My Superb is a taxi.  The handbrake has become detached from under the lever.

 

It happened a couple of weeks back, was sorted and then popped off again last night.  The garage will fix it but cannot get in till Monday.

 

I am not sure about whether it is safe to stop the car on an incline, leave it in gear, switch off engine to get stuff out boot?  My thoughts are that gravity may overcome inertia?

How steep is the hill?

 

It would have to be really steep to turn the engine over and move the car.

 

Phil

Well the hill could be almost any gradient, all depends who I pick up!

Does your taxi licence allow for driving a vehicle that may not be fit for the job? I would have thought this was a primary safety issue.

Edited 6 February, 201511 yr by Bristolf2b

Does your taxi licence allow for driving a vehicle that may not be fit for the job? I would have thought this was a primary safety issue.

 

Yup, that is kind of where I am coming from too.  I work evenings so don't actually use the handbrake a lot as it is mostly revellers rather than those with shopping.  I will contact the council man and check to keep myself right.

If you have to park it on a slope, turn the wheels so the front wheel is pushed against the kerb when the car goes downhill. This should stop it moving. Even when you have a working handbrake it's a good idea to do this on steep slopes anyway as the car can't accelerate down the hill in any circumstance if you do this.

Have to say, at the risk of being a party pooper, I am surprised a professional driver is trying to work out whether breaking the law is OK or not. If it is a Taxi then it should be kept to at least the standard of my car and probably everyone else on here.

The handbrake is your back up brake or emergency brake , of course its not safe for it to be non functional

Have to say, at the risk of being a party pooper, I am surprised a professional driver is trying to work out whether breaking the law is OK or not. If it is a Taxi then it should be kept to at least the standard of my car and probably everyone else on here.

 

I wasn't, I was genuinely wondering if it was safe.  I was pretty sure I knew what the answer was but sometimes it is good to hear confirmation.

 

I had called the council for clarification and they have replied so now have a weekend off.

You don't know your own strength lol. I had someone Park mine on the flat drive outside my house, when i went to move it i could only just release the lever as it was on so tight! Without the brake on even if there had been an earthquake it couldn't have rolled anywhere, i only leave car in gear normally

I wouldn't leave a car in gear with the handbrake off and expect that to reliably hold it in place. It's not designed to do this. If one of the front wheels loses grip the whole car will move very easily thanks to the front differential without the engine turning at all. The handbrake holds the car independently at both rear calipers, so it's a lot more likely to keep the car in place.

 

Also I've seen a couple of mentions of VW petrol engines where the timing belt can jump on its cogs if the engine is driven in the wrong direction by using it as a parking brake, which often destroys the engine as soon as it's started again. Putting the car in reverse while parking pointed uphill and 1st while pointed downhill isn't a bad idea if you have one of the petrol engines just in case, but the handbrake should always be the primary means of holding the car in place.

Bear in mind the handbrake is only holding a  thin cable taut and if you are in the habit of using the brake forcefully you'll fatigue the cable and away she goes....

Edited 9 February, 201511 yr by peterposh