Hello all, After some guidance with regards to when to use P[ark] - honestly I've never driven an auto before and after reading the manual I am still slightly unsure and I'd like to make sure I am not causing any unnecessary damage. My main example being - if I am stopped at a set of traffic lights and waiting for 2-3 minutes the manual suggests driving in D and setting the foot parking break if I am reading correctly. So my question is when should and should I not use P?
You use P when you come to stationary. I mean, if for instance you'd want to park your car, and not at traffic stops. You could also use park, when you're doing any maintenance on your cat. Eg, when entering maintenance mode Dxta
I only use the parking-brake when I park on a hill, the rest of the time "P" is quite adequate, and when stopped at a red-light I always use the foot-brake! …no exceptions, since I well remember using the parking-brake at a red-light, forgetting I'd done it (10 secs before ) and wondering why the acceleration was so bad at the green-light!
This is likely one of those things where Brits and Americans must be different. Americans almost never put the car in Park or use the emergency/parking brake while waiting for a traffic light. But then, we may not take a manual transmission out of gear, and certainly don't use the parking brake for this either. And other threads indicate that Brits are required to do things with the clutch that I was forbidden to do in my learning days.
Park in an auto engages the parking pawl and should really only ever be used when... parking. Any other time it should not be used. Stopped at a red light? In drive with foot on the brake. Stop and go traffic? In drive with foot on the brake. And in the Prius park is not even needed as when you shut the car down it will automatically engage the pawl and power off. Meaning pressing the power button while in drive (and speed less than 7mph) will cause the car to engage the pawl and park. Additionally when your foot is not on the brake, your brake lights do not illuminate. Meaning if you are stopped at a light in park, you have no visible brake lights behind you. In most of the world this is illegal.
When I have to P, I have to P. This usually occurs when I'm in the car and waiting for my wife to return from a quick stop at the post office or such. Otherwise I just go straight for the power button, which powers down and in effect places the Prius into park. I also always engage my parking brake when in either P or Power-Off.
The only time I would use park is if in a traffic jam or waiting on a train to pass and never for a red light. Any extended stopping situation. That's why they gave it the name park. .lol
I do not know what the manual says, but I would only use P[ark] when I am outside of active traffic lanes, such as off the side of the roadway or in a designated "parking" area, and I want to keep the hybrid system in "Ready" mode to power accessories or climate control, while not running down the 12v battery. As long as you are in active traffic lanes, use the brake pedal to keep the vehicle from moving.
" " As per most replies - I've only ever used the "P" button on the odd occasions I want my PRIUS still powered up while waiting for something/someone - which was probably only ½ doz times in 18 months. Definitely not in traffic - I did it once when I first got Samantha, wondered why she wouldn't go into "D" - till I remembered that, unlike my previous VOLVO, I need to put her footbrake on before she'll engage "D". If traffic is stopped, eg an accident or roadworks, yes, maybe, but keep your mind engaged.
Wil, I used to think like this also. Right up until Mr. PoPo came looking for me because my car (which I had parked in what looked to me like a perfectly flat parking lot a couple hours earlier) had rolled backwards and came to a stop against 2 other parked cars. Not a Prius (it was an older Ford Grenade, I mean Granada). Parking pawl failure. I have never not used a parking brake since that evening. That was over 25 years ago.........geez.... how time flies.
Other threads have suggested that this practice is actually encouraged in Britain, so to not blind the driver stopped behind with over-bright lights. Leaving that bright brake light on, degrading night vision, was considered quite rude and inconsiderate. In the U.S., we have some much other bright artificial light around that this is not an issue.
With DRCC, she sits quietly in a line of traffic without her Brake Lights on, unless she's the first car.
I only use Park when pulling into a parking space or our garage or waiting for a long...long...long train... Never in heavy or standstill traffic or at a red light.
It's really up to you when to use the Park button, but to clarify what others have aluded to, when in traffic and you use the parking brake to hold the car still the electric motor will continue to drive against the brakes draining the Hybrid battery. The foot brake, on the other hand stops the power to the electric motor, thus preserving your state of charge. Must have had explosive acceleration!!!!!
I was born in the UK, and lived there until 1983 when I came over here (USA), I don't remember being encouraged to do what you suggest, although I suppose it makes sense! However my immediate response to anyone behind me with extra-sensitive eyes, is to invest in a pair of sunglasses - you know, just like the ones all the selebs & cool glitterati wear!
This. It's actually part of the official "Highway Code" over here: In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again. Law RVLR reg 27 - Lighting requirements (113 to 116) - The Highway Code When driving a manual I was taught to put the car into neutral and engage the handbrake when stopped at lights. Then take your foot of the brake. It reduces wear on the clutch, and avoids dazzling the person sat behind you at the lights, by standing on your foot brake for the entire time (which is something that really bugs me!). Similarly when driving an automatic, I still do the same thing now - stop. When car behind has stopped, engage [P] parking brake, and take foot of foot brake. Then just put in drive to move away. I only ever use the "foot" parking brake when stopping permanently.
