Vauxhall Combo Handbrake problems

[vespa66]

Hello everyone,I would appreciate any help or advice you have , my Royal Mail Vauxhall Combo van rolled across a road without me in it and the handbrake was on, I know this for a fact as I had been having trouble with it whilst parking on an incline previous to the accident. I had to pull the hanbrake on fully to secure the vehicle before exiting it.
Fortunately there was no one else involved. I am told by management I may be held blameworthy for this accident and the resulting costs for repairs.
Now as the matter is under investigation I cannot obviously go into any details etc. However all I wish to know from all you drivers out there is if you have actually had any instances of a Combo van moving on its own accord whilst handbrake was engaged ? I know in my own depot there have been incidents of this happening but I was just wondering if anyone else had any similar stories around this.
I sincerely hope as a matter of fairness that this thread will not be pulled by the site administrators at the end of the day my reputation, character and position as driver ~( and possibly job )for Royal Mail are at stake here and I just wish to know of any other similar things happening to other drivers.
Thanks for your help in anticipation

[fishtank]

LTB 894/08 Vauxhall Combo Van - Faulty Handbrake

No. 894/08


Ref V4


Date: 18 November 2008



To: All Postal Branches



Dear Colleagues,



Vauxhall Combo Van - Faulty Handbrake



As you may know from media reports Vauxhall Signum, Vectra and Corsa models were recalled by the manufacturer in order to modify the handbrake.



This has led to questions being raised about Royal Mail Fleet Vauxhall Combo Vans which have been relayed to Royal Mail Vehicle Services who confirmed that the Combo has a different handbrake mechanism fitted to that on the Signum, Vectra and Corsa models. Vehicle Service also informed us that in spite of having a total of 12,400 Vauxhall Combo Vans in service only two reported Handbrake Failures, leading to the vehicles rolling away, have come to their attention. Both were investigated. These were Ashford in Kent and Loch Lomond in Scotland and after the vehicles concerned had been fully inspected by the workshop and the handbrake tested, no faults were found and in both cases the handbrake worked perfectly well. From this it was concluded that in both cases the only explanation had to be driver error that had caused the vehicles to roll away, the cause probably being that the handbrake lever had not been fully applied at the time by the drivers concerned.



Apart from these only a handful of anecdotal reports or rumours have reached Vehicle Services HQ regarding drivers complaining about the handbrake not working correctly on the Vauxhall Combo, especially new 08 registered models. Vehicle Services believe there have been more incidents which have not reported to them and a message has been sent out to the Road Transport Workshop network stating that:



It is imperative that if a Driver complains of any vehicle Safety Issue (especially a braking system one) that these incidents are reported to: Engineering Support at Vehicle Services HQ, Chesterfield. Tel: 01246 547265.



If possible report them on a PMT18 form or if not available then telephone.



Engineering Support at Vehicle Services HQ will require the vehicle information (Serial No. Reg No. Mileage, and Workshop.) (Speak to Malcolm Duckworth Light Vehicles Manager or e-mail malcolm.duckworth@royalmail.com,



Yours Sincerely





Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[wiganpostie]

This happened in our office about two or three years ago. The driver got out of the van to make a delivery on a steep road, put the handbrake on and it failed, rolled down the hill and smashed into a house. He was suspended pending an investigation, but was found not to be at fault so there were no repercussions for him. It was in the local paper, but I can't seem to find a link to it.

[vespa66]

Thanks for your input, I had read this memo on here before. Funny thing was I reported in the vehicle logbook a month beofre that the handbrake (in my opinion ) required adjusting , nothing happened and the possible "braking fault" was not reported to Chesterfield.
However this is not what Im asking . I am pretty sure there will be incidents drivers have had that they havent reported, as they considered them minor or not worthy of reporting.

[vespa66]

"From this it was concluded that in both cases the only explanation had to be driver error that had caused the vehicles to roll away, the cause probably being that the handbrake lever had not been fully applied at the time by the drivers concerned."

Thanks Wiganpostie for your input. It is well documented that Vauxhall have had handbrake problems on its range so if it has happened with one vehicle including the corsa range which the combo is derived from ( same mechanicals) therefore it is possible for this to happen to a Combo van. Therefore I can't believe RM can catagorically state ! "the only explanation is driver error".

[PhilthyPhil]

I find you have to really pull the handbrake on hard when on a steep hill. I have had various vans start to roll as I am getting out. Normally the handbrake just needs to be adjusted. They seem to wear fast, probably because people put them on while the van is still moving. Did you fill out a PMT1 for the handbrake needing to be adjusted? If you are aware of a fault on the vehicle and take it out anyway then you will be at fault :(

[vespa66]

Hi ,I noted the needs adjusting thing at end of the duty, and I didnt use that van again until the day of my accident. I didnt do a log off form as the handbrake was holidng it was just that i noticed there was more travel in the handbrake.

[SF]

Yes, in 2 or 3 of the vans I regularly use the handbrakes are really bad. You have to yank them really hard otherwise the van will roll. I wouldn't be surprised if I snapped one of the handbrakes soon.

Interesting to see there is general problem with the handbrakes on the combos. I didn't know that.

[krussel]

Mine rolled back almost hitting a van behind in traffic when it was only a week old. The hand brake was pulled up quite hard but the van crept back very slowly (i did not even notice). Thankfully the driver behind had pulled up without leaving much of a gap so was on the horn pronto.

Since then i ALWAYS leave it in gear on ANY slope as the hand brake is so crap

[NWpostie]

I do that anyway, in my car and in vans, handbrake on and leave it in gear, if its a really bad slope, turn the wheel into the kerb as a stop.

[creedscat]

Thanks for your input, I had read this memo on here before. Funny thing was I reported in the vehicle logbook a month beofre that the handbrake (in my opinion ) required adjusting , nothing happened and the possible "braking fault" was not reported to Chesterfield.
However this is not what Im asking . I am pretty sure there will be incidents drivers have had that they havent reported, as they considered them minor or not worthy of reporting.

That answers your own question then, you reported it,logged it, yet nothing was done about it. Seems your dom is responsible for not reporting it and still letting you drive a dangerous vehicle.

[DGP1]

I do that anyway, in my car and in vans, handbrake on and leave it in gear, if its a really bad slope, turn the wheel into the kerb as a stop.

That's what I do too, it shouldn't make any difference if you always turn your engine off each time you stop.



ps. Can anyone guess who is off tomorrow

[vespa66]

Thank you all for your input and It would still help me greatly If I can gather as much evidence as possible of other drivers of Vauxhall combos experiencing similar problems with the handbrake. Whether they reported it or not.
Thanks again

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Don't know if it helps but my father has had 3 motability cars 2 corsas and 1 meriva and he says that the handbrakes on all of them have become liable to slipping unless pulled to full extent after about 3 years on all of them.

Sounds like a problem with the Vauxhall design.

[DGP1]

I seem to remember a Watchdog report over Vauxhall cars and problems with their handbrakes