Parking Brake Anomalies

[Fozzie1960]

Over the last week I've noticed different behaviour from the parking brake. When I come to a complete stop I switch off the engine, up until last week the gearbox would go into park mode and the parking brake would engage. I've noticed that the parking brake is intermittently not engaging, e.g. on Saturday parked on the drive, switched engine off, gearbox into P mode, PB engaged. Did the same thing on Sunday, but this time the PB did not engage.

Anyone else experienced this?

 

[wideboybloke]

We've discussed this before. It has something to do with the order in which you switch off and press P and the drive select setting you're in. I've given up trying to remember as I don't drive the car every day. If you search under parking brake, you're bound to find the thread.

 

[Colh]

I prefer the version in the Golf.

Stop car. Take key out of ignition. Parking brake applies itself. No forgetting whether you've done anything in the wrong order, or forgetting to do it manually.

Same automotive group - you'd think they would learn something from a 4-5 year old VW model by now.

 

[cuke2u]

However there is no key so it wouldn't apply. Thing is it does engage park on the stronic and the parking brake when I press the start button to turn off the engine, and I perform the same action every day, however it only randomly seems to work.

 

[basegreen]

Mine also does this. Started to wonder if it's only applied when not on a level surface.

 

[cuke2u]

Nope, my driveway is more or less level and it's random there too.

 

[Kestrel]

Yeah, mine's the same...never know who's in control!

 

[hmy7k]

Mine has never engaged automatically, I have to use the button whatever the order I do things in.
I normally only used P anyway unless I am on a hill.

As Colh says the Golf version is much better, it always puts the handbrake on when you switch the ignition off.

 

[mjcourtney]

Mine is also "random", or at least I haven't figured out the logic behind when it does or doesn't apply the handbrake. My usual stop routine is come to a halt with the foot brake, press the start/stop button to switch off the engine, undo my seatbelt. Around 1 in 3 times it'll automatically apply the handbrake. I don't change my drive select mode (always in individual), and my driveway is level. Something I'm missing I'm sure!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[cuke2u]

Mine has never engaged automatically, I have to use the button whatever the order I do things in.
I normally only used P anyway unless I am on a hill.

As Colh says the Golf version is much better, it always puts the handbrake on when you switch the ignition off.

My A3 always used to apply the brake as well, although it was a manual gearbox...

 

[Candell]

Yep, completely random here too despite the same routine.

I also notice that sometimes the car doesn't turn on at the first press, same routine getting into the car ever day, sometimes the engine starts, others I need another press.

 

[cuke2u]

Nope, brake, button, engine starts first time every time

 

[iambu]

Mine sometimes doesn't start first time either. Should we be pressing the button and then releasing it, or hold the button in until engine has started?

 

[PhxViper]

Mine auto applies on my drive every time, but it is very steep and I still always check before taking foot off the brake anyway.

On any flat service, it never puts the the handbrake on for me. I always pull up. Start/Stop kills the engine (Ready Mode on Dash). Press P, Put Parking Brake on. Take Seat Belt Off (This turns the Engine into Off on Dash). Get out and Lock and it turns the car off.

 

[cuke2u]

Mine sometimes doesn't start first time either. Should we be pressing the button and then releasing it, or hold the button in until engine has started?

I press and release no need to hold it in. In fact with my a3 manual I'd dab the start button, then pressed the clutch and whilst the engine was starting put on the seat belt. However you can't do that with the stronic gearbox...

 

[cuke2u]

Hell yes it works with the a4, stab the start button once, dab the brake pedal and the car automatically starts whilst putting on the seat belt. Makes for a quck getaway...

 

[BigAardvaark]

Mine's the same as iambu, seems random as to whether it needs one or two pokes of the start button before the motor fires, made a concious effort last night to ensure foot was well planted on brake, etc, all systems lit up, rev counter stayed at "off", second prod was required. 10 minutes later, same procedure, one poke only. Odd, will keep a mental log, see if I can work out the criteria the car's using..... Cuke -- you mention seat belt, is the engine starting before you clunk-click?

My parking brake applies itself every single time I reverse onto my drive and just put it in Park. Doesn't seem to do this anywhere else, seems to know I'm home!

 

[cuke2u]

Might be because your is a diesel? Yes the engine starts as soon as I press the brake pedal then put on the seat belt...

 

[BigAardvaark]

Could be a glow-plug from cold thing.... On previous cars that's just been a slight delay, could be the culprit though. Candell's is a diesel too, no sig on iambu's post...

 

[The Silverfox]

I get the same issues with the parking brake when turning the engine off and the engine sometimes not starting on the first press.

The parking brake coming on or not when stopping the engine seems completely random, although I'm sure it isn't.

I assumed the engine not starting was because it was cold and the glo plugs needed to warm up first, but after waiting a while I still have to give it a second press sometimes.

 

[iambu]

Yep mine is a diesel, 2.0 TDi 190

 

[BigAardvaark]

Did a cold start last night after 24hrs parked, 3 degrees, started with one prod. I don't get it....

 

[cuke2u]

Perhaps Audi have done these things deliberately to keep us amused...