In Drive or Neutral.................

[NASY]

4 hours ago, Strangely Brown said:

The parking brake will require you to press the brake pedal in order to release it so you will not be able to just drive off as you would with Brake Hold, but it's a small price to pay if you don't want to show brake lights for a long period.

Just press accelerator to go, parking brake releases.

[Strangely Brown]

29 minutes ago, NASY said:

Just press accelerator to go, parking brake releases.

Not in my car. It just puts a message in the display saying that the accelerator pedal has been depressed. If you use Brake Hold you can press the accelerator to just drive away but not with the Parking Brake. That requires the brake pedal to be depressed to release it.

That said, it could be that pressing the accelerator harder/further would force the Parking Brake to be released but I haven't tried that. a) I would not want to force the parking brake off suddenly with a large throttle opening and b) it would defeat the point of the parking brake as a safety system to prevent exactly that kind of thing.

I will try it next time I am in the car though. Just to be sure.

[philip42h]

56 minutes ago, Strangely Brown said:

Not in my car. It just puts a message in the display saying that the accelerator pedal has been depressed.

I leave the Parking brake in automatic mode so it comes on and releases as I shift into and out of Park - and that works just fine for me. 🙂

But if it is set manually, the OM states:

Quote

Parking brake automatic release function
The parking brake will be released automatically when the accelerator pedal is slowly depressed under the following conditions:

• The driver’s door is closed
• The driver is wearing the seat belt
• The shift lever is in a forward or reverse position.
• The malfunction indicator lamp or brake system warning light is not illuminated

If the automatic release function does not operate, release the parking brake manually.

So, it should release automatically ... probably ... 🙂

[Cyker]

My Yaris will automatically release the EPB if I'm in D and press the accelerator (Otherwise it just strains against it with the creep).

If it doesn't for you, maybe the automatic EPB is off?

Does it engage the EPB automatically when you put it into Park? If it doesn't, then the automatic function is off.

[Strangely Brown]

1 hour ago, philip42h said:

I leave the Parking brake in automatic mode so it comes on and releases as I shift into and out of Park - and that works just fine for me. 🙂

But if it is set manually, the OM states:

So, it should release automatically ... probably ... 🙂

Mine is linked to the gearshift too. I cannot see why I would want it any other way. 🙂

That may explain the difference but I will test, confirm and report back after my next drive.
 

[TonyHSD]

If I buy a newer Toyota almost certainly I will disable most if not all auto functions like brake hold, auto parking brake, auto folding mirrors, auto lights - ehr that is not possible but everything that is surely I will do. 
I can highly recommend to anyone who drives 2019 and above if you have a chance to borough an older car like 2010 or below with manual hand brake, without any screens, Apple car play etc with manual heating controls, without any safety lane assist etc and drive it for a day I guarantee you a big smile on your face👌
The latest tech in cars does have positives and helps in certain situations but also adds a lot of complexity and unnecessary complications and takes away from the pure driving experience.

[Flatcoat]

15 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

Yeap, using N neutral when stationary is only advisable for cars with dry clutch system like Vw dsg for example or Aygo mmt, any other torque converter, cvt, bev cars, and all Toyota hybrids no need to select N or P. 
Toyota recommend keeping the car in D also as safety precaution in an event of rear end crash, keeping your foot on the brake will prevent the car to shoot forward too fast and will prevent any possible neck injuries to the passengers in your car. Also will save the transmission from potential breakdown of the parking pole mechanics, which can be costly repair on top of the rear of your car. 👍

To be absolutely clear using Neutral applies to any DSG type (insert different manufacturers acronym to suit) or torque convertor gearbox. Whatever the manufacturers may claim I would rather use N in such a vehicle than end up with lprematurely worn gearbox replacement the cost of which comes out of my wallet.…… However back to the RAV PHEV and I use any aid that helps reduce driver stress and fatigue with the exception of the reverse camera - I still reverse using the mirrors until the last few inches when I switch my attention to the camera. 

[TonyHSD]

4 hours ago, Flatcoat said:

To be absolutely clear using Neutral applies to any DSG type (insert different manufacturers acronym to suit) or torque convertor gearbox. Whatever the manufacturers may claim I would rather use N in such a vehicle than end up with lprematurely worn gearbox replacement the cost of which comes out of my wallet.…… However back to the RAV PHEV and I use any aid that helps reduce driver stress and fatigue with the exception of the reverse camera - I still reverse using the mirrors until the last few inches when I switch my attention to the camera. 

For DSG yes, for torque converter boxes not really.
There is no direct connection between moving parts to cause friction or stress and no need to select N when stationary unless for longer times. 
If you like to do it yourself then it’s ok. 

[Strangely Brown]

On 2/5/2023 at 9:52 PM, Strangely Brown said:

Mine is linked to the gearshift too. I cannot see why I would want it any other way. 🙂

That may explain the difference but I will test, confirm and report back after my next drive.
 

Well, every day is a school day.

It would appear that my assumption about the parking brake was wrong and it does release automatically when the accelerator pedal is depressed, even quite gently.

This is with the parking brake in automatic mode. i.e. it is linked to the shift lever and engages/releases automatically when Park is selected.

Thanks for education, even though I am in two minds as to whether this "feature" is a good thing.

I wonder what I will learn tomorrow.

[Iain_M]

My wife and I have owned automatic cars for nearly 30 years and at no time have either of us considered or set the car in neutral for any reason unless the car is being pushed somewhere. I appreciate with some of the cars we have owned have had either DSG or CVT type gearboxes but that didn't really affect the driving of the car for us. The automatic Q3 we had allowed us to select brake hold from the day we bought it and stayed that way until we sold it 12 years later and it did not suffer any mishaps sitting in D in traffic with the foot off the brake. I noticed whilst we were in a long queue of traffic only last week that the auto hold on our RAV went from the auto hold to a message that the EPG had been engaged due to us sitting for about 3 or 4 minutes.

My question would be, why buy an automatic and then keep shoving it in N or P when out driving. Automatics are designed to be put in D and left there. The inconvenience of having to keep your foot on the brake is only necessary if the auto hold feature is not available, doesn't work or not fitted to the car. My daughters car in Canada (Ford Explorer) and her previous Mom Van both automatic of course but neither has/had the auto brake hold feature so her cars always stay in D and her foot sits on the brake for as long as it takes. On a morbid note, a friend of hers died when she stopped at a bank drive through and leaned out of the window to access the cash machine but she did not engage N or P whilst reaching to the machine and the car moved forward and trapped her between a pillar and the car window and tried to drag her out of the car, she suffered horrific injuries and died sadly.

I have on a couple of occasions stopped the car to let people out or into the car and remained in D which I should not do as this is risky. I have even got out of the car and tried to lock it before realising the car was still in drive and switched on! So that is the only downside that I can see when N or P should definitely be used.

[NASY]

Sad story about the bank drive through. A friend of mine had terrible leg injuries when the car drove through the garage wall as he was stepping out of it still in drive. So a general rule would seem to be P for any time part of a human body needs to hang out of or exit the vehicle, I think it's what I do anyway but good to remind oneself.

[Cyker]

Absolutely! Basically, any time you're stationary and not in total active control of the car (e.g. hands off the wheel, attention no longer focused ahead/on mirrors, talking etc.), it's essential to put it in a 'safe' mode - Handbrake+Neutral if you're in a manual or P if in an automatic, e.g. if the car is going to be stopped for an extended time, if a door is going to be opened, if you need to do something where there is even a tiny chance that may cause a button or switch to be pressed accidentally etc.!

I will say N is a bit pointless in the HSD drivetrains - In manuals and automatics, it physically disconnects the engine from the wheels so if the engine suddenly went bananas and revved to the moon you wouldn't be suddenly catapulted into a brick wall/ditch/convenience store etc., but in EVs and most hybrids the engine or at least electric motors just can't be disconnected from the wheels at all.

I can only assume there's some legal mandate to have a 'N' even if it doesn't actually do anything!

[TonyHSD]

D and foot on the brake if you are the last car on a queue. 

N in hybrids and evs is used for maintenance or valet purposes to load the car or pushed if needed, broken down or similar. Although you can’t physically disconnect the wheels from the motor you actually let them rotate together freely, which is enough for the purpose. Absolutely no need to switch to N or P when in traffic, waiting at junction, traffic lights, roundabouts etc. 

[Chas G]

Slightly off topic but can you put the gearbox in neutral if the 12 volt Battery is dead? 

[TonyHSD]

16 hours ago, Chas G said:

Slightly off topic but can you put the gearbox in neutral if the 12 volt battery is dead? 

There is an option to move shifter manually out of P when no power. You need to open the gaiter panel and click with a screwdriver to release sifter lock. There should be explained in your car manual book. 👍

[Chas G]

5 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

There is an option to move shifter manually out of P when no power. You need to open the gaiter panel and click with a screwdriver to release sifter lock. There should be explained in your car manual book. 👍

Excellent. Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated. Best wishes Chas

[TonyHSD]

40 minutes ago, Chas G said:

Excellent. Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated. Best wishes Chas

You are welcome. 

[Nick72]

I just put it from Park to Drive which automatically undoes the parking brake given that was a settings discovery I didn't make for a while! At lights or junctions I just hold the brake with the foot pedal or if I'm using radar cruise control with the stop start functionality I don't do anything. If it's going to be a while and I'm not using the cruise control then I just press the hold button.

Basically I never actually touch the shifter apart when I get in the car and get out of the car.

I don't know of this is what is right or best or not? But it's the most convenient for me.

[ernieb]

Once mine is in drive it stays there until I get to my destination. I select the brake hold and use that function, the car is designed to function in this way.