Marios Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 My car was parked outside my work which is on a quite a steep gradient. The car was parked there for over 1 hour before it decided that it did not want to be parked there no longer so it decided to roll down the car park, cross a busy roundabout, mount the curb and smash into a ford escort.... Not that much damage done to mine just scratches but the fords front bumper is destroyed. Worrying thing is I had a service with Nissan 2/3 weeks ago and the same garage fitted a new handbrake cable about 1.5 years ago! Am I in my right to make them pay for both car damages? Taking the car to them tomorrow to inspect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH 370z Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 My car was parked outside my work which is on a quite a steep gradient. The car was parked there for over 1 hour before it decided that it did not want to be parked there no longer so it decided to roll down the car park, cross a busy roundabout, mount the curb and smash into a ford escort.... Not that much damage done to mine just scratches but the fords front bumper is destroyed. Worrying thing is I had a service with Nissan 2/3 weeks ago and the same garage fitted a new handbrake cable about 1.5 years ago! Am I in my right to make them pay for both car damages? Taking the car to them tomorrow to inspect I think you are shaky ground with that, to be honest, The burden of proof is on you, i.e. they would argue driver error. Unless they have done something on the last service to the handbrake and it documented in the service sheet. No harm i trying though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 you didnt leave it in gear then. I always do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernspeed Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I think you'll have a battle on your hands getting them to take responsibility, and can't really see why they would even consider it unless they specifically worked on the handbrake recently, but even then.... Glad it wasn't worse damage or injuries though! I was riding down Clapham High street many years ago when a car pulled away from the kerbside just ahead of me. I carried on and went to overtake without really thinking about it but when the car kept coming out past the white line pushing me further over I turned to have a go at the driver. Hmmm...... no driver !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimm Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 you didnt leave it in gear then. I always do +1 always Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom187 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 you didnt leave it in gear then. I always do +1 always +1 After mine cut my lawn for me, I now always leave it in gear as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac@TarmacSportz Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Heavy car on a gradient with high winds out of gear..... I think you will struggle in all honesty bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marios Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Yeah im guessing its going to be a long shot to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK350Z Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Zed handbrake is rather weak as standard sadly, always leave it in gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoralGT Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Most of my friends in Scotland are surprised I'm leaving a car on a gear, In my company there is a policy to do not leve vans on a gear just on a handbreak sometimes it's silly because if van is loaded and sits just on handbrake In my country when you are learning to drive, instructor is telling you to use 1st gear and a handbrake, do not use just the handbrake. In my opinion you don't have big chances to win. If they would do handbrake a week ago then yes but after 18 months you could damage it somehow. It won't be easy to proof it's garage fault... Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I actually had a very lucky escape the other week. I parked in a carpark, where id parked hundreds of times before. Put the handbrake on the same amount as I always do. Get out and start to walk away and my car starts rolling away towards the back of a landrover. I have never run so hard in my life as all I could think about was my mint front bumper smashing into the back of the landrovers tow bar and the subsequent repair cost to my car. Luckily I got in the car and managed to stop it in time. Now I pull the handbrake up higher than id normally do and leave it in gear. With regards to the OP`s car sitting happily for an hour before deciding to roll off - I have heard of that happening before with other cars - something to do with the disc brakes on the back - as they cool off, they shrink slightly which reduces the pad on disc pressure you first had when you put the handbrake on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 you didnt leave it in gear then. I always do +1 always +1 After mine cut my lawn for me, I now always leave it in gear as well I'm sure there was a case a few years ago (on another forum) of a similar thing happening. And basically what was said was that the driver is responsible for taking all measures practical to ensure his/her vehicle remains stationary. ie: handbrake and in gear if it's required. Or finding somewhere flatter to park. Basically, you have no chance of claiming a garage who fitted a cable 18 months ago are at fault. The car will have had an MOT since then, so they could easily claim that some muppet adjusted it or tampered with it or simply knacked it when completely the MOT. Sorry feller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlp Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Bit of a daft question but on an auto putting the car in PARK and leaving the handbrake off is okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Have always parked with the car in 1st gear, as I was taught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zollburgers Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 With my last car I only ever left it in gear if I was on a slope but the handbrake on this car is pants in comparison. I leave it in gear every time now and even keep on the brakes when I'm driving and stopped on a steep hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FiftyZ Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Sorry to hear what happened! Interesting read though, as I was not aware of the weak handbrake. Is there anything that can be done to sort it/adjust it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 their is a adjuster under the handbrake lever. See the guides section. Still always best to leave it parked in gear anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrh Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 something to do with the disc brakes on the back - as they cool off, they shrink slightly which reduces the pad on disc pressure you first had when you put the handbrake on. The Z uses a drum brake inside the rear disc and it's pretty weak for a car of this weight. Use 1st gear as it's the one with greatest resistance. If there's a curb you should also turn your wheels (pointing downhill/uphill): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I was once breaking an S14 out the back of my house, on a slight gradient. We had left the car in gear as the handbrake was rubbish, got it up in the air and started work. A few lads turned up to help, including my brother in his brand new Seat Leon FR, which he parked across the back of the S14 as all the other spaces were taken. Fast forward about 4 hours and weve stripped everything we want, the car is a rolling shell. Dropped it off the jacks and went to light a celebratory ciggy ........ fortunately out of corner of my eye noticed the car was starting to roll down the hill. I literally threw myself throught the open drivers window and grabbed the handbrake, leaving the back of the car about 40mm from the passenger door of the Leon .......... Moral of the story? Even leaving it in gear wont work if you then proceed to remove the gearbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Moral of the story? Even leaving it in gear wont work if you then proceed to remove the gearbox. very true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Bit of a daft question but on an auto putting the car in PARK and leaving the handbrake off is okay? Yep, with a auto when it is in park it is unable of moving. In fact, the only gear that it will move in with a auto will be Neutral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Moral of the story? Even leaving it in gear wont work if you then proceed to remove the gearbox. very true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff-r Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I leave mine in gear all the time, even when on flat ground. Do it with all my cars, I don't trust handbrakes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 If the handbrake is not defective then you have no comebacks. If you were to go against Nissan on this you would require an Expert Witness report doing showing that their work or parts were substandard or defective. It's a very long shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitzkrieg Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Just wanted to add that I have seen this before in the French Canyons. We had just parked in the car park for a restaurant and where going inside when we saw a people carrier un-park itself and start rolling towards the restaurant. It was heading straight for where people where sitting outside, but there was a car parked side on infront of them, so it jsut smashed into the side of that! We decided to eat inside after that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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