Driving With Parking Brake

Donstar · October 15, 2016

Guess I'll have to start smashing that pedal way down. The truck did slightly roll once it was engaged, which every other vehicle I've owned, they stay put once the parking brake was engaged. I know it's just a cpl inches, but when hooking up to the trailer, kind of a pain...everything is all lined up perfect, put her in park, and engage the parking brake...then she rolls two inches.

Yup, I get it! Very retarded indeed....just one more thing in life that does not work as expected!

It took some getting use to it after so many years of the hand release parking brake. It is not a new design though and should work well. I don't use mine regularly but when I do it does work fine. If it didn't, I would take it back to my dealer to be fixed. I fully appreciate the importance of this brake when hooking up a heavy trailer, especially on an incline. This is an item that should, and will, work as expected

mookdoc6 · October 17, 2016

Every vehicle I use.....the passenger always says, "what was that noise?" my reply, "it's the F'N parking brake you idiot" People are getting lazier/dumber by the second........

JimmyT · May 21, 2019

This just happened to me!

The dash parking brake wasn’t on so I didn’t notice it when I pulled away. I got 5 miles down the road and noticed it was shaking. I pulled over and I could smell that burning smell.

This is really makes me angry because I feel like the brake light on the dash is intermittent. Are u guys saying I should get a warning?? I didn’t get anything? I do get a warning if I leave my blinker on - is it supposed to do something like that?

L86 All Terrain · May 21, 2019

I used to click mine down one notch on my Canadian built 1998 and drive it everywhere. It was to only way to turn off day time running lights.

JimmyT · May 22, 2019

On 7/25/2014 at 6:34 AM, beachtaco said:

IKR... the light comes on 100% of the time when I engage the braking park when I get home. It's the 2% of the time when I start the truck, there is no idiot light or warning bell when I back down my driveway.

my gf just laughs at me the times I told her I did this since it's never an issue my vw or jeep which are all manuals. LOL

Been noticing this on mine. The brake light always comes on when I engage the parking brake, but when I crank the truck up to leave the parking brake light may or may not come on. Then I drive off with the parking brake on and get no warning!! Thanks GM, this is unacceptable to me as this is really a safety issue.

Anyone have any any luck with the dealer fixing this issue?

Nitrousbird · May 23, 2019

Not sure how you even drove an inch with it on.

I only use my parking brake at the boat ramp. I just tried mine out, holding 5000lbs+ on a slope. No way I am taking off with that on.

tyler.frost92 · May 29, 2019

I didnt realize this many people used their parking brakes on a daily basis.. Only ever used mine when loading something heavy on a trailer.

Donstar · May 29, 2019

On ‎2019‎-‎05‎-‎21 at 8:02 PM, JimmyT said:

Anyone have any any luck with the dealer fixing this issue?

Sure the dealer can fix the warning signal. I'd also get them to check the brake. Driving off without noticing by feel is not right, imo. I've taken off with the parking brake on but don't get far before noticing something isn't right!

Darmichar · May 29, 2019

On 5/22/2019 at 7:34 PM, Nitrousbird said:

Not sure how you even drove an inch with it on.

I only use my parking brake at the boat ramp. I just tried mine out, holding 5000lbs+ on a slope. No way I am taking off with that on.

Same here, the ramp I put in is pretty steep so I 4-Lo in and out, and set the brake when loading/unloading the boat. I've forgot it was on a couple times and 4-Lo would barely push through the brake. You guys must really be hogging your trucks or half-assing the parking brake to be able to drive through it.

NCPGMC · May 29, 2019

10 hours ago, tyler.frost92 said:

I didnt realize this many people used their parking brakes on a daily basis.. Only ever used mine when loading something heavy on a trailer.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Only time I use mine is when I park on a hill; set the brake, let the weight fall on the brake, then put in P.

JimmyT · June 9, 2020

On 7/25/2014 at 6:34 AM, beachtaco said:

IKR... the light comes on 100% of the time when I engage the braking park when I get home. It's the 2% of the time when I start the truck, there is no idiot light or warning bell when I back down my driveway.

my gf just laughs at me the times I told her I did this since it's never an issue my vw or jeep which are all manuals. LOL

My 2018 Silverado has been doing this (as I mentioned in previous posts). I took mine to the dealer for this issue - they had my truck ALL day and said there was nothing wrong with it.

Some of you you have wondered how we can possibly drive off without feeling the parking brake being on...I can say with certainty that if the parking brake light is not illuminated on the dash at start up, I can drive for a while before I notice that the parking brake is on.

However, when the parking brake light is on at start up (like it should be when it’s engaged) it is impossible for me to move the truck at all.

So I’m wondering if the parking brake is coming loose or something? When I catch myself driving with the parking brake on I still get the burning smell afterward - but there is NO warning chime, no light, no nothing and I can get up to around 50-60 mph before you can feel it shaking, etc.

Donstar · June 9, 2020

I agree that a warning light/chime should be "warning" when the e-brake is engaged. However, if you're able to take-off without noticing an unusual feel to your vehicle then I suspect there are other issues with the system. I rarely use my parking brake and when I do I often forget the next time I use the vehicle. It may elude me when backing out of my driveway, but when I put the truck in D and give it some gas, trouble is immediately apparent. I recently had brake work done on my truck and not by a GM dealership. Go to a place that specializes in brakes and see what they can do for you.

JimmyT · June 9, 2020

3 hours ago, Donstar said:

I agree that a warning light/chime should be "warning" when the e-brake is engaged. However, if you're able to take-off without noticing an unusual feel to your vehicle then I suspect there are other issues with the system. I rarely use my parking brake and when I do I often forget the next time I use the vehicle. It may elude me when backing out of my driveway, but when I put the truck in D and give it some gas, trouble is immediately apparent. I recently had brake work done on my truck and not by a GM dealership. Go to a place that specializes in brakes and see what they can do for you.

Thanks! That is a really good suggestion. I hadn’t even thought of taking it to a brake specialist since the truck is still under warranty. I may do that.

I spoke to the technician that looked at my truck at the GM dealership and he said that if the park brake light didn’t come on at start up then the “computer” would have stored that fault. He claimed he found no faults in the computer. Anyone know if this is actually true?

silveradosid · June 10, 2020

when you turn the key on, the dash goes into diagnostic mode and lights up every light that is in reference to how the vehicle is equipped. while in this mode if a light doesnt light up then a code is stored. it has no idea or doesnt even care if you have the parking brake on, it just checking that dash is functioning

JimCost2014 · June 12, 2020

On 6/8/2020 at 9:48 PM, JimmyT said:

When I catch myself driving with the parking brake on I still get the burning smell afterward - but there is NO warning chime, no light, no nothing and I can get up to around 50-60 mph before you can feel it shaking, etc.

Post it note on the steering wheel?

Yikes, that just sounds so dangerous, we all need reminders throughout the day, that can not be good for the truck.