Handbrake adjust

[Tony W]

A very good question - I noticed that as well but it doesn't seem to be mentioned by Haynes or Vauxhall.

I think the auto-adjust mechanism is part of the mechanism that sits in the black plastic recess in the middle of your picture and disappears under the floor.

Hi James...the picture below shows my efforts at resetting the auto adjust mechanism with the resetting clip in place as per the Haynes Manual...Handbrake Off.....Spring to RHS of Pivot Shaft pushed backwards and clip engaged.. ready for applying the handbrake again to 'reset' the auto adjustment position.....(It didn't solve the problem i've got though!!!)



Cheers

[James24]

Tony,

Glad the car passed the MOT. Mine is delayed now as I need to replace my rear suspension upper control arms first! It'd better not fail on the handbrake.

The auto adjust mechanism as per your picture is what seems to be playing up on mine. Sometimes the metal clip that you push down to put the handbrake into the 'delivery position' (after pushing the rod forwards) catches on the black plastic piece that is below it on the rod and sometimes doesn't.

I don't know if it should catch, not catch at all, or something inbetween. It makes a clonking noise when it slips a notch on the black plastic piece which is what the garage picked up on, I think.

[markm]

Hi James.. the picture below highlights the mechanism I on about..



Seems to have facilities for adjustment of some sort...what?????

Cheers

This one looks like the adjuster on the Astra H I had, it looks like you can adjust it as there is a hole inline with the alan key socket, has anyone taken out the rear ashtry to see if you can see the little arch inline with the nut ?

it looks like it can be adjusted with a long alan key ?

Could be wrong ?

[James24]

This one looks like the adjuster on the Astra H I had, it looks like you can adjust it as there is a hole inline with the alan key socket, has anyone taken out the rear ashtry to see if you can see the little arch inline with the nut ?

it looks like it can be adjusted with a long alan key ?

Could be wrong ?

Yes, I have wondered what this is but I can't find any mention of it's purpose anywhere. The Vectra C handbrake is auto-adjusting so however it adjusts itself it has to be able to do it all by itself.

I think that the auto-adjust mechanism is just in front of this thing - underneath the label in the picture, unfortunately. This is what Tony has saying that that he has just tried the auto-adjust reset procedure on - handbrake off, push rod to rear of car until it stops, push down metal clip, then apply handbrake.

[markm]

Yes, I have wondered what this is but I can't find any mention of it's purpose anywhere. The Vectra C handbrake is auto-adjusting so however it adjusts itself it has to be able to do it all by itself.

I think that the auto-adjust mechanism is just in front of this thing - underneath the label in the picture, unfortunately. This is what Tony has saying that that he has just tried the auto-adjust reset procedure on - handbrake off, push rod to rear of car until it stops, push down metal clip, then apply handbrake.

The same nutt/adjuster is on the Astra and Zafira, it adjusts the handbrake level so there is less travel , wonder if you can take out the rear ashtray for access ?



I think I may have a look at this later

[James24]

The same nutt/adjuster is on the Astra and Zafira, it adjusts the handbrake level so there is less travel , wonder if you can take out the rear ashtray for access ?

I think I may have a look at this later

Let us know how you get on.

You will be able to see this with the rear ashtray (and the unit it sits in) removed. Whether you can get at it enough to adjust it is another matter...

For (possibly) a better view, you could also remove the back panel which runs from the floor up the back of the centre console and clips in just underneath the rear vents - no need to remove the ashtray first to do this. Prise it out starting from the top and then unclip the panel that holds the power socket from it. You can just move the power socket planel to one side once its loose - no need to disconnect the wiring then.

[Tony W]

The same nutt/adjuster is on the Astra and Zafira, it adjusts the handbrake level so there is less travel , wonder if you can take out the rear ashtray for access ?



I think I may have a look at this later

Hi MarkM....glad this is of interest....seems to have raised more interest at last.....

I removed the rear trim from the rear centre console to get at it....see pictures below....
(The non standard wiring in red is an ignition live supply for a 6 parking sensor kit I fitted a while back)

'Cup Holder' removed for access to the front fixing torx screw..



Rear accessory socket panel removed for access to the two rear torx screws



and arm rest fixing bolts..




finally showing what was underneath the trim with it removed....



Previous pictures and posts give the additional background to my attempt to remove all the trim from the handbrake lever...i.e Release Button, Soft Plastic Grip and finally the plastic lower trim panel secured by the two 'clips' in the pivot shaft....

Ultimate goal?????...to try a identify the handbrake issue of the auto adjustment mechanism apparently slackening off for no apparent reason once or twice in say ten applications with the occasional 'crack/bang' felt thro' the handbrake lever etc,etc,etc,......without changing everything.

So I would be grateful if you could expand on your comment " it adjusts the handbrake lever so there is less travel " , and if you've had similar experience with your cars as we have, did you identify this as the cause and the solution???......as there are at least two guys on here..James & myself who would be very interested to hear for the reasons previously posted.....

Cheers....

[James24]

Tony, is it just the way I'm looking at your pictures or are you missing the insulating mat over the top of your airbag ECU? The mat comes out from under the gear lever mechanism and covers the ECU (the metal box underneath the front section of the pipe that takes the air to the rear seat face vents that you removed with the rear section of the centre console).

[Tony W]

Tony, is it just the way I'm looking at your pictures or are you missing the insulating mat over the top of your airbag ECU? The mat comes out from under the gear lever mechanism and covers the ECU (the metal box underneath the front section of the pipe that takes the air to the rear seat face vents that you removed with the rear section of the centre console).

Hi James.. sorry but I didn't/don't know about the mat you refer to or that the airbag ECU was in that position..

The picture was rotated thro' 90 degrees.....

What does the mat look like??? Any pictures of what you're referring to???

Is it for heat insulating or electrical insulating ???

The picture shows what I found when I removed the rear centre console...

The only time I can think of where the rear centre console may have been removed was about 18 months ago - about July 2008 - when Bristol Street motors had the car in for the handbrake release button spring replacement recall....

Cheers...

[James24]

I think I can see the label on the top of the airbag ECU in your photo at the side of the air duct that's still in place. There's a thick-ish mat that goes under the gear lever assembly (it fits around the bolts that hold it to the floor) and comes out from under the back of the gear lever assembly and covers the airbag ECU. The picture below shows the mat - between the handbrake assembly (to the right) and the gear lever assembly (which it fits under) to the left. I guess it could be a heat and/or electrical insulator as well as protecting the airbag ECU from anything that get spilled over the centre console - the ECU is right underneath the drinks holder after all!

Has your mat been torn off where it comes out from underneath the back of the gear lever assembly? They are prone to this because they are thick and you can't lift them straight up because of the plastic cabling guide that runs along the left side.

I don't think this would have been touched to do the handbrake spring recall - I don't think they even remove the rear section of the centre console to do that - never mind the front section - but just move the driver's seat forward.