I have a question about how many use the auto parking brake function. I did a search and know what it is and how it works but I did not find anything indicating how may folks use it. I must admit that I rarely if ever use my parking/emergency brake unless I find myself being forced to park on a fairly steep incline. My inclination is not to use it. My concerns are that it might not release when you moved the shift lever out of park. Or in the winter and the parking brake became frozen thus not releasing when you wanted to leave. Thoughts would be appreciated. As a side not I believe that this is the last button/switch I needed to figure out just what it did. This is a very thick book.

Dennis

 

I never use it unless I'm parking on a hill.

BTW, shifting out of Park will not release it, you have to pull the tab towards you (unless they changed it from '07).

 

The 2010 has the auto parking brake. Mine is ON auto ALL the time. I don't see any issues. For years people have been using pull parking brakes for manual drive cars. NO difference here...set it and forget it!

 

I also have the auto feature. Slimjimtel, I see you live in NC ever had a problem with it freezing in the winter months?

Dennis

 

As you may have discovered, the Auto Parking Brake uses an electric motor to engage and release the mechanical parking brake cable. Traditional PB would need your muscle power to lift a lever or press a
pedal. Pulling or pushing the PB toggle just does the work for you. The Auto function removes the additional step and ties the brake application to the shift lever, Park engages the PB, all other ranges releases it.

Your concern about not releasing is valid, if the PB has not been used regularly or recently it may very well
draw tight but not release. My real objection to the automation is that the most effective use of the PB is to
deliberately apply it while the main brakes are held and before the transmission parking pawl is engaged. When you release the main brakes the weight of the car is held by the friction of the brakes and not by the
drivetrain. Ever try getting a car parked on a moderate to steep hill out of Park? Worst case scenario is that
you must push the car uphill slightly to allow the disengagement of the transmission lock.

My opinion is that you can use the PB Auto button to apply the brakes regularly, but turn it off and use the
toggle to apply the brakes before shifting into Park on hills. Be sure to shift out of Park before releasing the PB (and do remember to release it, you may have become spoiled by not needing to remember this!)

 

My 2007 460 and 2008 600hL both have the Auto Parking Brake. I can't recall a time it has been off. Mine is on all the time.

 

Ditto replace the 600hl with 460L, I never turned it off on either car.

 

Mine is always on with zero problems .it fully automatic . Its not good leaving your car in park without the park brake on, puts a lot of strain on the transmission .

 

It doesn't get cold enough in NC to really freeze anything.

I would set it to Auto and never look back

 

You can rest assured Lexus tested it freezing conditions far worse than anything in the real world . They have massive deep freeze chambers they test cars in exhaustively

 

I set it and forget it on my '08.

 

Same here on my 2011 - auto all the time.

 

Ok guys going with the big AUTO. Thanks for the input

Dennis

 

My 2007 LS460 has the auto part feature - it is always left on.

 

I keep mines on and it's all auto, once u shift out of park the brake disengage.