Do you always use the parking brake?

Oxo · 11-01-2005, 06:17 AM

Now that I've been using my Prius for a few weeks I'm finding that I sometimes forget to put on the parking brake (unless I'm on a steep slope). And, if it's on, I sometimes forget to release it until I've driven a few yards.

So I wonder how important this brake is. Will the car move if I park on a hill without the brake on or will it be held by the engine, with power off?

2Hybrids · 11-01-2005, 06:38 AM

My wife always insists on using that parking brake for every occasion, even in our garage (or as you would say - garedge :P ). Drives me nuts!

I only use it for inclines.

I'm not sure if the Yanks use their parking brakes as much as the English. Of course, you probably worry more 'bout some yob nick'n yer ride rather than it rolling away.

I was taught that unless you are on an incline, there was no need for the parking brake because the gear held it in place. That doesn't mean it is right though.

aka007ii · 11-01-2005, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oxo@Nov 1 2005, 04:17 AM
Now that I've been using my Prius for a few weeks I'm finding that I sometimes forget to put on the parking brake (unless I'm on a steep slope). And, if it's on, I sometimes forget to release it until I've driven a few yards.

So I wonder how important this brake is. Will the car move if I park on a hill without the brake on or will it be held by the engine, with power off?

[snapback]148370[/snapback]

How can you drive with the break on? I guess you don't push it all the way down. If I forget to take it off the car just rears up and then I remember. I always use it and last car wash I had to instruct the guy to remove it. He was totaly lost. He turned it of and on and tried shifting to every possition.

Schmika · 11-01-2005, 08:44 AM

I am a parking brake user from way back. Yes, I ever use it in my "gerge". I found when I don't use it, particularly when the car gets older, it is more likely to stick.

I let my 19 yr old son drive the car when he was on leave from the Marines, he didn't realize the parking brake was on and drove for about 3 miles. Rear tires were smokin' when he stopped. I asked "didn't you notice it was dragging?" His reply, I thought it was just a hybrid thing"

Of course, if he was able to drive away, the brake was apperntly not set tight enough (I choose to blame that on my wife, but don't tell her)

maggieddd · 11-01-2005, 08:49 AM

I never put the break on unless I am on an incline. Whenever I do put it on I do forget to turn it off and usually start driving with the break but very quickly realize it is on and shut it off. So if I can drive off with the break on that means that I didn't really put the break on? Hmmmm, how else do you turn it on then?

Marlin · 11-01-2005, 08:54 AM

My Ford Explorer went 12 years and 200,000 miles and I only used the parking brake a handful of times. My wife's malibu is 7 years old and 145,000 miles, and we never use the parking brake on it. The Chevy Celebrity I had before my explorer lasted over 200,000 without using the parking brake.

If I was parking on the hills in San Francisco, I would probably use the parking brake. But for garages, driveways, and parking lots, where everything is pretty much level, there really is no point.

etyler88 · 11-01-2005, 09:02 AM

I have not ever used the parking brake and do not plan to. I have never had a non-manual transmission car roll. I have had a parking brake stick and had to deal with that nonsense. And yes I have parked on steep inclines w/o the brake.
Do yourself a favor, don't use the brake and don't worry about it. The parking brake is 20th century car part, remember you're driving a Prius.

gschoen · 11-01-2005, 09:10 AM

Prius rolls on me all the time, albiet only an inch or two, but similar to a manual tranny in gear. If you don't use it, plan on never using it, since the tendancy to lock up from non-use is correct, as Schmicka pointed out above.

Oxo · 11-01-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2Hybrids@Nov 1 2005, 06:38 AM
in our garage (or as you would say - garedge :P ).

I think the pronunciation of garage in my part of England is a social class thing, and social class tends to be a taboo subject unless within the family, but as PriusChat is a family, here goes.
When I was a teenager I revealed my humble background by saying garage to rhyme with porridge. Then I had a posh girl friend who tried to get me to make it rhyme with 'large' (GaRARGE)
Same thing with envelope. I say en..to rhyme with ten. She said en... to rhyme with on.
What's this got to do with Prius? Nothing, but it is PriusCHAT.
And no, I haven't got anything better to do right now, or "at the moment" as my girl-friend (I've forgotten her name) would have said.
I can't remember how garage is pronounced in the US.

jrohland · 11-01-2005, 09:26 AM

I can recall at least three major recalls for cars slipping out of park. In some cases chidren got injured or killed.

Anyone who does not use their parking brake is putting their family and others in danger. I can only assume those people DO NOT CARE about the safety of others.

You go on and not use that important safety feature. Just tell me your location so I can keep my family away.

jrohland...who ALWAYS uses his parking brake!

11-01-2005, 06:38 AM	#2
2Hybrids 100% Committed Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eustis, Florida Posts: 567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My wife always insists on using that parking brake for every occasion, even in our garage (or as you would say - garedge :P ). Drives me nuts! I only use it for inclines. I'm not sure if the Yanks use their parking brakes as much as the English. Of course, you probably worry more 'bout some yob nick'n yer ride rather than it rolling away. I was taught that unless you are on an incline, there was no need for the parking brake because the gear held it in place. That doesn't mean it is right though. __________________ Richard, Jennie, Boston, & Piper 2005 Prius Driftwood Pearl #4 / 2002 Silver Gen-1 Prius *"Though everything is lost, we will pay the price - but we will not count the cost." -Neil Pert, Rush*

11-01-2005, 08:44 AM	#4
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I am a parking brake user from way back. Yes, I ever use it in my "gerge". I found when I don't use it, particularly when the car gets older, it is more likely to stick. I let my 19 yr old son drive the car when he was on leave from the Marines, he didn't realize the parking brake was on and drove for about 3 miles. Rear tires were smokin' when he stopped. I asked "didn't you notice it was dragging?" His reply, I thought it was just a hybrid thing" Of course, if he was able to drive away, the brake was apperntly not set tight enough (I choose to blame that on my wife, but don't tell her) __________________ "In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments, there are consequences." Robert Greene Ingersoll I'll add that, with God, there are all three! With God, ALL things are possible '05 Driftwood Pearl- Pkg 6- Body side mouldings only

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Parking Brake Pedal Pad	EnsPulver	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	2	09-29-2007 08:44 PM
poll do you use your parking brake?	priussoris	Gen II Prius Main Forum	53	05-18-2007 11:00 PM
Parking brake questions	alasnik	Gen II Prius Main Forum	5	12-26-2006 06:51 PM
Parking Brake	jfritz	Gen II Prius Main Forum	11	01-17-2006 05:41 PM
Parking Brake vs Parking Button	Kablooie	Gen II Prius Main Forum	36	04-23-2004 02:30 AM

11-01-2005, 06:17 AM	#1
Oxo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 535 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: T Spirit Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Now that I've been using my Prius for a few weeks I'm finding that I sometimes forget to put on the parking brake (unless I'm on a steep slope). And, if it's on, I sometimes forget to release it until I've driven a few yards. So I wonder how important this brake is. Will the car move if I park on a hill without the brake on or will it be held by the engine, with power off?

11-01-2005, 08:49 AM	#5
maggieddd Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 2,081 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 2	I never put the break on unless I am on an incline. Whenever I do put it on I do forget to turn it off and usually start driving with the break but very quickly realize it is on and shut it off. So if I can drive off with the break on that means that I didn't really put the break on? Hmmmm, how else do you turn it on then?

11-01-2005, 08:54 AM	#6
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 1,408 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	My Ford Explorer went 12 years and 200,000 miles and I only used the parking brake a handful of times. My wife's malibu is 7 years old and 145,000 miles, and we never use the parking brake on it. The Chevy Celebrity I had before my explorer lasted over 200,000 without using the parking brake. If I was parking on the hills in San Francisco, I would probably use the parking brake. But for garages, driveways, and parking lots, where everything is pretty much level, there really is no point.

11-01-2005, 09:02 AM	#7
etyler88 etyler88 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 450 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	I have not ever used the parking brake and do not plan to. I have never had a non-manual transmission car roll. I have had a parking brake stick and had to deal with that nonsense. And yes I have parked on steep inclines w/o the brake. Do yourself a favor, don't use the brake and don't worry about it. The parking brake is 20th century car part, remember you're driving a Prius.

11-01-2005, 09:10 AM	#8
gschoen Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago/Wrigleyville Posts: 339 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Prius rolls on me all the time, albiet only an inch or two, but similar to a manual tranny in gear. If you don't use it, plan on never using it, since the tendancy to lock up from non-use is correct, as Schmicka pointed out above.

11-01-2005, 09:26 AM	#10
jrohland Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arlington, Virginia, US Posts: 56 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I can recall at least three major recalls for cars slipping out of park. In some cases chidren got injured or killed. Anyone who does not use their parking brake is putting their family and others in danger. I can only assume those people DO NOT CARE about the safety of others. You go on and not use that important safety feature. Just tell me your location so I can keep my family away. jrohland...who ALWAYS uses his parking brake!