Do You Need to Press the Electronic Parking Brake When Starting?
2 Answers
Electronic parking brake needs to be pressed when starting. The electronic parking brake achieves parking control through the friction generated between the brake disc and the brake pads, replacing the mechanical handbrake lever with an electronic button control. Correct method for starting with electronic parking brake: Park the car, press the brake pedal, shift to P gear, pull the electronic parking brake once, you can hear the sound of the brake tightening, and the onboard computer will display that the electronic parking brake is activated. To start, press the brake pedal, shift to D gear, press the electronic parking brake once, release the brake pedal to start. Some cars are much simpler: when the car stops, the electronic parking brake automatically activates, and when starting, simply press the accelerator to automatically release the electronic parking brake. The electronic parking brake can be used directly in the following situations: Other occupants in the car can pull the electronic parking brake button to perform an emergency brake. During emergency braking, the ABS control unit applies hydraulic braking to all four wheels with a force slightly less than full braking, and when the vehicle is nearly stationary, the electronic parking motor is used directly to slow down and park the vehicle. During this process, the braking system has the highest priority. Even if the driver presses the accelerator, the brake override system will control the engine power output to prioritize stopping the vehicle.
I've been driving for over a decade and encountered quite a few issues with electronic parking brake during starts. Actually, most modern vehicles don't require manually pressing the electronic parking brake button when starting - simply shifting into drive and pressing the accelerator will automatically release the brake. This design is quite clever as it reduces operational steps, though settings may vary between brands. For example, one German car I drove was fully automatic, while a Japanese model occasionally required manual button pressing. For safety, I suggest gently pressing the accelerator first to test if it releases; if there's no response, then manually press the button. Remember, electronic parking brake failures are rare, but maintaining regular vehicle maintenance checks is always good practice to prevent unexpected rolling during starts.
