General Electronic parking break from start on a hill

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General Electronic parking break from start on a hill

New500x

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I have recently purchased a 500x 1.4 multiair cross plus 2015 500x. Where I usually park is a slight incline. Should I be able to start the engine and then put the car into first and use the clutch and accelerator to drive the vehicle and automatically realise the handbrake? I'm having a few problems when manually releasing the ebs that the car rolls back significantly as I'm not fast enough to put my foot on the accelerator and find the biting point. Thanks
 
Yep. Provided your seatbelt is on, the parking brake will disconnect automatically when you put it in 1st and go to move off.
 
In my case, the car remembers the last time the e-break was set.

For example, if I stop the car and switch off, the e-break engages automatically. Next run, it will disengage automatically.

But, if I stop the car, engage the e-brake manually, then the e-brake won't disengage automatically on the next run.

I thought the 500x came with hill-hold assist as standard? It should give you enough time to engage the clutch.
 
There's an option in the settings to have the parking break release automatically. The hill-hold will engage, but I find that a reasonably steep incline is needed. So it's not in the slightest bit reliable and you only know whether it has kicked in when you take your foot off the brake pedal.

My parking break sometimes won't release when it should either. A few weeks ago, it wouldn't release at all. I was on an incline and the hill-assist wouldn't engage as the incline wasn't steep enough. So I had to release it manually. Unfortunately I nearly rolled into the car behind because I haven't got three feet - foot on brake, foot on clutch, and needing a third to use the accelerator as I released the brake and eased off the clutch - whilst of course using the button.

So my car is in the garage with this, and a list of gripes... again. I understand the automatic brake is a known fault but getting this through a dealership is proving to be a nightmare.
 
When I read all the technical info on how electronic parking brakes work (or supposed to work), the cost of the brake callipers with motors etc. then makes you question why they fit them in the first place as it only increases production costs and thus increases vehicle sales prices.

I can see future driving licenses being lumbered with "aircraft rating certificates" just like commercial pilots have (quite rightly so for them).

Basic dumb driving license qualifiaction
"ASR" certification
"ESP" certification
"Electronic Park Brake" certification
"Hill Holder" certification
"EV certification"
"Manual Gearbox" or "Auto Box" certification (sort of exists today)
"Trailer" certification (exists today for new drivers)

Mind you another part of says that survey a 100 drivers and ask them to identify the dashboard warning lights (most of which now follow some form of standard) and what action/how serious is the warning then I'm thinking the results will be very poor. Thank God they are not pilots of aircraft but pilots they are which is rather worrying.
 
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I don't understand the existence of the e-break... it adds a lot of electronics and replaces the hand break that was always reliable.

Now imagine an emergency situation with a car that has no power to the electronics... how do you "pull" the e-break?
 
I don't understand the existence of the e-break... it adds a lot of electronics and replaces the hand break that was always reliable.

Now imagine an emergency situation with a car that has no power to the electronics... how do you "pull" the e-break?



I would suspect the brake is set to active and the electric side deactivates it when the car has power.
 
I would suspect the brake is set to active and the electric side deactivates it when the car has power.

It's like this on large vehicles with air compressors. The pressure holds the brakes off, but if there's a loss of compression, the brake engages.
 
I would suspect the brake is set to active and the electric side deactivates it when the car has power.

Not that I can see/according to Fiat for the 500X.

I quote:

"Rear brake calipers.The rear calipers are floating type with single 38mm piston. The rear calipers are produced by TRW.The rear caliper features an electric actuator through which the parking brake is engaged/released.From themechanical point of view, the actuator is fitted with an electric motor (4) which moves, through an epicyclic gear set (1), an output shaft which is in its turn fitted in a spindle (3). The spindle is screwed into a female screw (2). When the motor turns the spindle, the spindle drives the female screw (2) away (engages the brake) or brings it back (releases the brake) depending on the motor’s direction of rotation."

Looking at the caliper drawings there is no spring or pre-engagement mechanism Just a motor and gearbox to move the piston in or out.
 
Correct, i've worked on similar calipers fitted to the VAG range and when they pack up you have to unscrew the motor and unwind the brake manually - just 1/2 a turn will do. Not the best thing in the world, i'll agree, and when i found mine had EPB as opposed to a normal one in the car i originally test drove i was narked but having lived with it for a few months i would'nt be without it.
 
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