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Can the Electronic Parking Brake be used like the mechanical hand brake? As an example, if while driving on a freeway you lose the standard brakes, can you use the Electronic Parking Brake to stop the car? Also, if while parked, your 12 volt battery dies, is there a way to release the Electronic Parking Brake if it was engaged? Sorry if the answers to these questions are available here on CL or in the owner's manual. I'm sure most of you have experienced lack of sleep, resulting in hallucinations and unexplained behavior while waiting on your new Lexus to be delivered.
The Park Lever is located on the lower right dash, below the START/ON button. Page 146 (in my '19 manual) says that switch controls the parking brake too. Whether you can use that switch to feather stop the car is not mentioned, but I think, unllkely.
It seems the name change says it all, the traditional "Emergency Brake" that we
applied with a hand lever was best, the ratcheted foot pedal was useable. Now
it is called a "Parking Brake" and does not seem suited for the vehicular choreography
we CL participants are accustomed to.
Minor pluses to the Automatic function are that by using the PB regularly the cables
get stretched and may not rust as solidly as in the past. Another benefit is that the
car doesn't roll downhill when releasing the brake pedal after selecting Park on a hill.
These are some pertinent questions IMO that I've never really thought about. I do use the auto feature for the PB and like how it holds on a hill when going in and out of the park lock. I also utilize the "hold" switch when waiting in line at Wendy's...
If in fact the Electronic Parking Brake cannot be used to stop the car in an emergency, there seems to be another "back up" system being eliminated like the spare tire. The emergency brake could be used in case of a primary brake failure or if the driver became disabled (primarily the hand brake, not the foot brake), the passenger could stop the car. Many auto manufacturers are now eliminating spare tires for cost or weight savings reasons. Strangely, my 2018 Accord Touring (non hybrid) had a spare tire installed, but my 2019 Accord Touring Hybrid came with a fix-a-flat kit. Because the Hybrid had the same wheel well as the 2018, I took the spare tire and tools, installed it in the Hybrid trunk and put the kit in the 2018 when I traded. I realize we have roadside assistance, but there are times when we get a flat in unsafe neighborhoods, late at night and in evacuation traffic where help can't get to you (living in New Orleans ask me how I know). Fix-a-flat kits are only effective under ideal conditions and nails don't always conform to puncturing in acceptable locations.
My point is, while we have wonderful high-tech safety features available on our latest vehicles, I hope the low tech analog safety features aren't eliminated without a high tech replacement that serves the same purpose. By the way does anyone know if the Electronic Parking Brake can be released mechanically if the battery dies when it is engaged?
If you're talking about the HOLD feature, I use it all the time, especially at those four-minute traffic lights here in FL.
The pictured intersection has 9 southbound lanes (2 rt, 4 straight, 3 lt)
8 northbound lanes
and 8 east and 6 westbound lanes.
Nope - I mean AUTO to set the parking brake every time you shift to park and release it when you shift to drive. HOLD is different to allow you to keep your foot off the brake pedal in traffic or at red lights.
The manual states the parking brake CAN be operated manually in an emergency, page 146:
Press and hold the parking brake switch if an emergency occurs and it is necessary to operate the parking brake while driving.
Pull the switch to release the parking brake.
Operate the parking brake switch while depressing the brake pedal.
Using the parking brake automatic release function, the parking brake can be released by depressing the accelerator pedal. When using this function, slowly depress the accelerator pedal.
As for dead battery operation, I'm checking that information.
The manual states the parking brake CAN be operated manually in an emergency, page 146:
Press and hold the parking brake switch if an emergency occurs and it is necessary to operate the parking brake while driving.
Pull the switch to release the parking brake.
Operate the parking brake switch while depressing the brake pedal.
Using the parking brake automatic release function, the parking brake can be released by depressing the accelerator pedal. When using this function, slowly depress the accelerator pedal.
As for dead battery operation, I'm checking that information.
Now you just have to remember this if you have an emergency...
10-21-20, 04:58 AM
Electronic Parking Brake
Slam on the brakes and pray or hope that the safety systems do their thing..
