Parking Brake Release 2008 Dts

tateos · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-08, 08:36 PM

My father just bought a 2008 DTS with Performance Package and he says there is no automatic parking brake release. He has to press down on the parking brake a second time to release it. Anyone else find that strange in a $50K+ luxury car? My '90 Sable had an automatic parking brake release. My wife's '04 Grand Prix does have the same type of release as my fathers new car, but it is a Pontiac, not a Cadillac. I have had several Cadillacs and they always had automatic parking brake releases - does anyone know why the new DTS does not?

Loveldos · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-08, 10:25 PM

In my opinion, it must have been a cost-containment measure. It sure is a shame, as the "automatic parking brake release" was a Cadillac hallmark since around 1960 (at least on the full-sized models). The 2009 CTS is supposed to receive an "electric parking brake release," but I am not certain what that will be. Personally, I hate the "pump to release" parking brakes!

Sandy · #3 (**permalink**) 04-01-08, 10:20 AM

THAT is THE reason I will NOT sell my 2003 Town Car for a 2008 DTS !
I have never owned a car that did NOT have a shift into drive automatic release.

That and where's the power closing from fully opened trunk lid?

nosro · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-08, 01:46 PM

I know this doesn't address the topic directly, but unless you are parked on a San Francisco hill, you don't need to apply the park brake in the first place. I know my father got into the habit of applying the park brake all the time, but this is completely unnecessary for a modern automatic transmission.

tateos · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-08, 03:03 PM

Loveldos:

My '05 Lincoln LS has the electric parking brake apply and release - it is all done via a switch on the console. If you are in gear, like at a red light, you can apply the parking brake and it will hold in gear, until you step on the gas pedal to the slightest degree and then it gently releases. It completely eliminates the pedal and cable running the length of the car and coming into the cabin. Maybe the actuator motor gets messed up and eventually causes problems, but so far I love it.

Loveldos · #6 (**permalink**) 04-01-08, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tateos

Loveldos:

My '05 Lincoln LS has the electric parking brake apply and release - it is all done via a switch on the console. If you are in gear, like at a red light, you can apply the parking brake and it will hold in gear, until you step on the gas pedal to the slightest degree and then it gently releases. It completely eliminates the pedal and cable running the length of the car and coming into the cabin. Maybe the actuator motor gets messed up and eventually causes problems, but so far I love it.

Thanks, Tateos! I'm still a little unclear, if you park, apply the parking brake and then get back into the car to drive away--when is the parking brake released? As the gear selector is shifted? Or as you step on the gas? (Just curious!) I'll have to try this out when the '09 CTS is available.

sts96 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-02-08, 07:27 AM

The changes in cadillac features is a very clear indication they are clueless where the market is or what owners expect in a sub standerd of the world.
sts96

Superjim · #8 (**permalink**) 04-02-08, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sts96

The changes in cadillac features is a very clear indication they are clueless where the market is or what owners expect in a sub standerd of the world.
sts96

Agreed .... 100%.

Texas Jim

tateos · #9 (**permalink**) 04-02-08, 02:14 PM

If you park and apply the brake and then return, I guess the brake releases when the brakes are applied and the transmission is shifted into gear, but you don't really notice it because nothing happens inside the cabin - it is all happening in the area of the rear end. It is very luxurious.

What I was saying is that if you are in gear at a light, you can apply the parking brake and it will hold until you either step on the brake pedal and then release the parking brake manually by flipping the switch - OR - just step on the gas, even just a little and it will release very gently and smoothly.

Does that help?

Loveldos · #10 (**permalink**) 04-02-08, 09:50 PM

Yes--Mucho Gracias!

nosro · #11 (**permalink**) 04-03-08, 04:41 PM

The new electric park brakes work on a "button" principle. You "press" the button to engage the park brake and pressing on the accelerator causes the EPB to automatically release.

nosro · #12 (**permalink**) 04-03-08, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tateos

Anyone else find that strange in a $50K+ luxury car?

I don't find it strange at all. A typical $40k base price vehicle DOES NOT have such a feature. However, $70k base price vehicle (like a BMW 7-series) will typically have electric park brakes which is different from what you are thinking of.

The typical mechanically-based automatic park brake release (which some mention here on inexpensive vehicles) has a lot of problems with it. Reliability is one and liability is another. This is a feature that is likely being "sued" out of existence.

But electric park brakes are becoming more and more common, and automatic release on an electric park brake is a given since it is a matter of a small amount of additional software.

Cadillade · #13 (**permalink**) 04-06-08, 07:09 AM

Even with a modern auto trans, having the parking brake on will help. I would rather have the parking brake do the job than the transmission for safety reasons.

Here is another reason for using the parking brake
(from http://www.familycar.com/brakes.htm)

On cars with automatic transmissions, the parking brake is rarely used. This can cause a couple of problems. The biggest problem is that the brake cables tend to get corroded and eventually seize up causing the parking brake to become inoperative. By using the parking brake from time to time, the cables stay clean and functional. Another problem comes from the fact that the self adjusting mechanism on certain brake systems uses the parking brake actuation to adjust the brakes. If the parking brake is never used, then the brakes never get adjusted.

nosro · #14 (**permalink**) 04-06-08, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadillade

Even with a modern auto trans, having the parking brake on will help. I would rather have the parking brake do the job than the transmission for safety reasons.

I have news for you: reliability of transmission parking mechanisms is higher than reliability of parking brakes for several reasons (mainly due to wear and adjustment problems of parking brakes). Failure of parking mechanisms simply DOES NOT happen. All the automakers have figured out parking mechanisms down to the tiniest details.

You are inconveniencing yourself over a problem that hasn't exhibited itself over millions and millions of cars. You literally have better odds of winning the lottery than running into a parking mechanism problem.

tateos · #15 (**permalink**) 04-06-08, 11:22 PM

BTW, in my Lincoln LS, if you are driving and pull up on the electric parking brake switch, it applies the parking brake a little, and each additional pull on the switch applies the parking brake a little more - it is progressive and easy to modulate in case of (unlikely) hydraulic brake failure