Electric handbrake

I would like your opinion on the handbrake of my son’s new Audi A3 TSI, which is the motorised, button-operated type. When starting off, he says he can smell what seems to be the clutch or brakes overheating.

The vehicle was due for its first service last week and he was told that there was more wear on both the clutch and brake pads than would be expected on a new vehicle. Could it be that he is using too many revs or that the motor is releasing the pads too slowly? My son has always used a mechanical handbrake and is finding it difficult to get used to the electric handbrake. Other than this he is very pleased with the vehicle.

W Williamson

When the vehicle was serviced I would have expected the dealer to check the operation of the electric handbrake release mechanism.

The electric handbrake system can be difficult to get used to and the traditional method of gently bringing up the clutch while releasing the handbrake cannot be used. If your son’s Audi has hold-assist, then the handbrake will not be needed during normal traffic stops. The hold-assist system keeps the car stationary once it has stopped and automatically prevents it from rolling on uphill or downhill gradients. Audi says: “When you drive off – provided the driver’s seat belt is fastened – the parking brake is released automatically.”

It does sound as though your son may have altered his driving style in a detrimental manner while trying to compensate for the different handbrake system. I would suggest that he tries pulling away with fewer revs; he will hopefully find that the engine does not stall and that wear on the brake and clutch components will be reduced.