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Topic: automatic brake VW Passat

cookie138

21/11/2014 at 5:50pm
Location: banbury
Outfit: Lunar Clubman SI

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Just changed my 05 VW Passat ( The most wonderful tower I've ever had ). Now have a brand new 2 ltr. Passat. It has an automatic hand brake and in the manual it says not to use but to override the automatic system when towing caravan. Has anyone experienced using this braking system when towing? Advice would be welcome.

IainM

21/11/2014 at 6:18pm
Location: West Lothian
Outfit: 20 XC60 B5 18 Elegance 580

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The one thing I do like about my Tiguan is the auto handbrake. Otherwise it has been a real let down, hence it is getting traded in shortly round about the time of its first birthday.

Anyway been towing with it all season using the auto handbrake, has worked well. Have only over ridden it when positioning the van on site as it can cut in at strange moments.

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2020 Volvo XC60 B5 R Design Geartronic / 2018 Swift Elegance 580

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Iain

camcroft

21/11/2014 at 6:19pm
Location: Lincolnshire
Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 SE 2011

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I have a 2008 Passat is it the push button setting near the gearstick mine hasn't got an handbrake lever did your 05 model have one

JuanHuNose

21/11/2014 at 7:00pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Volvo V60 & Swift Challenger 565

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I had one on a `56 Passat Sport Estate with an electronic handbrake and it was - at best - utter garbage.

Had numerous new switches, software upgrades, etc, but never got better than rubbish.

The `auto-release` worked when it wanted, which wasn`t much fun at traffic lights when you went to set off and the car would just squat down at the rear. At least you got a good view of who was about to rear-end you when they expected you to set off.

Even better was the brakes refusal to release (either automatically OR manually) if used on a really steep (1 in 4) incline.

Just another aspect of an abysmal car that was riddled with suspension problems, rattles and needed two new engines in 72K miles. A great idea let down by under-development and shocking quality control.

My 5-series has one and works fine, but I`d still prefer a good old-fashioned lever.

Median

22/11/2014 at 6:39am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 510 4

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While, admittedly, I am quite new to this lark I have a '62 Passat Estate with auto hold & handbrake and have never felt the need to override it.

The auto-hold function makes pulling away on inclines very easy and I very quickly got over the feeling that the car would roll away if I wasn't actively holding it! I am also quite a light braker so sometimes the auto-hold wasn't activating enough to hold the car. This was easily solved by simply getting into the habit of applying a little more pressure to the brake pedal once the car had come to a halt.

The handbrake works well. The only minor annoyance I've found with it is that it only activates (or deactivates) automatically if the driver has their seatbelt on - so positioning or getting in/out multiple times for barriers etc. takes a little longer. As a safety feature though this works well and probably has the intended effect as I now never remove my seatbelt until I get to a full stop, or try to drive away without it on. Of course it's possible to override by manually putting the handbrake on/off with the switch, I just found it simpler to always clunk-click. Apparently there is a specific way to use it to do hill starts if the auto hold fails or is not effective enough on steeper inclines. I should probably learn what it is.

The problems some have encountered with the brake has apparently been solved with the later models, according to the internet, and I've had no problems with mine (yet... Although it has recently had a new clutch & flywheel! Thank goodness for warranties).

Hope that helps.

chelseafc

22/11/2014 at 1:18pm
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I have a C5 with an electric handbrake and love it.

When towing this summer I never had to override it.

kojack

22/11/2014 at 5:44pm
Location: None Entered
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I have an automatic handbrake on my car, works perfectly every time and i just love it.

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Kojack

Red Mick

24/11/2014 at 9:39pm
Location: Doncaster
Outfit: Eldiss Oddysey 482

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I have an '09 Passat DSG, with electric brake, I never use it in auto mode, as I found it too irritating in stop start traffic.
I do find that even in manual, it sometimes doesn't release, may be something I'm doing, I don't know. Still prefer it to a manual handbrake.

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It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere

Boston600

02/12/2014 at 9:36pm
Location: None Entered
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I've gone the other way. Just changed to an old vectra from an Audi a4 avante and the most enjoyable thing about my vectra is the old style, no fuss hand brake. It puts a smile on my face every time I use it.

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