Scary A3 Moment !!!

[TFSI]

Pulled into our drive which has a slight slope to the single garage like i have done for the last 30 years.

Applied the hand brake and switched off

Walked to the garage and opened the door

Walked to the back of the car and retrieved numerous bags for the wife

Picked up a 50 litre bag of compost and was off to the rear of the house when level with the front N/S wing i hear a click and the A3's on the move

Beat it into the garage still holding my compost and put a knee to the front bumper the wife was also holding the passenger door handle

It went half way in and just touched one mirror has it came in (Electric folders were specced for this reason) Its a snug fit in quite a small garage that houses now have.

When i climb aboard finally the hand brakes completely off but after loads off messing about seems perfect

Totally confused at the mo but very lucky not to have dents and scrapes to the sides or front

Very lucky it was lined up to the garage perfectly else i would of been sobbin

Not had a prob in the past at all, A3's for the last 7 years and no issues

Any body else had similar

The handbrake had to be on, i just dont forget handbrakes after driving 44 tonners for many years

 

[A3TDI2.0]

Mine 'slipped' out of its position just as I was about to get out, first and only time its done this, I now give it a good pull each time!

 

[jars]

i had a similar experience with my girlfriends peugeot 206 cc couple of years ago..... rolled 150 meters down the road into the neighbours volvo!!

glad to hear your incident was less expensive!!

 

[vw754]

glad ive got a habit of putting the car into gear everytime i park it up lol

 

[Scott]

eek that's scary. I also put it into gear every time I park up, even though it's rare I'll park on anything but flat stones/gravel at home/work.

 

[bambam]

same here...mines always left in gear (mainly due to owning numerous sheds that have shht handbrakes!)
Glad to hear it was a lucky/cheap escape though!

 

[voorhees]

Human error could be a factor,my missus years ago came out to her car (meant to be on the drive) but halfway down the road and swore she left the hand brake on.
Did you have a phone call or were distracted from the routine of ignition off,handbrake on,seatbelt off ?

 

[manufc4eva]

Ive had the exact same thing!!! I live on a slope so I ALWAYS check the handbrake is on properly but it has still happened to me, but i also leave it in gear with the wheel turned inwards.

 

[a3_dan]

Close shave mate! Never happened to me as always leave it in gear.

Im too paranoid just to use handbrake, also due to the previous wrecks that I have had before where the handbrake has been next to useless!

 

[Pii]

Do you have an armrest? If so it actually blocks the handbreak being pulled up completely. Bit of a flaw in the design!

I've also read elswhere about the brake discs heating iirc and how with the A3 you should yank the handbreak up completely to it's top.

Audi - Premium Brand? Or Premium pants?

 

[crypric23]

I have not owned a manual for some years but if i do drive one , i have always left it in gear , i know it is a bad habit , just have always done it
no chance of that rolling away.

 

[Brett Butler]

it is not uncommon for cars to move even with hand break on on a slope after being driving in different circumstances or hot weather the discs and pads cool down, and this can lose its grip hence car can move, why I leave mine in Gear

 

[Audi-Rog]

Do you have an armrest? If so it actually blocks the handbreak being pulled up completely. Bit of a flaw in the design!

I've also read elswhere about the brake discs heating iirc and how with the A3 you should yank the handbreak up completely to it's top.

Audi - Premium Brand? Or Premium pants?

I second this scenario! Happen to me when parking the car on a very steep drive.

I have an armrest and thought I'd pulled it up to the top (but hadn't), went out to get something from the car and had the feeling it had moved (about a foot down the drive) !

But I couldn't be completely sure, then got in the car to go and the car started to creek down the drive! I then pulled the hand brake up further and was then rock solid......thank god!!

I had visions of it travelling down the drive into oncoming traffic

So as said, if you have an armrest to pull the handbrake all the way up and put in gear, hopefully that will cover you for any more potential heart attacks!:icon_thumright:

Rog

 

[TFSI]

Certainly do have an armrest and yes it makes it more difficult to apply the handbrake. Good Shout. Will get in the habit of leaving in gear cos you have to depress the clutch for it to start and this will stop the wife from lurching forward.

Cheers

 

[percymon]

Sounds to me like the handbrake lever didn't fully engage the step on the ratchet, and then slipped off so quickly to miss the next step down.

Always leave the car in gear and if on a steep hill turn the wheels towards the kerb.

 

[JonRola]

It's not a 'bad habit' to leave your car in (1st) gear along with the handbrake on. It's like having a backup brake and as long you know that you should always floor the clutch while starting any car (thus reducing drag on the starter motor even in neutral) then it's something I would recommend.
A bad habit is pulling the handbrake without pressing the handbrake button which results in a loud ratchet click. Over time this can cause smoothing of the ratchet teeth and a possible 'tooth jump' which may result in handbrake failure. You should use your handbrake so as never to hear the ratchet click!