Just curious really. We have a sloping driveway so when I use the car I just let it run back down the drive in neutral, engage first gear at the bottom and drive away. I am puzzled by the handbrake: when I release it I expect the car to roll (you would wouldn't you?!) but there is a second or so before the brakes actually release. What is that about? Is the handbrake lever just an electric switch rather than the usual mechanical thing?

Presuming you have a more recent Octavia III, but most of the cars have a function called "Hill Hold", which acts as a temporary electronic handbrake in addition to the mechanical level handbrake / parking brake. 

 

"Hill Hold" basically acts almost like a handbrake when doing a hill start in an older car - allowing you to have time to match the revs and balance on the clutch before moving away. With this electronic aid, you can sit on a hill with the footbrake on (rather than handbrake), then release it and the car will hold itself for 1-2 seconds before releasing the brakes, allowing you to do clutch balancing / pulling away in that time - minimising the use for the traditional handbrake.

 

I would presume that's happening with you - I also have a sloping driveway, but reverse out in a similar way. 'Hill Hold' sometimes catches the car if you've had your foot on the footbrake to start the car and then release it.

 

Either way, it's totally normal  

 

Edit: 2 x articles here with descriptions (probably better than mine):

• Drive Tribe
• Skoda Auto

Edited 3 August, 20205 yr by Ads230

Thanks @Ads230. Quick reply, full information, links!  I feel bad now because I couldn't be bothered to search!

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

Always helps to be helpful! 😉 But you're very welcome

I am totally sure Ads230's info is correct but on traditional set-ups (No hill hold) This will indicate that the handbrake mechanism has jammed or stuck temporarily... The usual cause for this is sticking brakes, due to corrosion which in turn is caused by winter road salt.weather and/or carwash/jet washing the area and then not drying it out. The easiest way to dry it out is to drive a bit after any wash and also, with a little bit of braking either by foot or even by handbrake so as to heat and dry the parts that would jam up. Regular lubing of brake components will also help prevent this. (Not pads and discs, shoes and drums surfaces it must be noted)!

I add this as other may see your post and have sticking brakes without the hill hold. As I say, I think your issue is not an issue and was addressed earlier.😀

Thanks @mrgf Makes sense. It is a 2016 SE L TDi. It is the wife's car so I haven't bothered to see what equipment/toys it has. (In fact I washed my hands of the whole purchase after I found her several cars that fitted her criteria: not black or white, no leather, must have heated seats and max price £10k. She rejected those and bought this one which is black, has leather, no heated seats and cost £11k!!).

FYI my 2016 SEL Tdi has the hill hold function.  Its quite reassuring as engages on the just the shallowest of slopes.  

 

 

Edited 3 August, 20205 yr by paulski

Thanks @paulski