Parking Brake

I normally don't use the Parking Brake (applied with the foot) unless I'm on a hill. Others use it all the time.

 

Some good discussion here:

http://priuschat.com/P-function-t14785.html

 

And here
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=12017&hl=

and here
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=7998&st=0

and here
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=9484&hl=

and here
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1708&hl=

and . . . :blink: . . . whew!

 

I use mine every time I park.......I also use an automatic carwash with a under carriage rinse.

 

I almost never use my parking brake in my current car, even though
it automatically releases when the car is driven.

I certainly won't use it on my yet to be delivered Prius, unless a hill
requires it. It will just be something to forget to release.

I figure the owner's manual requires it because they don't trust people
to apply it when it is really needed.

 

If you use it every time you will never forget to release it, and you will never mis-judge when it needs to be used.

If the brake is not used and the car rolls enough to rest against the parking pawl, you may hear a very alarming CLUNK when you next shift into Drive.

 

Interesting point. Does a parking pawl exist on a car like the Prius? Or, more generally, on a car with a CVT?

 

Yes. In the classic Prius it was mechanically set via the gearshift lever, and in the new model it is electrically set.

Besides holding on slopes and keeping the mechanicals unfrozen, I suggest another reason to routinely set the P brake. If somebody gives your parked car a bump, the parking pawl might break within the transmission. Don't know how expensive to repair pawl in a conventional automatic transmission, but I strongly doubt it would be cheaper in Prius.

 

You must engage the car in park when you shut it down (although the car does put you into park when you hit the power button first) You do not have to use the "parking break" every time. This is also the easiest to release parking break I have ever had on any car.

 

Since I don't know what type of winter weather you get in Iowa, my rule of thumb is as follows: If it is cold and wet never set the parking brake unless it is absolutely required (facing up or down a hill). If the cable gets wet and you set it, with the temperature at freezing or lower the cable might freeze and you won't be able to release the parking brake when you want to get going.

 

I figure they are called "parking" brakes for a good reason. My dad taught me to use them all the time, so I do. In temps from -40 up here to much less frigid temps in Utah, I've never had a problem, except on one vehicle.

My 2000 GMC Sierra had 4 wheel disk brakes with rear "drum in hat" parking brake, and that design was remarkably unreliable. For some reason at -30 C or colder, it would be sluggish to release. Never had that problem with any other vehicle.

If you regularly - all the time - use parking brakes, the cables should never seize up. If you never use them, then after say 3-4 years encounter a very steep hill you have to park on, more than likely the parking brake will seize once you apply it.

Case in point: my 1984 Ford F-150, purchased new, parking brake always used. Rust Checked yearly until 1997, and it still has the original factory parking brake cables. YMMV.