Handbrake issues

[paulo74]

Another handbrake gone

Mine has just gone on a 2014 FR (2 1/2 years old). Brake applied in car park at work, 30 mins later the car is kissing a metal fence causing some light front bumper damage. Handbrake has gone completely, not sure if it's a snapped cable or something in the lever mechanism. Phoned Seat customer services, completely un-helpful & don't seem too mithered with safety issues!

 

[Deleted member 112892]

Screaming alarm and ran off down a hill

My 2015 Seat Leon 1.2 Technology had a handbrake failure today. I parked it on a hill got out and walked up the drive into my friends house and went inside. Next thing my car alarm was going off and so I went out to see what was happening and my car was gone. I looked to the left and it was at the bottom of the hill crashed into a gate. Handbrake was then in the off position however if it was definitely on when I parked up.
Took car to SEAT dealership and they checked it and said handbrake is fine.
I am going to contact the manufacturer. Has anyone had any success with this yet?

 

[noonoo63]

My 2015 Seat Leon 1.2 Technology had a handbrake failure today. I parked it on a hill got out and walked up the drive into my friends house and went inside. Next thing my car alarm was going off and so I went out to see what was happening and my car was gone. I looked to the left and it was at the bottom of the hill crashed into a gate. Handbrake was then in the off position however if it was definitely on when I parked up.
Took car to SEAT dealership and they checked it and said handbrake is fine.
I am going to contact the manufacturer. Has anyone had any success with this yet?

Had exactly the same issue on my last car a Golf, car rolled back into iron railings causing bumper damage and wrecked my mudflaps so a couple of hundred to get it all fixed, so from then on have always left that car and this one in gear at all times when parked even on the level. If you depress the brake pedal while applying the handbrake it does come up further but ever since my last experience I do not trust VAG handbrakes. Of course when it is checked at the dealership everything is okay, sods law.

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[MadeInYorkshire]

Just recently got a 64 reg Leon ST 1.8 FR DSG.
Since I got the car I thought the handbrake was pretty hard to pull up and worked out that Seat in their cost cutting wisdom had left the lever in the LHD position.
Over the last few days I've started getting back and side ache and couldn't work out why. Today while out in the car I used the handbrake and felt a twinge down my side. I suspect this is the reason for my back ache.
The more I use this Leon the less impressed I am with it.

 

[hybrid713]

Guys there is an official solution.

When you're applying the handbrake, put your foot hard on the brake pedal first and whilst applying pressure to the brake pedal, pull up the handbrake. You'll notice the handbrake will now allow you to pull it up higher.

This is how you apply a greater hold on the car.

One you do this, the handbrake has some immense holding power. More so than any other I've had the pleasure of using!

It states this in the handbook too.

I was told by a VW technician at my local VW dealer when I had a mk6 golf. The system is the same in my Leon.

Interesting to know, which might explain why never had issues with handbrake not holding my FR 150 - apart from the times I forgot to pull it up

Having said that I always notice the car would jerk few seconds after I lift off the brake pedals before the handbrakes takes over - suspect this is to do with the hillhold?

 

[BenH]

I can’t believe people apply handbrakes without putting their foot on the brake and why people don’t leave their car in gear on a steep slope? Maybe that’s just me!

As for the jerk, yes you’re right, coming off the brake once the handbrake is applied is just the car lifting off the hill hold and sitting onto the handbrake


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[LouG]

Interesting to know, which might explain why never had issues with handbrake not holding my FR 150 - apart from the times I forgot to pull it up

Having said that I always notice the car would jerk few seconds after I lift off the brake pedals before the handbrakes takes over - suspect this is to do with the hillhold?

When you release the brakes, weight transfers to the front because the front brakes are not holding, raising the rear on the suspension.

 

[CBRED]

Mine rolled today whilst at the gym. Mate shouted and alarm sounding , lucky for me it stopped short of the bins that were behind . Got in and checked handbrake was applied (defo) . Tried to push the car with a mate and it wouldn’t budge at all. I now leave it in gear every time I leave it .

 

[LouG]

How can it roll on it's own, but not with two guys pushing? Do you live in the Twilight Zone?

 

[CBRED]

It rolled down a small incline and stopped short of the bins . I checked that I had applied the handbrake and they tried to push the car . They couldn’t move it .

 

[LouG]

Was the car locked? Is someone winding you up? It rolled just so far and stopped on it's own?
I'd test it on a steep road while sitting in it.
Having said that, the old time mechanic in me doesn't altogether trust things that haven't got cables and pipes, good old physical things. You can't rely on electricity really. After all, it's just smoke.

 

[IbizaNI]

The handbrake in my 2015 1.4 EcoTsi felt rough and like as though when pulling it up it was rubbing against something so I brought it to the dealers and they replaced the cables under warranty.

However, the hill hold no longer seems to hold for as long as it did before, I even thought they had disabled it when changing the handbrake and forgot to re-activate it so took it back to them, but they said its fine when they tested it out again as the mechanic said that it's meant to only hold for about 2 seconds, whereas before if I planted the foot right down on the brake and let go it would hold the car there until I touched the accelerator again, meaning I didn't have to use the handbrake when I was stopped at lights whereas now I have to use the handbrake everytime.

Anyone else experience this at all?

 

[chrisRibiza]

For anyone searching, I had the car roll off down the driveway and across the street with the handbrake still on. It was a very windy night so the force of the wind may have assisted the car in moving.

Left the car with the dealer, initial thought by them was the cables but after taking everything apart they have fitted a complete new handbrake lever and they said the cables are fine.

Handbrake feels completely different now so hopefully that’s it sorted.