Nearly lost my C5

[Gibbo2286]

Was asked to pop a friends grandson to the station, when I got to their house she said "have a cup of tea it's bit early to go yet". A quick cuppa and out the door in time to see the car wandering off on its own 50 metres down the road.

Hanbrake cable caliper lever had stuck and must have let the brake off a bit.

A good job it was only a slight gradient not a steep hill.

[Northern_Mike]

Was asked to pop a friends grandson to the station, when I got to their house she said "have a cup of tea it's bit early to go yet". A quick cuppa and out the door in time to see the car wandering off on its own 50 metres down the road.

Hanbrake cable caliper lever had stuck and must have let the brake off a bit.

A good job it was only a slight gradient not a steep hill.

Does the C5 have the handbrake on the front wheels? I have no idea.

Anyway, the experience of disappearing Citroens is certainly not a new one for many who own Citroens with front-wheel handbrakes. I've I've had XMs and Xantias disappear on me before now. I'm *told* that if you drive quite hard, then put the handbrake on, things slacken off when it all goes cold.. whether this is true or not, I don't know. It has certainly happened to me though!

[spider]

Can happen with any car that uses the caliper to form the handbrake. I have seen it with inboard separate handbrake shoes too but only once.

Hot brakes from general driving are 'fractionally' larger than cold brakes (due to normal heat build up from use = metal expansion nothing more)

Park up, apply handbrake. Over a short time the metal contracts a tiny tiny fraction = pads contract a tiny fraction = not really doing a great deal = car rolls away

Does not seem that common though these days, perhaps they have improved something. The above is just my understanding of it rather than gospel

Always best to leave in Park / 2nd (as appropriate depending on if you prefer two or three pedal motoring) though in my personal opinion too.

[Featch]

Had similar trouble with a Peugeot 807 Unfortunately it was parked at the top of a 70ft drop I'd been driving "enthusiastically", the brakes cooled down and an hour and a half later it was a long walk home!

[spider]

Had similar trouble with a Peugeot 807 Unfortunately it was parked at the top of a 70ft drop I'd been driving "enthusiastically", the brakes cooled down and an hour and a half later it was a long walk home!

[myglaren]

[Gibbo2286]

Was asked to pop a friends grandson to the station, when I got to their house she said "have a cup of tea it's bit early to go yet". A quick cuppa and out the door in time to see the car wandering off on its own 50 metres down the road.

Hanbrake cable caliper lever had stuck and must have let the brake off a bit.

A good job it was only a slight gradient not a steep hill.

Does the C5 have the handbrake on the front wheels? I have no idea.

Anyway, the experience of disappearing Citroëns is certainly not a new one for many who own Citroëns with front-wheel handbrakes. I've I've had XMs and Xantias disappear on me before now. I'm *told* that if you drive quite hard, then put the handbrake on, things slacken off when it all goes cold.. whether this is true or not, I don't know. It has certainly happened to me though!

Had it once before years ago on a CX, stopped for a drink at a country pub, some guy came in and said "There's a car rolling down the car park without a driver." dashed out to find the CX hanging in a chain link fence over a drop into the next field.

[Gibbo2286]

Can happen with any car that uses the caliper to form the handbrake. I have seen it with inboard separate handbrake shoes too but only once.

Hot brakes from general driving are 'fractionally' larger than cold brakes (due to normal heat build up from use = metal expansion nothing more)

Park up, apply handbrake. Over a short time the metal contracts a tiny tiny fraction = pads contract a tiny fraction = not really doing a great deal = car rolls away

Does not seem that common though these days, perhaps they have improved something. The above is just my understanding of it rather than gospel

Always best to leave in Park / 2nd (as appropriate depending on if you prefer two or three pedal motoring) though in my personal opinion too.

I don't think it's too good an idea to leave cars in gear, the yard manager at one of the car auctions I used to attend was crippled for life when a customer started an engine in the row of for sale cars while he was standing between them. E.

[Jabo]

Happened to me in October a couple of hours after parking up at the maternity hospital in Paisley. I had my work phone number on the side of the car at the time and I got a phone call "your handbrake's failed mate, your motor has went into the back of a Punto."

Luckily the other car had no damage!

[spider]

I don't think it's too good an idea to leave cars in gear, the yard manager at one of the car auctions I used to attend was crippled for life when a customer started an engine in the row of for sale cars while he was standing between them. E.

Not good although the 'customer' should really of checked to be fair.

I'll admit I've done it too, started an (old) beetle and it fired and ran.

Perhaps Hyundia had the right idea with that switch on the clutch pedal, ie: regardless unless you have your foot on the clutch the starter does not operate.

[citroenxm]

I ALWAYS have my foot on the clutch to start a car! NEVER start without unless im working on a car and stopping and starting all the time....

ALL hydraulic Citroens that go up on the hydraulics HAVE to have the handbrake on the front... This is obvious when you watch a car rise up.. As The trailing arm suspension lowers to lift the car, the wheel has to move forward as the "Theretical" length is shortening...

As the strut is above directly the front wheels they dont need to turn, TRY HOLDING your foot on the brake and lifting the car up on the hydraulics, you'll soon find out why the brake is on the front!

[myglaren]

Hah! Hydraulics are disengaged on the C5 while the brake pedal is pressed

[citroenxm]

Its FUN on XMs and Xantias.. As the rear suspension is plummed through the brake valve, while pump brake pedal HOLDS the rear, the pump continues to pump, then brake "creak" starts as pressure builds, then it continues, then when you release the pedal the rear end will SHOOT UP!

With ultra soft spheres its Great Fun!

[Peter.N.]

So that's why they all have dents in the tailgates! I have always left my cars in gear.

Peter

[waynedance]

Citroenxm nice to know I am not the only one that starts their car with clutch down.