Brakes: - XC90 parking brake woes

msmith · Oct 28th, 2010, 10:31

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on my problem please?

We've got a 2007 manual 2.4D5 with FVSH.

Just had it serviced at Hildenborough Volvo (72K). The day after they dropped it back, I noticed that it had rolled down the slight incline on our drive and luckily come to rest on a kerb in front of the house. It could have been disastrous.

When I drove the car next I noticed that the average MPG had dropped to 23MPG (normally 32-34MPG)...When I parked again the brake wouldn't hold and I had to use bricks in front of it. I got about 8 clicks from the pedal.

Volvo took the car back a few days later and pronounced nothing wrong with it...Strange..

We have now deduced that when the car is cold the parking brake works very well (it will hold on a typical car park ramp with about 4 clicks) but when it is warm it hardly holds at all...Volvo agree with this but say they don't know why.

Volvo have the car again at the moment and want to strip it down to identify the problem. They want to charge us for the work despite the fact that it was fine until they serviced it and adjusted the brake and then delivered back to us in a dangerous condition.

Does anyone please have any idea as to what could have occurred here please? I have a suspicion that it was driven with the brake still on while they had it..The parking brake components were all changed about 2 years ago.

Thanks in anticipation,

Matt

BestGear · Oct 28th, 2010, 10:57

Not good!

You will have read that the xc90 handbrake is a pretty useless affair in terms of efficiency, even when well maintained.

The only thing I can suggest is that they check the rear calipers for biinding.

Thinking here is that if one or both discs are getting hot, they expand, and when cooled the shoe/drum pressure is released. This has happened (and is achnowledged) on several other vehicles.

Sticking rear calipers would also answer your poor economy.

You could (carefully!) check the wheel/tyre temperatures with your hand to see if they appear hotter/colder than the other wheels after a long-ish run to see if that gives any clues.

When the dealer serviced the car, do you know if they removed calipers etc to clean/inspect the pads etc? I dont expect they would have but you never know. Not sure how they could induce a/both calipers to stick however.

David

Clan · Oct 28th, 2010, 11:00

has the travel of the pedal changed since they had it ? if the travel is more than before they may have tried to bed in the shoes for better grip , because MOST xc90 users with autos very wrongly NEVER use the parking brake and the drum surface rusts , hence poor grip . i would think most dealer technicians know this and try to improve it whilst testing the vehicle ...

If the travel is still the same then they wouldnt have done anything to the actual parking brake on a service other than adjust the pedal travel if necessary .
You really need the rear disc/drums and shoes inspected again ... you say it doesnt hold when warm , it could be binding and heating up when on the move hence that problem ..

msmith · Oct 28th, 2010, 11:28

Hi,

Thanks for the replies - I'm very grateful.

The economy seems to be back to normal again now.

The pedal is harder to push when cold and the brake holds well. When it is warm it'll push to about 8 clicks and seems easier to push..

All Volvo admit to doing so far is "adjusting the brake".They want to take it to bits, but won't do so unless I pay! Seems very unreasonable considering it was absolutely fine 'til they touched it.

Cheers

bobdabuilda · Oct 28th, 2010, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by msmith

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on my problem please?

We've got a 2007 manual 2.4D5 with FVSH.

When I drove the car next I noticed that the average MPG had dropped to 23MPG (normally 32-34MPG)...

Matt

I have the same year model and my economy is around this mark. I envy those who get 33mpg!! A full tank does me 360miles at best, so you are getting 420plus?

msmith · Oct 28th, 2010, 13:53

I sometimes get over 500 on a tank. It is a manual and I do keep the tyres on the 39 psi eco setting which makes a big difference..

bobdabuilda · Oct 28th, 2010, 14:03

Now that's just showing off!! Mine are on eco setting too. No matter how i drive it I always get the same return and is the only major drawback of the car for me so far.

bobdabuilda · Oct 28th, 2010, 14:21

out of interest do you have the sidesteps and mudguards fitted? I have, so just wondered if they make much of a difference in economy figures? Surely not enough to account for an 8mpg difference!!?!

msmith · Oct 28th, 2010, 14:42

No sidesteps or mudflaps and rarely have to use the aircon..It's also v dirty -I heard somewhere that a car covered in a nice dirt film is more aerodynamic for a similar reason that golfballs have dimples....! Interestingly French supermarket diesel gives me more MPG (driving both in France and in the UK) than the stuff we get here.

bobdabuilda · Oct 28th, 2010, 15:11

I always use aircon but I don't think that would use up the 25% deficit in fuel consumption- it's 8% at most from what I have read... maybe it's the asda supermarket diesel I am using? will try some premium stuff to see the difference

Oct 28th, 2010, 10:31	#1
msmith New Member Last Online: Oct 31st, 2010 07:06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sevenoaks	XC90 parking brake woes Hi everyone, I wonder if anyone can shed some light on my problem please? We've got a 2007 manual 2.4D5 with FVSH. Just had it serviced at Hildenborough Volvo (72K). The day after they dropped it back, I noticed that it had rolled down the slight incline on our drive and luckily come to rest on a kerb in front of the house. It could have been disastrous. When I drove the car next I noticed that the average MPG had dropped to 23MPG (normally 32-34MPG)...When I parked again the brake wouldn't hold and I had to use bricks in front of it. I got about 8 clicks from the pedal. Volvo took the car back a few days later and pronounced nothing wrong with it...Strange.. We have now deduced that when the car is cold the parking brake works very well (it will hold on a typical car park ramp with about 4 clicks) but when it is warm it hardly holds at all...Volvo agree with this but say they don't know why. Volvo have the car again at the moment and want to strip it down to identify the problem. They want to charge us for the work despite the fact that it was fine until they serviced it and adjusted the brake and then delivered back to us in a dangerous condition. Does anyone please have any idea as to what could have occurred here please? I have a suspicion that it was driven with the brake still on while they had it..The parking brake components were all changed about 2 years ago. Thanks in anticipation, Matt

Oct 28th, 2010, 10:57	#2
BestGear Master Member Last Online: Feb 3rd, 2024 18:39 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sunny Scotland	Not good! You will have read that the xc90 handbrake is a pretty useless affair in terms of efficiency, even when well maintained. The only thing I can suggest is that they check the rear calipers for biinding. Thinking here is that if one or both discs are getting hot, they expand, and when cooled the shoe/drum pressure is released. This has happened (and is achnowledged) on several other vehicles. Sticking rear calipers would also answer your poor economy. You could (carefully!) check the wheel/tyre temperatures with your hand to see if they appear hotter/colder than the other wheels after a long-ish run to see if that gives any clues. When the dealer serviced the car, do you know if they removed calipers etc to clean/inspect the pads etc? I dont expect they would have but you never know. Not sure how they could induce a/both calipers to stick however. David Last edited by BestGear; Oct 28th, 2010 at 10:59.

Oct 28th, 2010, 11:00	#3
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 09:40 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	has the travel of the pedal changed since they had it ? if the travel is more than before they may have tried to bed in the shoes for better grip , because MOST xc90 users with autos very wrongly NEVER use the parking brake and the drum surface rusts , hence poor grip . i would think most dealer technicians know this and try to improve it whilst testing the vehicle ... If the travel is still the same then they wouldnt have done anything to the actual parking brake on a service other than adjust the pedal travel if necessary . You really need the rear disc/drums and shoes inspected again ... you say it doesnt hold when warm , it could be binding and heating up when on the move hence that problem .. __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Oct 28th, 2010, 11:28	#4
msmith New Member Last Online: Oct 31st, 2010 07:06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sevenoaks	Hi, Thanks for the replies - I'm very grateful. The economy seems to be back to normal again now. The pedal is harder to push when cold and the brake holds well. When it is warm it'll push to about 8 clicks and seems easier to push.. All Volvo admit to doing so far is "adjusting the brake".They want to take it to bits, but won't do so unless I pay! Seems very unreasonable considering it was absolutely fine 'til they touched it. Cheers

Oct 28th, 2010, 13:53	#6
msmith New Member Last Online: Oct 31st, 2010 07:06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sevenoaks	I sometimes get over 500 on a tank. It is a manual and I do keep the tyres on the 39 psi eco setting which makes a big difference..

Oct 28th, 2010, 14:03	#7
bobdabuilda Premier Member Last Online: May 31st, 2022 11:32 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: south	Now that's just showing off!! Mine are on eco setting too. No matter how i drive it I always get the same return and is the only major drawback of the car for me so far.

Oct 28th, 2010, 14:21	#8
bobdabuilda Premier Member Last Online: May 31st, 2022 11:32 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: south	out of interest do you have the sidesteps and mudguards fitted? I have, so just wondered if they make much of a difference in economy figures? Surely not enough to account for an 8mpg difference!!?!

Oct 28th, 2010, 14:42	#9
msmith New Member Last Online: Oct 31st, 2010 07:06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sevenoaks	No sidesteps or mudflaps and rarely have to use the aircon..It's also v dirty -I heard somewhere that a car covered in a nice dirt film is more aerodynamic for a similar reason that golfballs have dimples....! Interestingly French supermarket diesel gives me more MPG (driving both in France and in the UK) than the stuff we get here.

Oct 28th, 2010, 15:11	#10
bobdabuilda Premier Member Last Online: May 31st, 2022 11:32 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: south	I always use aircon but I don't think that would use up the 25% deficit in fuel consumption- it's 8% at most from what I have read... maybe it's the asda supermarket diesel I am using? will try some premium stuff to see the difference

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