Parking Brake Fail to Engage/Slipping

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Canard, Jan 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM.

  1. Canard

    Canard Member

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    2010 Gen3/425k km

    In cold weather/when the cabin is cold, the parking brake is reluctant to engage. Feels like maybe the teeth are smooth and the pawl is not grabbing. If I release very slowly I can get it to latch.

    This only occurs when the car cabin is cold. After a drive when it is warm it will engage normally.

    Any ideas?
     
    #1 Canard, Jan 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Mine's the same way. The grease that lubricates the ratchet pawl is thicker when cold, and the pawl takes longer to drop into the teeth and hold the pedal down. Pressing the pedal down and holding it a little longer seems to do the trick.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Jan 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    All the posts I've read about emergency brake pedal turned out to be related to loose bolts. Probably not the case with this one, but that's what I'd look at first.
     
    #3 PriusCamper, Jan 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
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