Where is the Cadillac Handbrake Located?
3 Answers
Cadillac offers two types of handbrakes: electronic parking brake and mechanical handbrake. Typically, the mechanical handbrake lever is installed in front of the center console in the middle of the driver's compartment, while the electronic parking brake button is positioned near the gear shift lever, also in front of the center console. To engage it, simply pull upward. The electronic parking brake is easy and effortless to operate, and it also effectively saves interior space. Function of the Handbrake: The parking brake, commonly referred to as the handbrake, provides resistance to the vehicle when parked, preventing it from rolling. Electronic Parking Brake System: This system integrates the temporary braking function during driving with the long-term parking brake function, and it employs electronic control technology to achieve parking braking.
To be honest, many drivers new to Cadillac often struggle to find the handbrake, especially in older models like the ATS. It's positioned beside the traditional gear lever as a vertical pull-up handle - you need to pull it up firmly to engage the parking brake, and press the button on top while pushing it down to release. Current CT4 models with mechanical handbrakes maintain this same design. Drivers always need to feel for it a couple times before driving for reassurance. Though this design seems primitive, it's utterly reliable and won't cause electronic gremlins during winter freezing conditions.
When I drove the XT5, the electronic parking brake button was located on the center console near the driver's side, at the lower right position of the steering wheel. It's a small button with the letter 'P'—just press or pull it lightly while holding the brake pedal to engage or release. The most convenient part is that when you park and shift into P, it often engages automatically, so you don’t even need to think about it. However, if you drive something like the XT4, the button is placed next to the gear shift on the passenger side, which takes some getting used to.
