That's odd - normally the advice is TO use the parking brake, hence the automation. Do they suggest a reason why NOT to use it?

Page 205 of the 2019 manual shows how to change the automatic setting. I do not see any recommendation of NOT using the brake there...

 

That's odd - normally the advice is TO use the parking brake, hence the automation. Do they suggest a reason why NOT to use it?

This is for winter. Toyota suggests not engaging the emergency brake because it may freeze.

How long have you had the car parked at one time and how cold was it? Just to get a feel.

 

OK - I see it now...

• Do not use the parking brake when there is the potential for it to freeze. When snow or water accumulates around the parking brake mechanism it may freeze and be difficult to release.

Gotta love technology... The old hand lever I have was better.

If there's any risk of freezing, I would guess it would be overnight. So if your home parking spot is level, don't use the EPB to be safe. You can change the automatic setting by the process indicated in the manual, so it only sets when you push the button.

 

OK - I see it now...



Gotta love technology... The old hand lever I have was better.

If there's any risk of freezing, I would guess it would be overnight. So if your home parking spot is level, don't use the EPB to be safe. You can change the automatic setting by the process indicated in the manual, so it only sets when you push the button.

OK, thanks. How long have you left the brake engaged? I'm just wondering if I am at work and I want to engage it.

 

People have been calling the Parking brake an Emergency brake for years and that is a misconception. It is a Parking brake and IMHO, should be used whenever you park the car. This takes any pressure off of the parking mechanism inside of the transmission. Especially when parked on an incline. So that being said, unless there is an issue with the parking brake mechanism freezing in place, I can't see why they would state not to use the parking brake when the car is parked. For the most park, the parking brake will do little to stop a car in an emergency and, if I'm not mistaken, the EPB will not activate at speed.

 

People have been calling the Parking brake an Emergency brake for years and that is a misconception. It

. For the most park, the parking brake will do little to stop a car in an emergency and, if I'm not mistaken, the EPB will not activate at speed.

Morosov Automotive tested this and the electric parking brake WILL stop the 5th generation RAV4 in an emergency --at least on the hybrid (which I think, but am not sure uses the same parking brake as the gas models.) He made two stops from 60 MPH and one from 75 MPH using only the parking brake in about 6 to 7 seconds.

 

To answer the OPs question: To "unset" the automatic parking brake turn the car on and push down and hold the parking brake switch (I think it is for about 5 seconds).
To reset the automatic parking brake do the opposite - lift up on the parking brake switch for about 5 seconds.
By "automatic parking brake" I mean the logic that turns "on" the parking brake when you shift the car to "Park".

Edit: This is from memory and I don't have the manual here. I believe those instructions are correct but if not I suspect someone will correct me.

 

I believe those instructions are correct but if not I suspect someone will correct me.

On this forum?!?! You better believe someone will correct you. 😆

 

Our 2020 RAV4 LE and 2020 Corolla SE have no issue with frozen EPB during 2 winter seasons. And we are living in "snow belt".

 

Interesting. If the pads ever did freeze to the rotors you would have to take a hair dryer, portable heater or other such thing to each rear hub to melt them loose. Very inconvenient if you are away from home. I myself would not risk it happening.

 

@Tazio Nuvolari, my driveway has incline, so I don't like to put stress on my automatic transmission pin. I always used parking brake on all my cars. Never had issue.

 

I understand your auto trans parking pawl concern and it is quite valid. Brakes don't freeze frequently even in cold, wet conditions which is fortunate. I have had it happen only twice in the last 30 years: once in a 1984 Bronco II and once in a 2003 Jeep Liberty. Those two times were enough for me. Both occassions were a major pain in the ass and ruined two whole days. If the brakes froze in an emergency situation when you were far from a heat source I would not like to think what would happen. You might consider BLOCKING your tires in a steep driveway, using the auto trans Park, and then releasing the EPB in the dead of winter.

 

NameofUser, All good points in your post but I find nothing actionable beside building fear. Here is what I will take away from it:
1. Don't expect the parking brake to slow you down very quickly (over 6s from 40MPH to stop) so pick the safest crash path if brakes go out.
2. Train to use the parking brake. It is good practice to apply it manually anyway before shifting to Park and should the brakes go out it will reduce your speed before a crash which could save lives. Previous cars with manual "pull type" parking brake like R4.4s are good training for this - you just have to translate full pull with hand to finger pull.
3. Have a plan for runaway acceleration (i.e. shift to Neutral).
Anything I missed? - oh yes - "you are F'd" - make sure you have a will and affairs in order.

 

That be a good summary, and a good practice of practicing engaging parking brake to slow vehicle down. Probably only do so once at low speed. Repeated actual engagements may lead to problems or failure of parking brake mechanism. You can practice engaging the PARKING brake but not engage it, and still be mentally prepared for such an awful situation, if it ever arose.

Empty road/path ahead of you, PARKING brake will bring you to a STOP, SLOWLY.

ALL other instances, PARKING brake will just slow you down before impact. Sadly, this is second best option. A reduced speed impact is better than full speed impact.

Sure, try to maneuver into empty lane, if it's available.

Overall bottom line, you're f'd if you have to engage PARKING brake to attempt to stop the vehicle at speed.

"This is the Captain: Brace for Impact." (Sully, 2016 movie).

 

Point 2 was not a suggestion to practice using the parking brake to slow the vehicle (I would not recommend that). It was more about creating good habits. It is always a good idea to set the parking brake first BEFORE shifting to Park. That way the car is held in position by the parking brake instead of putting pressure on the tab that gets engaged when moving the shifter to Park. When you allow the automated "shift to Park" to set the break on a hill you put pressure on the tab.

 

Emergency brakes are mandated by law, which is why every car has one. There certainly not going to replace your actual brakes, but some brakes are better than no brakes, always.

I am old enough to remember the "if you loose your brakes" question on the drivers test, which was to shift to lower gears until almost stopped then apply the e-brake.

The logic for using them all the time is so they work when you need them to work. This was especially true on old style e-brakes with cables, and why most cars with cables stop working, and why if you have a state inspection its one of the things they check.