Turning the driver seat around - handbrake release?

Gelato · Mar 22, 2021

We are relatively new owners of a T6.1, looked in the manual and online how best to turn the driver's seat around. My question is about the handbrake, what if you are on a slight incline when you have parked and still want to turn the seat around, worried if you take the handbrake off the California will move/roll. Always leave the Cali in 'P' mode, and then release the handbrake, is this correct way, just worried it might move, can't see anything in the handbook about this?

Thank for any advice.

AlisonF · Mar 22, 2021

My driveway is on an incline and ai have always managed using ‘P’ before turning seats. If you’re worried then a couple of chocks would maybe help.

Gelato · Mar 22, 2021

AlisonF said:
My driveway is on an incline and ai have always managed using ‘P’ before turning seats. If you’re worried then a couple of chocks would maybe help.

Thanks, wasn't sure if there was a rule about rotating the seat on an incline, what procedure to do, wasn't sure if in 'P' mode this meant the vehicle wouldn't move on a 'slight' incline (ie. not level ground). Just last time out parked on a road, not steep at all and removed the hand brake (to rotate the seat), felt like the Cali moved very slightly then stationery, wasn't sure if with the vehicle in 'P' mode meant it helped to stop any movement! So by the sounds of it best to have mini chocks whenever releasing the handbrake to turn the seat round and then put the handbrake back on?

AlisonF · Mar 22, 2021

Gelato said:
Thanks, wasn't sure if there was a rule about rotating the seat on an incline, what procedure to do, wasn't sure if in 'P' mode this meant the vehicle wouldn't move on a 'slight' incline (ie. not level ground). Just last time out parked on a road, not steep at all and removed the hand brake (to rotate the seat), felt like the Cali moved very slightly then stationery, wasn't sure if with the vehicle in 'P' mode meant it helped to stop any movement! So by the sounds of it best to have mini chocks whenever releasing the handbrake to turn the seat round and then put the handbrake back on?

I have never user chocks - just made the suggestion in case you were concerned.

WelshGas · Mar 22, 2021

Gelato said:
Thanks, wasn't sure if there was a rule about rotating the seat on an incline, what procedure to do, wasn't sure if in 'P' mode this meant the vehicle wouldn't move on a 'slight' incline (ie. not level ground). Just last time out parked on a road, not steep at all and removed the hand brake (to rotate the seat), felt like the Cali moved very slightly then stationery, wasn't sure if with the vehicle in 'P' mode meant it helped to stop any movement! So by the sounds of it best to have mini chocks whenever releasing the handbrake to turn the seat round and then put the handbrake back on?

To minimise any movement, when you arrive. Stop, into P, footbrake Off and then Handbrake on.
On the DSG box P locks the gear box via a Pin locking the shaft. If you stop, handbrake On and then P, the pin may not have correctly engaged so you can get a slight movement, before it does, when taking off the handbrake to move the seat.

Gelato · Mar 22, 2021

WelshGas said:
To minimise any movement, when you arrive. Stop, into P, footbrake Off and then Handbrake on.
On the DSG box P locks the gear box via a Pin locking the shaft. If you stop, handbrake On and then P, the pin may not have correctly engaged so you can get a slight movement, before it does, when taking off the handbrake to move the seat.

Great thank you, this probably explains why it felt like the California moved then stopped. Just releasing the handbrake makes you think it will start to roll/move. We have an Eriba and it only takes a slight incline with the handbrake off on a road for it to move. Did wonder if 'P' mode would help - thank you.

Gelato · Mar 22, 2021

AlisonF said:
I have never user chocks - just made the suggestion in case you were concerned.

Thank you.

LemonDrop · Mar 22, 2021

WelshGas said:
To minimise any movement, when you arrive. Stop, into P, footbrake Off and then Handbrake on.
On the DSG box P locks the gear box via a Pin locking the shaft. If you stop, handbrake On and then P, the pin may not have correctly engaged so you can get a slight movement, before it does, when taking off the handbrake to move the seat.

Been doing it the other way around and the van always moved a tiny bit when releasing the handbrake to turn seats. This makes sense!

jimmywease · Mar 22, 2021

LemonDrop said:
Been doing it the other way around and the van always moved a tiny bit when releasing the handbrake to turn seats. This makes sense!

Me three. Thanks, @WelshGas

Mullaghroe · Mar 29, 2021

Gelato said:
We are relatively new owners of a T6.1, looked in the manual and online how best to turn the driver's seat around. My question is about the handbrake, what if you are on a slight incline when you have parked and still want to turn the seat around, worried if you take the handbrake off the California will move/roll. Always leave the Cali in 'P' mode, and then release the handbrake, is this correct way, just worried it might move, can't see anything in the handbook about this?

Thank for any advice.

On my original manual transmission Cali I have put my foot on the brake while releasing the handbrake to rotate the seat and reset the handbrake as soon as the seat is sufficiently rotated. A bit 'praying mantis', but it can be done. Now have DSG and P setting is sufficient.