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Just wondering if anyone has had chance to look at this recently? I haven't because of having to replace my upper control arms over Christmas, and having both an ABS/TC fault and the MOT last week.
The car luckily passed the MOT despite the auto-adjust mechanism now failing most of the time and making the associated 'clonking' noise.
I am beginning to wonder if the only answer is replacement of the handbrake assembly. I hope to take this issue up again myself - once the weather has improved.
Hi James....Glad it passed the MOT test..as mine did.....Originally Posted by James24
Just wondering if anyone has had chance to look at this recently? I haven't because of having to replace my upper control arms over Christmas, and having both an ABS/TC fault and the MOT last week.
The car luckily passed the MOT despite the auto-adjust mechanism now failing most of the time and making the associated 'clonking' noise.
I am beginning to wonder if the only answer is replacement of the handbrake assembly. I hope to take this issue up again myself - once the weather has improved.
Not got any further with my investigation unfortunately....weather for a start and a battery issue covered in another thread.....except to say there seems to be an ever so slight improvement in the number of times the handbrake auto adjust mechanism slips/releases..not completely trouble free.....I've not forgotten about trying to find a simple solution other other than replacing everything as you mentioned and plan to persue it when weather improves.....
Just purchased a new increased capacity battery to eliminate a starting problem I've had for some time which became more acute with the onset of this cold spell we're having and which became the priority ofthe moment, but don't think it has solved the problem of the apparent 'slow discharge long term....
Cheers for now.....let me know if you manage to solve your handbrake problem in the meantime....
Cheers
I hadn't seen your post about battery problems. Have you taken the car somewhere to have a battery and alternator test done or done some simple tests yourself? If the alternator is not charging properly then the new battery will go flat as well.Hi James....Glad it passed the MOT test..as mine did.....
Not got any further with my investigation unfortunately..
Just purchased a new increased capacity battery to eliminate a starting problem I've had for some time which became more acute with the onset of this cold spell we're having and which became the priority ofthe moment, but don't think it has solved the problem of the apparent 'slow discharge long term....
Cheers for now.....let me know if you manage to solve your handbrake problem in the meantime....
Cheers
Also, has your car had any electrical items fitted after it left the factory? If I had this problem and had some non-standard items, I think I'd maybe try disconnecting them and seeing if that stops the battery discharging.
I will let you know how I get on with the handbrake although it may be some time yet. I'd really like to see one that's working properly so I know what mine should be doing, but can't think of where I could get to see one (or that would allow me to look anyway).
I've not had a chance to look myself, the Vectra is surrounded by a wall snow
Hopefully get to drive it later this week lol
Hi James...attached is a post with my experience with the battery problem....alternator & battery test done..see post below.....
http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showpo...1&postcount=19
The only things fitted were/are a 6 x parking sensor kit... wiring modified by me using a change-over relay via a 1amp line fuse & energised by the reversing lights.....then an ignition live feed from the rear accessory socket feed via a 1amp line fuse to power the rear or front sensors via the change-over relay as required...
I introduced a simple on/off switch into the feed for the front sensors to stop nuisance beeping in traffic or heavy rain or snow....so everything to do with the parking sensors is 'off' with the car 'parked up & locked'....
And to top it all, since I took off the old battery & gave it a short charge with my old 6amp battery charger showing initially 6amps down to 1.5 amps in about 1 hour ( not recommended by all accounts) , it's maintained the terminal voltage at around 12.68volts while off the car....curiouser & curiouser.....eh????
Cheers......
So a new battery and still the same problem... Has the alternator been tested as well? If so and the new battery is definitely OK then presumably there is something somewhere that is draining the battery. You haven't left any of the interior lights set to be permanently on have you?
If it was me, I'd completely disconnect the reversing sensors and see if that makes a difference. But then that is me with my electrical skills and I might well have wired them up so they drained the battery all the time - this is not a criticism of your wiring skills!Or maybe there is something wrong with the sensors or the relay?
Well after months of trying to find the time to check this out, I pulled off the ashtray and rear cover to get access to the adjuster, I had to cut down an allan key to fit as the access is limited unless you strip everything down ,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
Well , did 3 1/4 turns of the nut, just need to get some lock tight to hold it secure again, but I've lost an inch of travel on the handbrake and brakes are much better, they have lost there soggyness,
Looks like a good result there Markm.....I must get round to trying the manual adjustment we've discussed over the past few months now the weather has improved a bit....Well after months of trying to find the time to check this out, I pulled off the ashtray and rear cover to get access to the adjuster, I had to cut down an allan key to fit as the access is limited unless you strip everything down ,
Well , did 3 1/4 turns of the nut, just need to get some lock tight to hold it secure again, but I've lost an inch of travel on the handbrake and brakes are much better, they have lost there soggyness,
Chhers
Probably nothing to do with your problem - but I had a similar one with an Astra estate I had - new battery and alternator fitted but battery still drained and car failed to start. Eventually found that it was an aftermarket relay connected to the tow bar electrics that was sitting in water in the rear well where it was located. The relay was completely corroded and obviously allowing leakage causing the battery to drain. Another symptom was that the dash warning lights would be glowing all the time (albeit very dimly and difficult to see in daylight) even with the ignition turned off! Like someone else has said check everything that has been fitted other than standard Vx stuff. Good LuckSo a new battery and still the same problem... Has the alternator been tested as well? If so and the new battery is definitely OK then presumably there is something somewhere that is draining the battery. You haven't left any of the interior lights set to be permanently on have you?
If it was me, I'd completely disconnect the reversing sensors and see if that makes a difference. But then that is me with my electrical skills and I might well have wired them up so they drained the battery all the time - this is not a criticism of your wiring skills!
So I was having similar problems with my handbrake and I found that by slacking the 2 Allen key bolts and pushing the plastic L piece back as far as it could go ,then tighten it ,that the handbrake stayed tight each and every time ��
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