Vx Insignia Handbrake: Am I an idiot?

[TeaNoSugar]

I'm really pissed off with myself. The car rolled backwards this morning after I'd parked it at the petrol station, only about 3ft but enough to catch the drivers door against the petrol pump and force it open to almost 90 degrees. I thought it was going to snap off when it happened! I managed to jump back in and stand on the brake but too late, and there's enough damage to the door edge and the hinges to make me think we'll get fleeced for a silly amount of money when we take it in for repair.

What I want to know is: Is it just me or has this happened to many other owners?

I feel like a complete tool, but I could've sworn I put the "handbrake" on, because the car didn't start rolling immediately, it seemed securely stopped until I'd opened the door, got out, and turned around to undo the fuel filler cap, only then did it start rolling, probably 4-5 seconds after I'd pulled the switch up and let my foot off the brake.

I'm guessing it's just me to be honest, but in the past 15 years since I started driving I've never managed to have a runaway car until this one!

[Kiltox]

Electronic parking brake I assume?

Should go on automatically when the engine is turned off, should it not? One in my Laguna did.

[SMcP114]

Is this the silly handbrake button I have too, that the only thing showing whether it's on or off is the smallest light in the world on the dash, helpfully tucked out of sight behind the steering wheel?

[Frog Dog]

Kiltox said:

Electronic parking brake I assume?

Should go on automatically when the engine is turned off, should it not? One in my Laguna did.

Renaults do.

Vauxhalls don't.

You need to pull the lever up. My grandad always does the 'double tap' and puts his on twice.

[Fleckers]

park in gear

problem resolved

my boss has one of these cars and hates it

[Kiltox]

Frog Dog said:

Renaults do.

Vauxhalls don't.

You need to pull the lever up. My grandad always does the 'double tap' and puts his on twice.

That sucks

[OldSkoolRS]

The Audi ones don't go on automatically either, though the button does work even with the key out of the ignition, but only to put the brake on of course, not the other way round.

I thought having one for the last two cars would make me lazy and forget how to use a real handbrake, but driving the OH's Mini proves that hasn't happened. I'd still prefer to have a proper handbrake on my next car though but they seem to be taking over on new cars...

[Kiltox]

OldSkoolRS said:

The Audi ones don't go on automatically either, though the button does work even with the key out of the ignition, but only to put the brake on of course, not the other way round.

I thought having one for the last two cars would make me lazy and forget how to use a real handbrake, but driving the OH's Mini proves that hasn't happened. I'd still prefer to have a proper handbrake on my next car though but they seem to be taking over on new cars...

I loved the Renault system but I'm sure I'd have one of these situations if I now drove a car that didn't apply it automatically when you kill the ignition

I did have my Laguna run away from me when I forgot to apply the handbrake as I got out with the engine running to open a gate

[OldSkoolRS]

So which was quicker: taking the key out to cut the ignition and put the brake on, pressing the button or jumping in and stamping on the brake? Or did you do the superman thing and stop the car with your bare hands? Probably all four in the panic if you're like me.

Actually I remember now that I came out from a customer's reception and saw my old Passat stuck half way across the car park. I'd obviously forgot to put on the electronic brake, but I'd been in the boot and got my tools, etc out and it hadn't moved until I'd gone inside.

[Kiltox]

Luckily the window was open so I just pulled the handbrake switch hard and it stopped

Had only owned it for 5 minutes and it was heading towards a pallet of bricks

[redtwin]

Another advantage of an autobox. Stick it in park and the handbrake can do (or not do) whatever it likes.

Only need the handbrake once a year and even then only for a second or two to get through the MOT.

[CampDavid]

On the Laguna it works. On the Insignia it doesn't.

Vauxhall has created a very good car with the Insignia, They then ruined it with that handbrake

[TeaNoSugar]

OK, so not just me then.

I still think its a crap feature on the car, and it very nearly resulted in me being squashed between the drivers door and a petrol pump this morning!

Oh well, st happens, at least I didn't "do a Brian Harvey".
I'll just have to break the bad news to our fleet manager and see what he says.

[Markp13]

You didn't by any chance leave the engine running and blip the throttle after engaging the handbrake?

I have noticed it releases after doing so, as has my garage door!!

[Kiltox]

Markp13 said:

You didn't by any chance leave the engine running and blip the throttle after engaging the handbrake?

I have noticed it releases after doing so, as has my garage door!!

Why would he leave the engine running when filling up?

It's not supposed to release after doing so BTW - I'm pretty sure Vauxhall have a field service remedy for this.

[OldSkoolRS]

Surely you have to raise the clutch a bit too (while blipping the throttle) for the handbrake to 'switch off' or is that unique to the VAG cars I've had? Plus with mine you have to be wearing your seatbelt for the handbrake to go off or press on the footbrake while pressing the handbrake button.

[eldar]

Electronic parking brakes are pointless, I think. The old system was simple, reliable and worked. The electronic ones are complex, non-intuitive, expensive and do nothing better than the old ones.

Why do they do it?

[Kiltox]

OldSkoolRS said:

Surely you have to raise the clutch a bit too (while blipping the throttle) for the handbrake to 'switch off' or is that unique to the VAG cars I've had? Plus with mine you have to be wearing your seatbelt for the handbrake to go off or press on the footbrake while pressing the handbrake button.

I think there's a fault with the Vauxhalls that do this - as I say I'm pretty sure Vauxhall have a field service remedy for this problem. Related to a dodgy clutch switch I think

[Kong]

A couple of years ago my E32 740i BMW had a problem with the autobox so it wouldn't go in reverse, so we had to push it backwards onto my drive.

It took a huge amount of effort to get it rolling but only then did we realise the drivers door had been left open. All we could do was stand and watch as the open door collided with the brick gatepost and bent it almost 180 degrees round to be flush with front wing.

I was amazed that the door worked perfectly afterwards, I guess they don't build them like they used to!

[CampDavid]

It worries me that this got through. I don't get how it got signed off, it's such a fundamental flaw.