidents with them you would think they'd recall them. I don't think I can PM you until I've submitted 10 posts (I'll do that later as I'm just heading out to collect the courtesy car).
Much obliged Bantra.
Hi Jarre,
On reflection I wouldn't say my street is steep, however, it's certainly enough that the car would roll right away, regardless, being a senior member have you read many posts of the handbrake failing?
On reflection I wouldn't say my street is steep, however, it's certainly enough that the car would roll right away, regardless, being a senior member have you read many posts of the handbrake failing?
Can't say I have but I'm pretty new to the mk3 section. I had a couple of mk2s which is where my post count came from!
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Looks like this has happened quite a bit, a chap got back to me on another forum saying it happened to him with his Golf. His rolled down a hill right across a main road.
... I'll get me coat
Hi Branta, I've send a couple of private messages but don't know if you've received them? Really sad about the 13 year old kid killed by the car rolling, looked it up too but couldn't find out the make of the car.
Hello guys just to say Seat have been in touch today and are going to send an engineer to examine the car, the crash repair centre have already carried out their check and found nothing so I'm not expecting SEAT to either find a problem much less admit there is one. Interestingly enough Seat were VERY quick to say if it had already been repaired then they would not examine the car, just a heads up incase it happens to anyone else. I convinced there is an issue with the handbrake on these cars.
Hi Johnnie, those were "visitor messages", visible to anyone who visits your profile page, I think (but no notification to me). I just tried to send you a Private Message but it failed "Johnnie Mac has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages", maybe the post limit or time limit ?
However, I think if you hopped over to the other thread http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=399732 you'd get the fullest story of how I got on.
But in brief, one SEAT dealer told me (at service a month or so following accident) that handbrake only needed adjustment. After more months, the stickiness in the cable getting worse, and a few more incidents of the handbrake flying off (at traffic lights as I now had a more rigorous parking routine) I stopped by a different SEAT dealer and tried the handbrake on a new Leon, was shocked at the difference (and so was the salesman) so he wheeled me to the service department who agreed, and the car was booked in to be looked at.
New handbrake cables were fitted (that was what I was told, anyway) and the difference was wonderful. Only now did I come to the realisation that the stickiness in the cable was what has been preventing me from feeling the handbrake ratchet engage properly. So I wrote to SEAT and they offered to pay for my next annual service by way of compensation. Most of this verbal, the free service info came in an email, probably nothing there that actually admitted liability, but nevertheless I contacted my insurer (LV=) who agreed to reclassify the accident as "no fault" and I got a refund of my excess plus a small refund on my renewal premium which had taken a hit.
My letter to SEAT (1st July 2016) certainly did suggest that I thought a recall was in order. Whatever the sticky handbrake cable contributes to stopping the ratchet engaging properly might be something that can be argued about, but the fact that the spring on the pawl isn't strong enough (to pull it into the next ratchet tooth when it slips off one) seems a no-brainer, it simply needs a stronger spring. It was clear that SEAT were not going to keep me informed what came out of their investigations, so I had no way of knowing whether a recall would be the result.
Sorry for delay in replying, I'm right in the middle of "life-changing issues" (in a good way, I think !). I note you already contacted SEAT, if I were you I'd copy everything you found on this forum and the RAC forum to support your case. If we could get private messages working I'd send you my case number with SEAT Customer Support, but honestly if you show them these threads they will recognise me anyway !
On a lighter note !
Not sure at what stage i signed up for the emailed "SEAT News", but a copy arrived today.
Could not help noticing an article "SEAT 'MISSING CAR' EXPERIENCE". Yes, really ! But not about SEATs that rolled away due to handbrake failure, apparently its a bit of a "spot the ball" derivative to celebrate the fact that SEAT are sponsors of ITV mystery dramas.
See https://www.missingcar.com
Not sure at what stage i signed up for the emailed "SEAT News", but a copy arrived today.
Could not help noticing an article "SEAT 'MISSING CAR' EXPERIENCE". Yes, really ! But not about SEATs that rolled away due to handbrake failure, apparently its a bit of a "spot the ball" derivative to celebrate the fact that SEAT are sponsors of ITV mystery dramas.
See https://www.missingcar.com
Am I the only one that always uses the brake when putting the handbrake on? I didn't realise it was a common thing 
Anyone ever get a definite outcome for this?
We had really stormy weather last night, car alarm went off and the car was on the other side of the street with the handbrake still up. Luckily no damage to anything or anybody.
Only thing I can think is the wind has been enough to rock the car and make the handbrake slip on the ratchet thus allowing it to roll.
I’ve been out today and it all seems normal tho I’m leaving a chock at the wheel when it’s parked until I get it properly checked.
With the handbrake up and trying to drive, the car is solid so very strange!
We had really stormy weather last night, car alarm went off and the car was on the other side of the street with the handbrake still up. Luckily no damage to anything or anybody.
Only thing I can think is the wind has been enough to rock the car and make the handbrake slip on the ratchet thus allowing it to roll.
I’ve been out today and it all seems normal tho I’m leaving a chock at the wheel when it’s parked until I get it properly checked.
With the handbrake up and trying to drive, the car is solid so very strange!
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