[Wilsm2]

Hi all

In the UK we are experiencing the beast from the east, weather from Russia. Last night after I finished work around 22.30 the temp was -3, I tied to drive but the breaks were frozen, at first I thought there was something wrong with the DCT. The car would not move, I push the peddle down and it would make a cluck noise and the car would knock outside of gear, I had a thought and throw warm water over the breaks and they released:-)

This is the first time I have had this happen to me in any car.

[Corinne]

Blame the dog that peed over your "break" calipers.

[Wilsm2]

Originally Posted by Corinne

Blame the dog that peed over your "break" calipers.

Lol, not far off. I did jet the car off a couple of hours before. I'm assuming the missed froze instantly and locked the pads to the discs. I'm at my dealer tomorrow, I will see what they say.

[McPurrs]

Originally Posted by Wilsm2

Lol, not far off. I did jet the car off a couple of hours before. I'm assuming the missed froze instantly and locked the pads to the discs. I'm at my dealer tomorrow, I will see what they say.

Well they will prob tell you to not put water on your cold car, and let it freeze!

[Wilsm2]

Originally Posted by McPurrs

Well they will prob tell you to not put water on your cold car, and let it freeze!

Lol, can't drive in the cold, wet and apply your brakes after in case they freeze. I have never had this problem on any other car

[M2guru]

For reference: Not sure I would do it again, but I did get a car wash (automated/touchless) at -13 F (-25 C). Immediately following, I drove it about 10 minutes and 10 miles without any issue with the brakes (the comfort close windows seemed to barely be able break the ice when I opened the door, though).

EDIT: I am just realizing you are talking about not driving it (much) afterwards...I have had the car stick in my garage after a wash. I thought my garage was heated to +45 F (the lowest my thermostat would go), but I think the thermostat is off and the heater has trouble keeping up - in other words it could have been that it was below freezing (I thought it could have been rust because it sat for 3-4 days). I have a 6 speed, so I was able to break it free by regulating the clutch and throttle. I would think you could do the same with the DCT.

[Wilsm2]

Originally Posted by M2guru

For reference: Not sure I would do it again, but I did get a car wash (automated/touchless) at -13 F (-25 C). Immediately following, I drove it about 10 minutes and 10 miles without any issue with the brakes (the comfort close windows seemed to barely be able break the ice when I opened the door, though).

EDIT: I am just realizing you are talking about not driving it (much) afterwards...I have had the car stick in my garage after a wash. I thought my garage was heated to +45 F (the lowest my thermostat would go), but I think the thermostat is off and the heater has trouble keeping up - in other words it could have been that it was below freezing (I thought it could have been rust because it sat for 3-4 days). I have a 6 speed, so I was able to break it free by regulating the clutch and throttle. I would think you could do the same with the DCT.

I tried, I'm assuming the DCT has a safety feature, the car would try to move the it would go into neutral. The car feels fine now, I thought I would post the issue as I have never experienced it before

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by M2guru

For reference: Not sure I would do it again, but I did get a car wash (automated/touchless) at -13 F (-25 C). Immediately following, I drove it about 10 minutes and 10 miles without any issue with the brakes (the comfort close windows seemed to barely be able break the ice when I opened the door, though).

EDIT: I am just realizing you are talking about not driving it (much) afterwards...I have had the car stick in my garage after a wash. I thought my garage was heated to +45 F (the lowest my thermostat would go), but I think the thermostat is off and the heater has trouble keeping up - in other words it could have been that it was below freezing (I thought it could have been rust because it sat for 3-4 days). I have a 6 speed, so I was able to break it free by regulating the clutch and throttle. I would think you could do the same with the DCT.

It looks like 6 speed >>> DCT.

Doesn't surprise me that the DCT has an auto shut off nanny.

Literally just yesterday I saw a kid push start a friend's car and then the driver stopped and let the passenger jump in the car after the owner popped the clutch to re-start it. Ahhh... old school daze when it uses was just car and driver .. instead of car and driver and vehicle nanny ..

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by Wilsm2

Lol, not far off. I did jet the car off a couple of hours before. I'm assuming the missed froze instantly and locked the pads to the discs. I'm at my dealer tomorrow, I will see what they say.

Parking/hand brake is activated by shoes pushing against a drum within the hub of the rear disc/rotor ie nothing to do with brake Caliper/pads.

It’ll be frozen water inside the hub that’s causing your issue. Don’t use parking brake - ie leave in gear - next time you decide to wash yr car in zero/sub zero temps !!!!

[No one]

Originally Posted by Corinne

Blame the dog that peed over your "break" calipers.

He claims that helped actually.

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

Don’t use parking brake - ie leave in gear

It's amazing that (according to the manual) DCT has no explicit park mode (a button or something) - the park mode is engaged automatically only(?). Thus the instrument cluster display is to be read closely unless you wish to test if it would roll. And still there's a mechanical parking brake. A spaceship with paddles?

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by No one

He claims that helped actually.



It's amazing that (according to the manual) DCT has no explicit park mode (a button or something) - the park mode is engaged automatically only(?). Thus the instrument cluster display is to be read closely unless you wish to test if it would roll. And still there's a mechanical parking brake. A spaceship with paddles?

Tested well before I commented above - switched off ignition on my DCT wo handbrake on it doesn’t move.

Also if you RTFM you would know that there’s advice on how to override DCT ‘park’ function in the event of needing to tow the car etc.

Meanwhile I’m off to a galaxy far far away in my DCT Millenium Falcon as it’s brakes work just fine.

[No one]

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

Tested well before I commented above - switched off ignition on my DCT wo handbrake on it doesn’t move.

Of course it does not. But not because you might think you leave it in a gear as you had suggested - it's the park mode engaged automatically.

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

Also if you RTFM you would know that there’s advice on how to override DCT ‘park’ function in the event of needing to tow the car etc.

Yes, I noticed that too and it only seems to make it more complicated. My point was they had taken away explicit park mode as if it were absent and provoked those "too smart" to RTFM to use the handbrake as if it were the only means to immobilize the car - not appropriate in frosty weather or even for long time application (as the brake springs are strained).

[McPurrs]

Originally Posted by Wilsm2

Lol, can't drive in the cold, wet and apply your brakes after in case they freeze. I have never had this problem on any other car

You are missing a key part here... when you brake, it generates heat...More than enough if not twice as much enough to boil water... so it all evaporates.

[Wilsm2]

Originally Posted by McPurrs

You are missing a key part here... when you brake, it generates heat...More than enough if not twice as much enough to boil water... so it all evaporates.

I agree, I only drove 300m and parked up for approx 4hrs.