[steve88]

I might be old school, but I ALWAYS use my parking brake. I think it's the safe thing to do and I've also heard that leaving the car in Park and letting the transmission brake the car puts unnecessary wear on the transmission (not sure if that's true or not).

Anyway, when I park I stop the car, put it into neutral, set the parking brake, and then put it into Park. That way the parking brake is holding the car in place and not the transmission.

However, in these arctic temps we've been having lately I wonder if something might freeze so I've been leaving the parking brake off the past few nights (temps have been near zero F the past few days with wind chills at 15-20 below).

I couldn't find anything in the OM about this. It only says on page 473 to "always apply the parking brake when parking".

So, what say you? Is it a good idea to not set the parking brake with temps this low for fear that something might freeze (like the brake cable)?

 

[Baldeagle]

I've never experienced any problems using the parking brake in low temperatures.

 

[HondaBob]

I don't use mine in the garage because it is level and doesn't put any strain on the parking pawl. Out and about it is a good idea to use it if the pawl is going to be taking a big strain. OP's procedure is good, with addition of maybe putting it in neutral and seeing if the car is going to roll. If it's not, then there is no need to use the parking brake. Keep in mind that it is good to use it at least occasionally so that it doesn't rust up and seize sometime when you do use it.

 

[08EX-L]

Yes, manual transmission. Prefer not to leave it in gear if I can help it.

 

[ObsidianEX-L]

You can use the parking brake as long as you're not leaving the car for weeks. It shouldn't get stuck overnight.

 

[Miker]

Yes when it is simply cold or frigid and no chance of "melted" snow or moisture remaining.

No when ever I feel that there was a lot of slush, wet roads and a possibility it may freeze with that muck on the underside of the car.

Heat created by the brake usage may help keep any moisture from remaining on the brake linkage,cables,etc but I once had moisture wick into the cable housing for the parking brake and freeze the parking brake engaged. (not this car, another make/model)


So burned once, twice shy or maybe froze once, twice shy is more appropriate.

 

[RickBlaine]

I don't use mine in the garage because it is level and doesn't put any strain on the parking pawl. Out and about it is a good idea to use it if the pawl is going to be taking a big strain. OP's procedure is good, with addition of maybe putting it in neutral and seeing if the car is going to roll. If it's not, then there is no need to use the parking brake. Keep in mind that it is good to use it at least occasionally so that it doesn't rust up and seize sometime when you do use it.

Excellent advice!

Side note: NEVER use your parking brake after autocrossing. The pads and rotors are so hot that some of the pad material will fuse to the rotor, causing that warped rotor feeling.

 

[kyden]

Always. manual transmission. I leave it in gear most of the time as well, unless i am in my own driveway.

 

[oOKhanhOo]

Use it everytime I park

 

[2014MSM]

I have a manual transmission and my routine is always leave trans in 1st gear (or reverse) and use parking brake. My car lives outside and we have been having plenty of cold weather this Winter. This morning for example was only 0 degrees so I'm sure it was colder overnight. No issues so far with parking brake getting stuck (frozen). Never had an issue either with my 7th Gen Accord in 8 year and 142k miles that I owned it.

 

[teezythakidd]

I don't use mine in the garage because it is level and doesn't put any strain on the parking pawl. Out and about it is a good idea to use it if the pawl is going to be taking a big strain. OP's procedure is good, with addition of maybe putting it in neutral and seeing if the car is going to roll. If it's not, then there is no need to use the parking brake. Keep in mind that it is good to use it at least occasionally so that it doesn't rust up and seize sometime when you do use it.

:thmsup: totally agree. that's what i was taught, anyway. i use my parking brake 99% of the time! nothing but hills here in connecticut lol.

 

[acutee]

I would suggest a better option, if you feel there is a slope, then just pull the hand brake, let it slide a bit for a full bite, then put it directly into Park. My habit is to put it into neutral when possible, but not with cvt. Even at a long wait stop light, putting into Neutral, then back to Drive, is putting a stress on the cvt.

 

[14A]

I do it exactly like the OP. Put car in N and let the parking brake hold the car, then shift into P.

One time years ago, after getting my car serviced at Jiffy Lube, they parked my car on a steep slope and just shifted into P. I had to shift into D with a good amount of force, accompanied by a loud 'thunk'. Needless to say, I have never gone back there since.

 

[teezythakidd]

I would suggest a better option, if you feel there is a slope, then just pull the hand brake, let it slide a bit for a full bite, then put it directly into Park.

i've done this a couple times unintentionally

 

[andrei3333]

I have seen it freeze on two occasions on random peoples cars, i think if you keep using it you will be fine. I always use mine.

 

[OGzCoupe]

I might be old school, but I ALWAYS use my parking brake. I think it's the safe thing to do and I've also heard that leaving the car in Park and letting the transmission brake the car puts unnecessary wear on the transmission (not sure if that's true or not).

Anyway, when I park I stop the car, put it into neutral, set the parking brake, and then put it into Park. That way the parking brake is holding the car in place and not the transmission.

However, in these arctic temps we've been having lately I wonder if something might freeze so I've been leaving the parking brake off the past few nights (temps have been near zero F the past few days with wind chills at 15-20 below).

I couldn't find anything in the OM about this. It only says on page 473 to "always apply the parking brake when parking".

So, what say you? Is it a good idea to not set the parking brake with temps this low for fear that something might freeze (like the brake cable)?

I consider myself "old school". Been driving for the last 30 years and have owned 18+ cars (stopped tracking how many) and 6 of those were manual transmission. That's the ONLY time I ever use the hand-brake. On all of my autos, just throw it in park and leave.

 

[HondaGuy2]

Yes.
When it is really cold, it doesn't make the clicky noise as you're engaging it but works fine regardless of temperature.

 

[shifting myself]

Yes when it is simply cold or frigid and no chance of "melted" snow or moisture remaining.

No when ever I feel that there was a lot of slush, wet roads and a possibility it may freeze with that muck on the underside of the car.

Heat created by the brake usage may help keep any moisture from remaining on the brake linkage,cables,etc but I once had moisture wick into the cable housing for the parking brake and freeze the parking brake engaged. (not this car, another make/model)


So burned once, twice shy or maybe froze once, twice shy is more appropriate.

Here in Northern Illinois it does not take much to have this happen. Happened to my Intregra in my garage No Less after snow / sleet day drive the temperatures at night dropped so the PBrake Froze ... next morning get in the car to go to work & The brake won't release. Luckily the space heater did the job but I was late for work. If it happened outside the problem becomes much tougher.

Leave the car in 1st gear & save yourself from having this experience ! When the weather is nicer I do use the parking brake tho.

 

[vr6vdub]

Why are you people shifting into neutral? Foot on brake, shift to park, engage parking brake, foot off brake.

 

[niseicruise]

Why are you people shifting into neutral? Foot on brake, shift to park, engage parking brake, foot off brake.

^^^ what he said