I been watching youtube, googling etc. 

When pulling my handbreak the lever stays in the right place but there is no resistance.

How can i best find the fault? Where is the adjustment screw on the S-max?

Is it likely that i need to change the whole wire etc? 

Any help would be much appreciated

 

Many thanks

 

Yes, it sounds like a snapped cable if the car rolls with the handbrake fully applied. 

There is one cable for each side on the S-Max.  Plus a third cable to the lever itself.

I believe the adjustment nut and the bar holding each long cable are both underneath the car (outside) on the S-Max.

There are two options for diagnosis, depending on how agile you are and which tools you have to hand.

1. Remove the plastic console inside to check that the single lever cable hasn't snapped.

2. Find the cable at each rear brake caliper and pull it with pliers.  If the long cable has snapped for that side, you will be able to pull it easily.  If it has not snapped, it should only move a small amount.

Does anyone know, are the rear callipers self-adjusting on the handbrake?  Perhaps I need new pads/shoes after 35,000 miles?

7 minutes ago, Annoyed said:

Does anyone know, are the rear callipers self-adjusting on the handbrake?  Perhaps I need new pads/shoes after 35,000 miles?

Calipers are self adjusting yes.  It might be better to start a new thread and tell us what problem you're having and which model.  Rear pads should last a lot longer than 35k miles.  But if it's an old car that only does low mileage then age is a far bigger factor than mileage.

Thanks for responding; this thread header asks the right question for me: is adjustment of the handbrake possible?  The handle seems to come up a long way on my 2014 S-Max, I've had it 11 years and I'm fairly certain it didn't need to come up as far to hold the car on our sloping drive.

16 minutes ago, Annoyed said:

Thanks for responding; this thread header asks the right question for me: is adjustment of the handbrake possible?  The handle seems to come up a long way on my 2014 S-Max, I've had it 11 years and I'm fairly certain it didn't need to come up as far to hold the car on our sloping drive.

Ok.  Adjustment is possible at the lever.  However, that should only be used to take the slack out of the cables.  I would recommend having the calipers and pads checked first if they haven't been touched in 11 years.  If the calipers and pads are found to be operating correctly, then the lever adjustment can be made.

15 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Rear pads should last a lot longer than 35k miles. 

Not so sure about that.

My own car has just passed 32,000 miles and I've replaced the rear discs and pads. There was very little left on the pads, probably less than 2mm (nearer 1mm in places). It is a 2.0 diesel automatic which perhaps plays a part with brake wear.

Also replaced the front pads, but not the discs. The front pads still had a good 3 to 4 mm left on them. Another factor is the car has auto hold.

10 hours ago, unofix said:

Not so sure about that.

My own car has just passed 32,000 miles and I've replaced the rear discs and pads. There was very little left on the pads, probably less than 2mm (nearer 1mm in places). It is a 2.0 diesel automatic which perhaps plays a part with brake wear.

Also replaced the front pads, but not the discs. The front pads still had a good 3 to 4 mm left on them. Another factor is the car has auto hold.

That is unusual.  Generally rear calipers seize from lack of use before the pads need replacing through general wear in my experience.

Perhaps the auto trans and autohold does put more wear through them.  Also worth noting that modern pads seem to be much softer than older ones.  I would expect the fronts to need replacing at that mileage, but not usually rears as well.

I'll raise the issue at the next MOT, new pads and discs if necessary, and if I remember I'll let you know what the garage says.