Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia (Parking Brake)

Your vehicle is equipped with a cable-operated parking brake. It is to be used in conjunction with the transaxle to keep your vehicle stationary when parked. Do not use the Park position alone in place of the parking brake. It is not recommended to use the parking brake as an emergency brake (when the regular brakes fail) because if too much pressure is applied too quickly, the rear wheels can lock up and you can lose control of your vehicle. If you must use it in an emergency then use gradual pressure instead of abrupt force to slow down.

Operation

Left-Hand Drive Models:

Regardless of transaxle, the parking brake on all left-hand drive models is located in the form of a pedal on the lower left side of the dashboard. To engage, push down on the pedal with your left foot. To disengage, pull the release handle above the pedal.

Note: Some vehicles are equipped with an automatic parking brake release which releases the parking brake automatically when the shifter is put in any forward gear. It will not release in Reverse or Park/Neutral.

Right-Hand Drive Models:

The parking brake on all right-hand drive models is located in the form of a handbrake in the center console. To engage, pull up on the handle with your left hand. To disengage, pull up on handbrake lever slightly while pushing in on the release button at the end of the lever. As soon as the button goes in easily, guide the lever down to the resting position.

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Automatic Transaxle

To Set:

Right after you finish aligning your vehicle in the parking space, put the shifter in Neutral. Make sure your foot is still on the regular brake pedal.

Engage the parking brake (see Basic Operation).
Release your foot from the regular brake pedal and allow the car to roll to a rest. If there is excessive rolling, engage the parking brake further.
Now put the shifter in Park. Note that you do not have to have your foot on the regular brake pedal to put the shifter in park.

To Release:

After starting your vehicle and letting the idle drop, put your right foot firmly on the regular brake pedal.
Put shifter in desired gear. If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic parking brake release, the parking brake will release automatically when the shifter is placed in any forward gear. If you put the shifter in Reverse, you will have to disengage the parking brake manually.
Disengage parking brake (see Basic Operation).

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Manual Transaxle

To Set:

There really are no special steps to setting the parking brake. As long as the parking brake is used in conjunction with putting the shifter in a gear, it is fine. Do not leave the shifter in Neutral! The owner's manual recommends you to put the shifter in Reverse.

To Release:

There are no special steps for release. As long you release the parking brake before you drive off, you are fine. Just make sure you have your foot on the regular brake pedal when you release the parking brake to minimize rolling.

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