First-e320

My C450 has the parking brake automatically applied when the car is parked and shut off. Sometimes however, parking brake is not applied. This inconsistency is annoying when starting up the car. Is this just a defect or are there situations where the parking brake is not applied?

jakc

My parking brake is only applied when I open the door (regardless if engine is on or off). Otherwise it stays in neutral. Though I have noticed the parking brake being automatic at times. Maybe it depends on what driving mode you're in? I'm almost always in individual with manual transmission setting.

miketc

Is this a 2016 thing? My '15 C300's parking brake does not applied automatically.

rbrylaw

Don't know if it's a 2016 thing, but on my 2016, every time I start my car, the parking brake is engaged and isn't released until I put my foot on the accelerator. There's always a delay when I push the pedal until the parking brake releases.

angeloxnet

99% of the time my 15 C400 never has the parking brake engaged on startup, however rarely i do notice it engaged, very randomly, maybe it depends on if parked on an incline or not? (never actually tested)

topsider

it is not automatic on my car, wish it was

HorshamRebel

I've noticed this in my car as well.


It seems to automatically put the car in park 99% of the time if the car is not level.
Also does it 99% of the time if I keep my foot on the brake as I turn the engine off.
(EDIT) That is not pushing the brake harder to activate brake-holding, just having the foot on the brake pedal normally


However my 16 build does occasionally leave the gearing as is, and I have to manually do it


All this is before opening the car door, of course, as that always activates the park brake

Razzyh

There is a difference between park (on the gearbox) and auto handbrake (electronic handbrake).

Im not sure which one is talked about here so:

park on the gearbox is automatic as soon as you open the drivers door, I presume though that is only if your going at a certain speed.

Auto handbrake or electronic handbrake - I've notice mine engages mostly when you have the brake auto hold feature active (and so gearbox still in a gear) and then switch the engine off. There may be other ways of automatically activating but I'm unaware.

HorshamRebel

I think that the originator was taking about the Auto Handbrake, I certainly was.


I know about, and use the brake-hold feature, which you activate with the foot hard on the brake, whilst waiting at lights etc.


I was talking about when you turn the engine off after you get to your destination, as I'm sure the originator was, where the brake is automatically put into Park (P)

Razzyh

OK Auto Handbrake will activate when you use the Brake-Hold feature and then switch the engine off. There maybe other ways of activating the Auto Handbrake, but i don't remember the variables.

Razzyh

from the manual - Automatics

Applying automatically (vehicles with automatic transmission)
The electric parking brake is automatically applied when the transmission is in position P and:
the engine is switched off or
the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the driver's door is opened
To prevent the electric parking brake from being automatically applied, pull handle .
The electric parking brake is also applied automatically if:
DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a standstill or
the HOLD function is keeping the vehicle stationary
Active Parking Assist is keeping the vehicle stationary
In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be fulfilled:
the engine is switched off
the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the driver's door is opened
there is a system malfunction
the power supply is insufficient
the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The red indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The electric parking brake is not automatically applied if the engine is switched off by the ECO start/stop function.

Razzyh

manual cars

Applying automatically (vehicles with manual transmission)
The electric parking brake is applied automatically when the vehicle is being kept vehicle stationary by the HOLD function.
In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be fulfilled:
the engine is switched off
the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the driver's door is open
there is a system malfunction
the power supply is insufficient
the vehicle is stationary for a lengthy period
The red indicator lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The electric parking brake is not automatically applied if the engine is switched off by the ECO start/stop function.

HorshamRebel

You can add to that...


If the driver IS wearing a seatbelt and the driver door opens, even when car is moving

SteveE400

. . . AND if you want to open your door but not have the transmission shift to 'Park' just shift to neutral before you open the door. The car will then remain in neutral, and there will be an IC message reminding you that there is danger of the car rolling while in neutral.

StanNH

I just tried the auto-brake feature on my 2015. I put the car in Park, shut it off and opened the door. The PARK light came right on. This is a feature I knew knew was there.

topsider

you mean with the brake HOLD function already activated right?

StanNH

No ... on a level surface with the car in Park, the "PARK" light, which normally goes on when I set the emergency brake, engaged as soon as I opened the door with the ignition off. The HOLD function was not active.

topsider

interesting that is how i get out of my car every day and it does not do that

firebird90

When I turn it off and sit in the car with brake pressed, it goes to neutral position. As soon as I open the door to go out it goes to park position and engages the electronic parking brake. There is some kind of actuator noise which comes underneath while the brake engages.

StanNH

I just checked the function again, and I do not even have to open the door for the parking brake to engage. With the car in Park, when I shut the ignition off the PARK light comes on in about two seconds without opening the door.

Jadis

I know why. It's because on earlier production 2015's the behavior was not programmed in. On later 2015's it was programmed in. How do I know? I owned a C300 with build date April 2015 and it had the auto brake applied after going to Park and shutting off the engine. I recently traded the car for a different C300 with build date October 2014 and noticed the behavior was not there so I brought it to the dealer and they updated some software and voila it now does it.

vic viper

Could you find out which control unit that was updated as I have been told by HQ that it isnt possible to implement this feature in earlier production vehicles.

angeloxnet

this makes the most sense my car is one of the first production cars, oct 2014.
no parking brake engaged after car shut off

BenzC400

I have an early build (September 2014) C400 that doesn't automatically apply the parking brake. I recently drove a 2016 C300 loaner that had the feature. I didn't like the feature. Starting to move with the parking brake applied isn't very smooth. I'd rather apply the brake manually when needed.

First-e320

I am referring to the auto handbrake. To avoid confusion i will describe the situation.

I do nothing special when i park in my garage. My foot is on the brake to stop the car. Auto hold is not activated. With my foot remaining on the brakes i put the gear into park and then push the start button to shut off the engine.

The next day i put my foot on the brake pedal and press the start button to start the engine. With my foot on the brake pedal i put the gear into reverse. When the auto handbrake is working i take my foot off the brake and the car does not move until i press on the gas pedal and the auto handbrake is released. When it doesn't work and i don't notice the car immediately starts moving when i take my foot off the break pedal (obviously). This is disconcerting when it is not expected.