"Brian Smith" <Halifax@NovaScotia.Canada> wrote in message
news:w13Te.228314$tt5.71646@edtnps90...
>
> "Grahame" <grahame.news@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:381Te.3631$I02.252258@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
>> True, I should have said, a manual trans should never be used as a
>> parking
>> brake ALONE, set the parking brake and then put the stick in 1st or rev.
>
> One should not just place an automatic transmission in Park either. The
> parking brake is there for a reason (not just for playing on slippery
> roads
> <g>) and should be used to ensure the vehicle does not move.
>
> Brian
>
The owner's manual for our Toyota Prius specifically says *not* to use the
parking brake in freezing weather because of the risk of the parking brake
freezing in the set position.

Relying on the braking power of a parking brake will eventually lead to
trouble, as neither the application force nor the effectiveness of the brake
is assured. I know I'm not the only person to drive a while before noticing
the parking brake is still on. Leaving the tranny in gear is all-or-nothing
and does not significantly "soften" over the years. For anything but wet,
freezing weather the best bet is to do both.

Mike