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Do you shift into N and engage the parking brake BEFORE shifting into P?

  • YES, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE FIRST

    Votes: 7 28%

  • NO, I SHIFT STRAIGHT INTO P AND THEN ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE LAST

    Votes: 8 32%

  • I DON'T EVEN USE THE PARKING BRAKE LOL

    Votes: 10 40%
  • Total voters
    25

Do you shift into N before Park?

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1.7K views 16 replies 11 participants last post by  gregeusa  
#1 ·
The poll says it all! I keep hearing that I should shift into neutral and engage the parking brake before I go into Park. However, why would that be necessary if I've got my foot on the tire brakes the whole time until AFTER the parking brake is engaged?

Thoughts? Thanks in advance haha
 
#2 ·
What does Toyota say? It doesn't matter if you poll thousands of people who know nothing about transmissions. I could not find anything in the owner's manual about shifting to neutral before shifting to park. Having also worked for Toyota I have not seen any TSB or anything else stating to shift to neutral before shifting to park. Do you have a credible source for what you are saying?
 
F
#3 ·
1. The car won't shift to park unless your foot is on the brake. Best to press firmly so the car doesn't move before you engage the parking brake. Don't need to stop at neutral.

2. The question is moot for the 5th generation RAV4 which automatically engages the parking brake when you place the transmission into park (with your foot on the brake).
 
#5 ·
When you shift from Drive to Park your foot is already pressing the brake pedal, so the friction brakes are engaged, thus there is no concern about over-stressing the pawl. I am almost sure that the RAV4 Prime engages the parking brake automatically once the car is powered down, but I might be confusing it with the Sienna.
 
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#7 ·
Dimitrij said:
I am almost sure that the RAV4 Prime engages the parking brake automatically once the car is powered down, but I might be confusing it with the Sienna.
Click to expand...
The Prime is a 5th generation RAV4 (with automatic parking brakes). The OP has a 4th generation RAV4 which is different.
 
V
#9 ·
50 odd years ago, when auto transmissions were a fairly new concept, there was an issue, if you parked on a steep hill and your handbrake didn't work well. When you put the transmission in "park", a locking pin prevented the trans from turning. This was intended as a backup to the park brake only. If your park brake didn't work, sometimes the weight on the locking pin made it very difficult to get out of park. I suspect that's less of an issue with more modern cars. Either way, as a few have pointed out already, as long as you leave your foot on the brake until the park brake is engaged, then it doesn't matter when you put the transmission into "park".
 
4
#10 ·
I completely agree with you. I really did not like my cars resting on that locking pin. Back in the day when I had a manual transmission I was anal about it. The parking brake was for holding the car. So, when I parked (at home here the driveway was on a slope) I always made sure to get that brake on, and then leave it in first gear.

It drives me bonkers when I put the car in reverse and I hear that big thunk. Merry Christmas.
 
#15 ·
No, the manual is telling you that the emergency brake won't work on ice.

In the old days, common sense would prevail, i.e. if your wheels skid on an icy road, your brakes will likewise limited.

In today's society any idiot could claim damages that his "emergency/parking brake failed" because it did not hold on an icy road.

Sign of the times.
 
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#16 ·
gregeusa said:
No, the manual is telling you that the emergency brake won't work on ice.
Click to expand...
Beg to differ.
1. It is not an emergency brake, it is a parking brake.
2. My owners manual specifically says: "The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from being released." And later: "If the vehicle is left parked with the brakes damp in cold temperatures, there is a possibility of the brakes freezing."
 
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