Hi All,

It's been a while. Used to frequent these forums a lot, I guess that just says a lot that our little 2008 500 has been reliable and easy to live with?!

Or that I am just lazy about getting on here.

Anyway, I haven't driven the car in a while (it's a family car that is used by a few people, and I've been at uni for a few months) but the first thing I do with the car and I'm presented with a couple of issues.

Firstly the handbrake isn't really catching on the ratchet (if that's the right terminology). The cable is working when I pull up the handle since if someone tries to rock the car it won't budge, but I can't really get the handbrake to stay on.

I always operate the handbrake with the button (don't like the crunchy noise if you pull it up against the ratchet) but if you pull it up without pressing the button now it just kind of mushily moves along and if you let go it flops back down.

Basically it feels as though the ratchet has just come loose or something and thus it isn't working right. I can get it to catch on a 'hook' or whatever about half way which is sufficient to hold the car on a gentle slope, but I will be avoiding any hills for now naturally.

But yeah, I haven't ever seen/disassembled a handbrake so not sure of the mechanism. Any tips? Will probably just take it to the local garage if it stays this way.

Other minor thing was the power steering warning came on. The car hadn't been used for a few days and left in the freezing cold. Since the power steering was evidently working I figured it was just the cold playing tricks. I turned the ignition on again yesterday (didn't start the car though as wasn't going anywhere) and the warning wasn't there.

Anything to be concerned about/anyone experienced that warning before? I mean in our previous 4 winters with the car it hasn't done anything like this.

Hope you're all well.

Charlie -

How old is the car and is the origional battery fitted? EPS is likly to be the battery on its way out normally at this time of year with these cold temps.

2008 he says.

Yep, 2008. Battery is original...

As the experts say i would say change your battery if the light comes up again. I remembered that light kept on coming up and the car was turning off because it was an auto in a VW Polo and we got the battery changed and it never happened again. 4 years is a decent amount for a battery to last!


Lucky you; my original XYDE OEM battery completely died after 1.5 years with no chance of recharging it, but at least it was replaced under warranty.

Battery is possible likely cause for the EPS fault. Ratched could be frozen?

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

Ahmett, yeah.. I guess 4 years isn't bad going. For some reason I always presume they last ages with no issues. Funny how it can start the car etc but cause an error light? Is it just wavering voltage output etc with age? (out of interest)

Maxi, I did suspect it might be the cold. I am going to be driving a 70mi round trip this afternoon so I shall investigate after that how it does. Here's to hoping! ;-)

charliestyr said:

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

Ahmett, yeah.. I guess 4 years isn't bad going. For some reason I always presume they last ages with no issues. Funny how it can start the car etc but cause an error light? Is it just wavering voltage output etc with age? (out of interest)

Maxi, I did suspect it might be the cold. I am going to be driving a 70mi round trip this afternoon so I shall investigate after that how it does. Here's to hoping! ;-)

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Battery needs to be in tip top condition to keep EPS going Mine will almost always not work for the first 20 metres from a cold start in the winter.

charliestyr said:

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

Ahmett, yeah.. I guess 4 years isn't bad going. For some reason I always presume they last ages with no issues. Funny how it can start the car etc but cause an error light? Is it just wavering voltage output etc with age? (out of interest)

Maxi, I did suspect it might be the cold. I am going to be driving a 70mi round trip this afternoon so I shall investigate after that how it does. Here's to hoping! ;-)

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One of the reasons i am happy that I dont have SS is that you need a bigger more expensive battery and more things are likely to go wrong with it!

Interesting. Wouldn't have thought it needs such perfect conditions. Any battery recommendations or is basically any new battery good enough? (would take it to our local independent and presumably they just have their "usual")

Charlie -

e2a: yeah, Ahmett. I was just having a flick around battery sites and saw you need a bigger for SS (which makes sense of course) I however would quite like SS ;-) but tbh, don't do that much start stop driving so it's not very important. lol I'm a contradiction in terms oftentimes.

charliestyr said:

Interesting. Wouldn't have thought it needs such perfect conditions. Any battery recommendations or is basically any new battery good enough? (would take it to our local independent and presumably they just have their "usual")

Charlie -

e2a: yeah, Ahmett. I was just having a flick around battery sites and saw you need a bigger for SS (which makes sense of course) I however would quite like SS ;-) but tbh, don't do that much start stop driving so it's not very important. lol I'm a contradiction in terms oftentimes.

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Personally I only go for Bosch Silver Batterys, 5 year guaranteed as standard, however another good brand is Vitara (I think thats how its spelt)

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Personally I only go for Bosch Silver Batterys, 5 year guaranteed as standard, however another good brand is Vitara (I think thats how its spelt)

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Varta

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Personally I only go for Bosch Silver Batterys, 5 year guaranteed as standard, however another good brand is Vitara (I think thats how its spelt)

Click to expand...

306maxi said:

Varta

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No, he just nicks one out of a Suzuki 4x4.

Hi all,

So, back from that 70 mile drive (71.8 to be precise according to OBC... but is that precise? haha). All good news really, by the time I got to the destination the handbrake was working better. Still not clicking loudly as per usual but it would hold on any 'click' on the ratchet so that's good. And now I'm back home it seems to be back to normal or about 90% normal I'd say, so Maxi I think you were right about the cold just playing tricks as usual.

As for the power steering fault, it was illuminated on the way there, not on the way back. So, thanks to your tips I guess that will be battery related. Interestingly I started the car whilst standing outside to hear what it sounded like and the starter motor is definitely a lower pitch than usual (from what I remember over summer anyway, it's been 4 years of hearing it's cheerful start so it's fairly ingrained in my mind) so that would point towards reduced output on the part of the battery.

Start up seemed normal on the return leg so perhaps the battery is discharging quite fast or something. Basically just old I guess. Today's drive was the first drive longer than 2 miles I suspect is has done in months.

Thanks for all your thoughts everyone

Oh and managed "55.9" mpg according to the OBC although obviously that's not necessarily reliable, but was fairly pleased as it wasn't the smoothest run. Car's still got it.

Cheers,

Charlie -

charliestyr said:

Hi all,

So, back from that 70 mile drive (71.8 to be precise according to OBC... but is that precise? haha). All good news really, by the time I got to the destination the handbrake was working better. Still not clicking loudly as per usual but it would hold on any 'click' on the ratchet so that's good. And now I'm back home it seems to be back to normal or about 90% normal I'd say, so Maxi I think you were right about the cold just playing tricks as usual.

As for the power steering fault, it was illuminated on the way there, not on the way back. So, thanks to your tips I guess that will be battery related. Interestingly I started the car whilst standing outside to hear what it sounded like and the starter motor is definitely a lower pitch than usual (from what I remember over summer anyway, it's been 4 years of hearing it's cheerful start so it's fairly ingrained in my mind) so that would point towards reduced output on the part of the battery.

Start up seemed normal on the return leg so perhaps the battery is discharging quite fast or something. Basically just old I guess. Today's drive was the first drive longer than 2 miles I suspect is has done in months.

Thanks for all your thoughts everyone

Oh and managed "55.9" mpg according to the OBC although obviously that's not necessarily reliable, but was fairly pleased as it wasn't the smoothest run. Car's still got it.

Cheers,

Charlie -

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I suspect the handbrake mechanism perhaps needs some lubrication as well. After 4 years there probably isn't much grease on the mechanism.

Batteries tend to obviously reduce output in the winter months and especially when only used for short journeys. A long journey every once in a while may keep the battery going for a little while