Should the electronic parking brake be turned off when starting?
2 Answers
When starting, the electronic parking brake should be turned off. The method of using the electronic parking brake is as follows: 1. To activate the electronic parking brake, step on the brake pedal and pull up the electronic parking brake switch until the indicator light on the dashboard lights up, and the indicator light on the switch also lights up; 2. To deactivate the electronic parking brake, press the electronic parking brake switch while stepping on the brake, and the indicator lights on the dashboard and the switch will turn off. The structural principle of the electronic parking brake is the application of electronic parking brake technology in automobiles, which is a caliper-integrated electronic parking brake system. This system replaces traditional parking brake levers, mechanical linkages, and control cables with electronic buttons and motor components. When parking, after the driver operates the electronic button of the electronic parking brake system, the electronic control unit will control the motor integrated in the left and right brake calipers to move, driving the brake caliper piston to generate mechanical clamping force, thereby completing the parking process.
Do you need to manually turn off the electronic parking brake when starting? It depends on the car model design. I drive an automatic transmission car, and usually when I press the accelerator to start, the electronic parking brake releases automatically—super convenient. But when I tried my friend’s manual transmission car, if I didn’t manually press the release button, the engine stalled several times—so embarrassing. Nowadays, many cars come with AUTO HOLD function, which automatically locks when stopping at a red light and unlocks when starting, saving you even the trouble of pressing a button. I suggest new drivers check their manual first to confirm whether their car has the auto-release feature, especially older models which might not have it. Get into the habit of glancing at the dashboard before starting to avoid driving halfway only to realize the parking brake is still on, which could cause brake pad wear or even overheating risks. After all, driving with the parking brake engaged feels like dragging a heavy iron chain—not only wasting fuel but also damaging the car. Safety first!
