Hi,

I have a 2007 cmax ghia, and recently the handbrake has been acting strangely. All of a sudden the handbrake won't release unless the foot brake is depressed. Before this week we didn't need to do this. Am worried as I think it will make hill starts difficult. Went to mechanic who seemed to this that this was normal for a cmax??? Before I spend more money on a mechanic was wondering if anyone could give me any advice!

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I have a 2007 cmax ghia, and recently the handbrake has been acting strangely. All of a sudden the handbrake won't release unless the foot brake is depressed. Before this week we didn't need to do this. Am worried as I think it will make hill starts difficult. Went to mechanic who seemed to this that this was normal for a cmax??? Before I spend more money on a mechanic was wondering if anyone could give me any advice!

Thanks in advance.

For manual gearbox the owners handbook does state that to move off when on a hill, select first gear, depress accelerator to build revs, release clutch until biting point is felt then release parking brake by pushing down on the switch. Works like this on mine when on a hill but I have noticed when on flat you do need either the brake or clutch peddle pushed fully in before parking brake will release. Don't know if there is some sort of hill start detector fitted, used to have one on a subaru years ago which worked whenever the front of the car was facing uphill the parking brake automatically released as the clutch took up the biting point. Was very usefull, hill starts a doddle.

For auto box select drive or reverse then increase engine speed before releasing brake switch is all the handbook says.