Using the parking brake

[spon88]

I routinely use the parking brake by pressing the right control stalk button, even on the flat. Is this actually necessary or is it just meant for parking on slopes? I don't wish to stress any components long term if it can be avoided

 

[NorfolkMustard]

That’s fine. It applies the brakes when you open the door anyway

 

[spon88]

That’s fine. It applies the brakes when you open the door anyway

Ah, OK thanks. Seems some confusion around this searching in Google. I'll watch for the red brake sign when I open the doors

 

[darkNstormy]

Ah, OK thanks. Seems some confusion around this searching in Google. I'll watch for the red brake sign when I open the doors

I always do it out of habit, otherwise I might forget if I'm driving a different car

 

[Adopado]

I routinely use the parking brake by pressing the right control stalk button, even on the flat. Is this actually necessary or is it just meant for parking on slopes? I don't wish to stress any components long term if it can be avoided

The problem with not pressing the Park button is that you get more irritating bin bong warnings when you unfasten your seatbelt ... and the car then applies Park for you anyway as you open the door of course.

 

[Dilly]

The problem with not pressing the Park button is that you get more irritating bin bong warnings when you unfasten your seatbelt ... and the car then applies Park for you anyway as you open the door of course.

You have to be surprised that the car lets out at all if you haven’t complied with all the on-screen directives

 

[Glan gluaisne]

I rolled to a stop on the drive when returning home on Friday evening, was a bit late in pressing the park button, and experienced the bing bongs, warning message and the automatic application of the parking brake. It was a useful reminder to press the park button more promptly in future, as there's something about the bing bong noises that makes me feel as if I've just been given a bollocking by the car . . .

 

[hgmichna]

What about long-pressing the park button? That seems to have a different function, but I never understood the difference.

 

[Beady3647]

There may be something of interest here and their link at the start of the video:-

 

[Tony Hoyle]

Interesting I've never thought of it as a park button more a neutral button... but I guess it's just terminology. I press it without thinking just as I wouldn't leave an ICE in gear.

I've heard there was a difference in long press too but never worked out what it was - looks the same to me.

 

[interbear]

Anyone accidentally pressed the park button instead of the windscreen washer button? I did this yesterday, no idea why, thankfully I was just pulling away from the house. I stopped.

I do wonder what would happen if this schoolboy error occurred at 75mph on the motorway

 

[Tony Hoyle]

Apparently long pressing the park button will stop you at any speed.. not something I'm prepared to try.

This guy did..

 

[hgmichna]

Yes, the video in #9 shows that a long press on the park button produces a park brake icon on the screen.

But what does it mean? The Teslas always have some kind of parking brake on when they are parked. So what's the difference?

 

[Tony Hoyle]

I've looked at about a dozen threads on this so far and there's no consensus.. or even agreement that there is a difference.

 

[pgkevet]

Can someone eplain what's actually going on in hardware here? Conventional parking brake was just a cable to the rear calipers/drum brakes.. Is the e-brake somehow different as in locking up the motor with reverse emf? if so how does it hold when parked? I don't see how otherwie this would help in a situation where say the master brake cylinder failed unless there's a secondary system actuating brake pads by solenoid.

 

[Glan gluaisne]

Can someone eplain what's actually going on in hardware here? Conventional parking brake was just a cable to the rear calipers/drum brakes.. Is the e-brake somehow different as in locking up the motor with reverse emf? if so how does it hold when parked? I don't see how otherwie this would help in a situation where say the master brake cylinder failed unless there's a secondary system actuating brake pads by solenoid.

The parking brake is electrically operated, and is a friction brake like a hand or foot operated parking brake. You can just hear the electric motors whirr as it's applied sometimes.

 

[Sean.]

I routinely use the parking brake by pressing the right control stalk button, even on the flat. Is this actually necessary or is it just meant for parking on slopes? I don't wish to stress any components long term if it can be avoided

Not an M3 presumably what you have, but on my MX I changed the behaviour from “creep at standstill”, much akin to a traditional auto setup, which required P brake to be applied when stopped - to the “non creep” mode which uses the hill hold function - the service brakes basically. I haven't gone back to creep.

 

[LukeUK]

Pretty sure all cars require a separate braking mechanism for a parking brake and the model 3 is no different. You can hear the brake apply.

Using the motors would be very inefficient.

 

[Roy W.]

Anyone accidentally pressed the park button ... ... I do wonder what would happen if this schoolboy error occurred at 75mph on the motorway

A “friend” did this by mistake, and all it does is bring up a warning on the screen. And the windscreen was still dirty

 

[Adopado]

A “friend” did this by mistake, and all it does is bring up a warning on the screen. And the windscreen was still dirty

Yes, I also had a friend who intentionally tried it in the snow last winter ... didn't do anything (apparently)!