Electronic Parking Brake in Golf 7

[flight]

What do som of these folk in the passenger seat get up to?

Other contributors have suggested that a passenger may reach out to open the centre console storage compartment without looking and could activate the parking brake unintentionally. My point is that the parking brake control should be on the DRIVER's side of the console and thus harder for the passenger to reach accidentally. It looks like this was overlooked when translating the design from Left Hand Drive to Right Hand Drive.

[Mountainman]

Other contributors have suggested that a passenger may reach out to open the centre console storage compartment without looking and could activate the parking brake unintentionally. My point is that the parking brake control should be on the DRIVER's side of the console and thus harder for the passenger to reach accidentally. It looks like this was overlooked when translating the design from Left Hand Drive to Right Hand Drive.

It would make no difference. It would move it only a matter of cm's. But you are right, those sort of things (like the indicators) should be part of the change to right hand drive.

[raygti]

Suggest to me what situation would make the split service brakes fail. There are essentially two parallel systems. How would you make both fail at the same time?

Also, if the e-brake system was not fail-safe for the things it is used for, it wouldn't be in the vehicle.

there have already been situations where the hand brake has been stuck or not disengaging..

i guess a situation would be if the car lost electric power suddenly , how would you use the emergency brake for a controlled stop....

more sh.t to go wrong ...

i also dont like push start buttons , just gimmicky. have a toyota with it ...

every man to their own i suppose

[kry_wolf]

Whilst driving through the city today, my 13 yr old nephew (who was sitting in the front seat, bad idea...) pressed the EPB button (out of curiosity, without asking what the button does... grr) whilst the car was travelling at 40-50 km/h, the car jolted and a warning symbol appeared in the MFD along with a message reading something like "electronic park brake activated". Of course I was mad at him but I then started to wonder if it could cause any problems. Likelihood of this causing problems/damage?

Note: The car kept driving after he pressed it, it didn't actually stop. Also, the car has been fine since then, no strange noises or warning messages appearing.

[Paul_R]

Of course I was mad at him but I then started to wonder if it could cause any problems. Likelihood of this causing problems/damage?

Yes. He needs to learn not to touch things that belong to others, without asking permission first. If he doesn't learn that he will have problems later in life. Lol

As for the car, unlikely to be an issue. I'm sure VW engineers (never mind legal / PR people) forsaw that particular scenario. I'm glad it does work, but for different reasons that hoons would be happy it works.

[Umai Naa!!]

It won't lock the brakes or anything.

If you hold it on, it will do an 'emergency stop". I recommend people try it at say 30km/h in a quiet street somewhere so they know it does in case they actually need it...

[cheapasiangeo]

Generally with any sort of parking brake these days if you engage it, it'll just pop a warning that you shouldn't be doing it at that speed or make a beeping sound.

Source: handbrakies in the company car

[kry_wolf]

It won't lock the brakes or anything.

If you hold it on, it will do an 'emergency stop". I recommend people try it at say 30km/h in a quiet street somewhere so they know it does in case they actually need it...

Ahh okay, so what happens when its pressed quickly (like he did). The car did jolt but didnt come to a stop, would it have been partially activated?

[hoi polloi]

Don't forget the park brake is also the emergency brake (used in case of loss of fluid from both systems)...

I shouldn't think there'd be lasting damage actuating it when driving but just like the old fashioned mechanical version you wouldn't wanna do it often...

- Anthony

[Wagoneer]

Sorry if I'm being dumber than usual, but did the nephew press the button down (ie normal release function if car is at rest), or pull it up (ie normal engage function if car is at rest)?