My last car was a 2010 Vauxhall. The advice for the electric handbrake on it was to engage it while the engine was running I assume the focus is different? 

The stop/start means I’m engaging it with the engine off every time. 

If you enable auto-hold it keeps all brakes on and disengages auto when you go to pull away (same as handbrake). This also stays on during stop/start sequences so no need to do it yourself. Also if you park up on a drive and auto-hold activates soon as you turn the engine off via ignition button it automatically puts the parking brake on.

It's taking me a bit of getting used to, but with auto hold you should very rarely need to use the button.

Is that manual gearbox you guys are talking about? I forgot to say mines an auto! 

1 hour ago, alexp999 said:

It's taking me a bit of getting used to, but with auto hold you should very rarely need to use the button.

When I turn off the ignition it goes to Park automatically then I engage the electric handbrake

8 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

When I turn off the ignition it goes to Park automatically then I engage the electric handbrake

Mine puts handbrake on when I switch off ignition and that's a manual.

1 minute ago, alexp999 said:

Mine puts handbrake on when I switch off ignition and that's a manual.

I would have thought the auto gearbox would put handbrake on when put in Park.

My concern is the battery.

My old manual Astra I had didn’t have the handbrake coming on automatically . I had to press the button before turning the ignition off

Handbrake should go on automatically when you turn ign off. You should see handbrake symbol light on dash.

57 minutes ago, Comares2001 said:

Handbrake should go on automatically when you turn ign off. You should see handbrake symbol light on dash.

Is your vignale an automatic? 

Turning ignition off automatically puts it in Park but doesn’t engage handbrake 

Mines manual but I have driven the automatic model and was sure that when gearbox was put in park and ign turned off the parking brake warning light came on briefly to show its engaged the same as in the manual  version.

8 hours ago, Comares2001 said:

Mines manual but I have driven the automatic model and was sure that when gearbox was put in park and ign turned off the parking brake warning light came on briefly to show its engaged the same as in the manual  version.

Stop/start stops the engine. Pressing  the ignition button puts it in Park. No handbrake. 

Alex, do you have the 'auto hold' function selected?

I think the handbrake only comes on automatically, when the ignition is switched off, if the auto hold has activated when you stopped.

13 minutes ago, ianincheshire said:

Alex, do you have the 'auto hold' function selected?

I think the handbrake only comes on automatically, when the ignition is switched off, if the auto hold has activated when you stopped.

Same suggestion I was going to make. I keep my auto hold on all the time so guess that's why parking brake comes on automatically as well when ign turned off.

I don’t think automatics have ‘auto hold’. 🤔 

would that be an option on the dash cluster? 

On manuals, the autohold button is right next to the parking brake button.

14 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

On manuals, the autohold button is right next to the parking brake button.

That’s what that button will be for then !!! 😂😂😂

8 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

That’s what that button will be for then !!! 😂😂😂

 

Auto hold is just hill start assist.

It's a bit more than that, it holds much longer and on flats, whenever you'd normally apply handbrake.

2 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It's a bit more than that, it holds much longer and on flats, whenever you'd normally apply handbrake.

It’s a bit unnecessary in an automatic 

Owners manual says the parking brake can be applied when ignition is off. 

Does it stay on in the manual? Or you have to press it every journey?

Interesting..the stop/start in the automatic restarts the milli second the foot comes off the foot brake. With auto hold on it doesn’t restart until I put foot on the accelerator.

That’s that ruled out. This is first car I’ve driven with stop/start. Auto or manual 

 

1 hour ago, Alex.S said:

Does it stay on in the manual? Or you have to press it every journey?

Stays on although it can be reset under certain conditions (see handbook) . I think one of the most useful driving features on this car.

12 minutes ago, Comares2001 said:

Stays on although it can be reset under certain conditions (see handbook) . I think one of the most useful driving features on this car.

If I had a manual I’m sure I’d agree. 

The delay on the stop/start in the auto is a problem.