Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park?

fred garvin · 09-11-2009, 10:07 PM

always use it, always have.

i went home for christmas circa 1987 and my mom had bought a used (rental) caddie. I took it to the mall for some Xmas shopping, and set the brake as i always do. When i finished shopping i could not for the life of me find the GD brake release lever. I looked and looked and looked some more. I finally consulted the manual and became acquainted with the "parking break releases as you put it in drive" innovation. i wasted a good 20 minutes.

interocitor · 09-11-2009, 10:27 PM

Yes. Force of habit ... and so glad I do. I am now driving my 3rd Prius. The first Prius I had, 2005, was still a novelty and I can't tell you how many times I got into the car from the valet and found the car in drive, but the parking brake set ... whew! I taught both my boys to drive in my Prius and they sometimes forgot to hit the P hard enough when parking in the garage ... but they are in the habit of setting the parking brake ... another whew! Although I prefer the "cool" gear knob of my 2005 and 2007, it's much safer having P as part of the gear knob in the 2010. ---- My boys and I once watched a pickup truck, the driver parks it, exits the truck and proceeds to watch it roll down a hill, stop at one of those parking spot cement things which stopped the truck from rolling into the window of a below-ground apartment.

Setting the brake takes such little time ... and to you guys out there, it's really difficult for us girls to exit a car gracefully in heels when the car makes that "little roll" because you chose not to set the parking brake ...

IraS · 09-11-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interocitor

Although I prefer the "cool" gear knob of my 2005 and 2007, it's much safer having P as part of the gear knob in the 2010.

P is still a separate button in the 2010 Prius, just like in your 2005 and 2007. It is not part of the gear knob.

interocitor · 09-12-2009, 01:20 PM

You are right ... oops!

blueumbrella · 09-12-2009, 03:12 PM

I always use the parking brake. Correct or not, it seems to me that using the parking brake would reduce pressure on the transmission to prevent the car from moving. Whether this will eventually cause wear or harm, I have no proof. I realize that parking on a flat surface greatly reduces chances of this happening.

classic · 09-12-2009, 06:30 PM

I only set the parking brake when on a steep incline.

tiztim · 09-13-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randy_m

The owner's manual harps over and over again about always setting the parking brake when parking...I've never done that with any of my automatic transmissions.

Does anyone think this is actually necessary?

Insertion of this paragraph was insisted on by lawyers. ---Lawyers have to make a living too!

GoGreenTreeHugger · 09-13-2009, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randy_m

The owner's manual harps over and over again about always setting the parking brake when parking...I've never done that with any of my automatic transmissions.

Does anyone think this is actually necessary?

actually here in california when you take your drivers test if you dont put the emergency brake on they will fail you on that part...

SageBrush · 09-13-2009, 04:22 AM

I'm part of the 'always have, always will' crowd. One less thing to retrain my brain

09-11-2009, 10:07 PM	#31
fred garvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: northern virginia Posts: 376 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 38 Thanked 49 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 3	Re: Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park? always use it, always have. i went home for christmas circa 1987 and my mom had bought a used (rental) caddie. I took it to the mall for some Xmas shopping, and set the brake as i always do. When i finished shopping i could not for the life of me find the GD brake release lever. I looked and looked and looked some more. I finally consulted the manual and became acquainted with the "parking break releases as you put it in drive" innovation. i wasted a good 20 minutes.

09-11-2009, 10:27 PM	#32
interocitor Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OC California Posts: 36 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park? Yes. Force of habit ... and so glad I do. I am now driving my 3rd Prius. The first Prius I had, 2005, was still a novelty and I can't tell you how many times I got into the car from the valet and found the car in drive, but the parking brake set ... whew! I taught both my boys to drive in my Prius and they sometimes forgot to hit the P hard enough when parking in the garage ... but they are in the habit of setting the parking brake ... another whew! Although I prefer the "cool" gear knob of my 2005 and 2007, it's much safer having P as part of the gear knob in the 2010. ---- My boys and I once watched a pickup truck, the driver parks it, exits the truck and proceeds to watch it roll down a hill, stop at one of those parking spot cement things which stopped the truck from rolling into the window of a below-ground apartment. Setting the brake takes such little time ... and to you guys out there, it's really difficult for us girls to exit a car gracefully in heels when the car makes that "little roll" because you chose not to set the parking brake ... __________________ '10 Winter Gray \| ATP \| Gray Matters Home on 24-July-2010 =================== No Matter Where You Go ... There You Are ... ["Mom, if Batman drove a Prius, it would be this one!"] Previous Prius: '07 Barcelona Red, Touring, Pkg. 6, HOV Stickers Home on Nov-2006 \| RUBY ---------------- '05 Driftwood Pearl, BC 6, HOV Stickers Home on 28-Feb-2005 \| PEARL POD

09-12-2009, 01:20 PM	#34
interocitor Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: OC California Posts: 36 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park? You are right ... oops!

09-12-2009, 03:12 PM	#35
blueumbrella Member of Prius Regeneration Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 139 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Thanks: 46 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park? I always use the parking brake. Correct or not, it seems to me that using the parking brake would reduce pressure on the transmission to prevent the car from moving. Whether this will eventually cause wear or harm, I have no proof. I realize that parking on a flat surface greatly reduces chances of this happening.

09-12-2009, 06:30 PM	#36
classic Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 16 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: No Package Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park? I only set the parking brake when on a steep incline.

09-13-2009, 04:22 AM	#39
SageBrush Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,072 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 103 Thanked 59 Times in 43 Posts Friends: 4	Re: Anyone set the pkg brake every time you park? I'm part of the 'always have, always will' crowd. One less thing to retrain my brain

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