Handbrake On New Galaxy

[Buncers]

I bought a brand new (2009 plate) Galaxy ghia, in June. Recently parked it in a car park and returned to find it had rolled into another car and a bank (costly repair to the front and wing). The handbrake was on.

 

The dealer checked it out and claimed there was nothing wrong with the handbrake. The mechanic claimed I should be pulling the lever up as far as it will go (about 1 foot out). This seems pretty unreasonable considering the effort needed.

 

Having driven many cars in the past have only ever pulled a handbrake lever up until it bites or just beyond and never as far as they are suggesting for this new galaxy.

 

Anyone suggest who I should take this up with, since my guess is Fraud will try and dodge the issue.

[sparky Paul]

I bought a brand new (2009 plate) Galaxy ghia, in June. Recently parked it in a car park and returned to find it had rolled into another car and a bank (costly repair to the front and wing). The handbrake was on.

 

The dealer checked it out and claimed there was nothing wrong with the handbrake. The mechanic claimed I should be pulling the lever up as far as it will go (about 1 foot out). This seems pretty unreasonable considering the effort needed.

 

Having driven many cars in the past have only ever pulled a handbrake lever up until it bites or just beyond and never as far as they are suggesting for this new galaxy.

 

Anyone suggest who I should take this up with, since my guess is Fraud will try and dodge the issue.

Sorry to hear about that, sounds like a complicated mess. :(

 

I'm not familiar with the new Galaxy, and although it is an all-new design, I'm guessing the handbrake acts on the discs, the same as the old one. One of the problems with this is that if the discs are very hot when the handbrake is applied, they contract as they cool and the handbrake is released slightly - and in rare cases enough to allow the car to move.

 

Because of this, the handbook for cars with this type of handbrake usually states that the car should be left in gear, or in 'Park' in the case of an automatic, securing the driving wheels. I would check your handbook carefully for this, but bear in mind that it could work in favour of you or the dealer... :)

 

Where it gets tricky is determining how hard you have to pull the handbrake on. Again, I would examine the exact wording is in the vehicle's handbook carefully, and how this fits with what the dealer has told you. If the wording in the handbook does not tally with the dealers advice after the event, I cannot see how you are expected to know how to use the handbrake if it is different to the norm.

 

If you wish to take the matter further, I would start by visiting your local Trading Standards office, and I would be looking around the internet for evidence of other handbrake failures to support your theory.

Edited September 1, 2009 by sparky Paul

[insider]

The manual states that you should press the brake pedal firmly first then apply the handbrake without pressing the release button. It also suggests putting it in gear if parking on a hill. Other than that there's nothing special.