Drove with the parking brakes on!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Sep 6 2006, 01:31 PM) [snapback]315379[/snapback]</div>

Are you sure you drove with the parking brake on?? If the car isn't in gear (ie: D or R) it shouldn't have allowed itself to be moved, especially not when in P. It sounds like the emergency brake was on if I'm reading your post correctly...how far did you drive with it on and at what speeds? Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to let you know what potential damage might have been done with driving with the e-brake on. I've done it by accident a few times, but never got more than 25-50 feet before realizing the "dragging" sensation and sluggishness when I began accellerating and was able to release the e-brake.

 

if you drove it for miles and miles it's possible that you might have damaged the rear brake shoes and possibly the drums. If the car moved with out preceptable drag most likely not much damaged occured. If in doubt have the rear drums pulled and the brakes inspected. If the paint on the rear drums is scorched or discolored I'd have that done. If not push the emergency brake on full even if you have to pull on the steering wheel to give yourself more force and it doesn't go all the way to the floor and when you put the car in D and it holds it from moving, have a nice day, nothing damaged.

 

My daughter drove our Toyota Camry 2005 last year for about an hour with the emergency brake on - it was late at night, pouring down rain, and she didn't notice the car felt strange. When we stopped and got out, the smell was intolerable!

It cost us a $300 repair bill at the Toyota dealer that week to fix the damage done. As important as brakes are, I'd probably be getting that checked, if I were you.

 

Yikes, sounds bad. Hope you didn't permanently do anything.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Sep 6 2006, 04:31 PM) [snapback]315379[/snapback]</div>

The parking brake or e-brake on most cars is just a mechanical actuator for the rear brakes. If you ignor the warning lights and apply enough power, the rear brakes don't stand a chance. This is true with most any car, not just the Prius. Once you heat up the brakes, you won't even feel that much drag.

Take it in and have the rear brakes checked.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Michgal007 @ Sep 6 2006, 03:31 PM) [snapback]315379[/snapback]</div>

Same thing happened to me the 2nd day I had my Prius. I drove about 400 yards before realizing the brake was on. A few days later I had to take it back to the dealer for a small adjustment to something else and when I collected it he gave me a routine report which said brakes 5% worn!
Since then I've realized that the parking (left foot) brake is unnecessary most of the time and I now hardly ever use it although I would if I parked on a steep incline,

 

My daughter drove for some miles in my 1996 Camry with the parking brake on. I took it in immediately and they detected no problem. Then some long time later the check engine light came on and when all was said and done they had to replace the valve body in my automatic transmission. The part alone was $800 or $900 and the total bill over $1000. I'm convinced those two things were related. This is not something you want to do.

 

my daughter drove her prius with parking brake on for 15 miles today. The smell was terrible.
going to have the mechanic check, hope the car is not damaged...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(souvenir @ Oct 13 2006, 02:07 AM) [snapback]332156[/snapback]</div>

I hope designers are noting this thread. They should build in a very loud and increasing warning sound if the car is moved with the brake on. Not just the little red light or a bad smell.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ Sep 7 2006, 04:52 AM) [snapback]315622[/snapback]</div>

From what I've read here, the parking brake can be important...something having to to with the parking 'pawl' (is that what it's called?) on the current Prius being actuated by some sort of servo. Apparently, if you park on an incline, don't set the emergency brake, and the car drifts forward after it's turned off, the servo that actuates that pawl thing might not have enough power to retract it, and you won't be able to get the car to move.

I'd humbly suggest always setting the parking brake, just to be on the safe side.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Oct 13 2006, 10:57 AM) [snapback]332369[/snapback]</div>

I agree that the parking brake should be used every time the car is parked. If for no other reason, it becomes second nature to ALWAYS release it, and you aren't stabbing it just to see if it is on or not. Park and set it. Release it when you drive. EVERY time. Also a good idea to check the dash indicators every once in a while to see if anything is red or blinking!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Oct 13 2006, 08:57 AM) [snapback]332369[/snapback]</div>

I agree with you if parking on an incline. If parking on the level or near level, this is probably not something to worry about.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Oct 13 2006, 01:15 PM) [snapback]332379[/snapback]</div>

The moral of the story.

One of the few things I miss about my old Porsche was that it had this giant red light, smack dab in the middle of the tachometer (itself placed centrally in front of the driver). If any warning lights came on, yellow, red, whatever, the master "something's wrong" light was so big that you just couldn't ignore it and *had* to scan the panel.

This included the parking brake 'on' when the car is running.

There was also a 'cancel' switch, so if it was something minor like the windshield washer fluid or whatever, it could be turned off.

It kind of made me feel like a racecar driver...like, oh...Michele Mouton, perhaps...but not in an Audi.

 

I borrowed my sister's '90 Cougar once, her boyfriend taught her to always use the parking brake, which I only used on inclines for an automatic. The brake was barely on, I didn't notice the indicator light or any noticeable drag. I pulled into a friends driveway and came to a stop and a cloud of brake dust was still in motion blowing past the car. The lesson I taught my sister that day is "If you are going to use the parking brake, USE IT!" I borrowed my other sister's car once and she told me to set the brake when I park it. So, when I returned the car to her I pulled the handle type brake as tight as I would normally in my own 5-speed cars. When she got in, she couldn't pull up on the handle hard enough push the release button. If you can't push or pull a parking brake hard enough for it to be 100% effective, consider some wheel chocks (you may also want to consider some "remove before flight" flags so you don't forget and try to run over them). I just try to teach people to effectively use their parking brake, you aren't going to hurt it, just be sure to have the cable tightened periodically with regular maintenance because it does tend to stretch.