I was taught to always use my parking/emergency brake when parking, and that while it's not the end of the world, you should not put your car in gear on hills. Is there any merit to either side?

Why put the car in gear if the brake holds the car stationary? Isn't it just putting undue stress on the transmission? It's smarter to slow down with your brakes instead of with downshifting, because brakes are much cheaper than clutches; why would this be different, except now we're talking TRANNY vs. brakes?

 

What happens if the parking brake fails in any sort of way? I don't ever put the car in gear when I'm parking unless I am on a relatively steep hill. In that case I put the car in gear and have the brake set. I don't think it wears on the tranny anymore than normal. However on the off chance that someone bumps you when you are parked in gear, it could knock out the tranny. Chance you sometimes have to take...

 

man, when i park on a steep hill, i usually put the brake on, put it in gear if it is really steep, and always turn the wheels against the curb so that if the car were to let loose for some reason... in most cases, the curb would prevent an 'UNCONTROLABLE ROLLIN' MAXIMA'
THAT IS MY WORST NIGHTMARE!!

 

I'm not calling you crazy, but I've NEVER heard of that happening. Can it happen? Easily? I might worry if my e-brake felt slack or even weak, but otherwise, what could possibly go wrong?

 

You could accidentally knock into the lever knocking it loose, or the lever lock could fail, or any number of things could happen to the system. Why does anything break? Parts could get worn out or be defective. I don't think that it is likely to happen (but it can, didn't you see 'Aloha Summer'? ), better safe than sorry....

 

I was told to always park in gear, however I only do so on inclines. I also turn the wheel as they instruct you to do in driving school. You are suppose to put the car in gear so that either if your brakes are not strong enough or an external force pushes you (ie. someone bumps into your car), your car won't go rolling. It also a great fear of mine to see my Maxima rolling down a hill with no one in it. Just remember when you start you car, you are in gear. Also if you are paranoid about rolling forwards or backwards when you are on an incline (ie. San Francisco), use your parking brake.
1) Hold the brake and clutch down.
2) Put the car into 1st gear, use your right hand to hold the e-brake up while holding the release button down.
3) Slowly lift up on the clutch to engage it into gear while moving your right foot off the brake and onto the gas.
4) As you start to move forward, slowly release the e-brake.
OR
Just lift up on the clutch slightly and quickly move your right foot to gas and jam out of there. This is a trick I picked up when I was in San Francisco and use if whenever some idiot stops inches behind me. When someone stops relatively close behind me, I roll back a few inches to scare the crap out of him/her. Why can't people just stop at a safe distance like the law says.

 

So why is it bad to always park in gear?

 

Cuz if someone bumps into you when you are in gear it could knock out your gearbox.

 

The transmission should really only be used as a back-up holding measure. You should always use your parking brake. It will put extra stress (albeit not a ton) on your trasmission if you are using it as your parking break.
Even if you use the brake in addition to parking in gear, you still should make sure that it is your brake holding the car, not the transmission. If you park, put the car in gear, shut of the engine and let your foot off the clutch, then put up the brake, the transmission is what is holding the car in place, not the brake. If you want to use the brake to hold the weight of the car, pull up the break with the clutch still in, then set the car in gear.
I hope that all makes sense.

 

It happened to me a couple of years ago. Our Honda Civic was parked in a very slightly inclined parking lot. The car was left out of gear with the emergency brake on. A few hours later we were horrified to find the car rolled 20ft away, almost hitting another vehicle. Apparently the latch on the brake gave in a couple of notches, but that was enough to set it off in a roll. It's a cheap insurance to leave the car in gear, I don't think there's any danger for the tranny. If you are worrying about being rearended in a parking lot, leave it in 1st gear; if someone can hit you from the front, put it in reverse.

 

I guess I should clarify a bit of my earlier post. I am not saying that it's a bad idea to leave the car in gear. In fact, I think it's stupid not to (in most situations). Over the long haul, if done often on inclines, using the tranny to hold the car will result in more stress on the transmission. What I was suggesting is to use the brake AND leave the car in gear (as a back up). This way, in the unlikely (but obviously possible) case that your brake fails, the tranny will still hold the car.

 

Allright. I'd never driven a 5spd before I got this one, so I basically taught myslef to drive, so bear with me. When I park, I pull into the spot, put the car in whatever gear I'd need to get out, pull up the emergency brake, turn off the engine, let out the clutch. This means that I'm using the brake as the primary braking mechanism, correct?

 

]

didn't put mine in gear and pulled to e-brake just a hair to little and my car rolled out of my driveway and into the street, I always put mine in gear now, I remember reading something in my drivers ed class that in a 5speed when you park you should put the car in 1st gear if you are facing up a hill, and reverse when facing down a hill. Just what I remember but I could be wrong, we need daniel b to comment on this one

 

Ajaffee, I fully agree with you, use both the emergency brake and the tranny in gear. Jman965765, I normally pull in a spot, right before a complete stop depress the clutch, pull on the hand brake, shut off the car, then depress the clutch and put it in gear. I'm sure there's more than one right way to do it.

 

Yep. This would allow the brake to catch first.
Check out what Green 2kSE said too.

 

You had to put those suckers in R in order to remove the key. how is that going to wear out your clutch or stress your tranny? The parking brake on a 5-spd is no diff than an auto. with the auto you don't need the parking brake because as the car ages you risk having it seize esp in cold weather. ever notice how mechanics rarely set your parking brake, they leave it in gear? And how is downshifting wearing on your clutch? Under normal circumstances you don't need a new clutch, it'll last as long as the motor. Plus you're supposed ta turn your wheels when you park on a hill which very few in cept in San Fran. Not downshifting is a very bizarre way of driving a stick, never seen anyone do that. Please tell me you don't take it out of gear when going downhill to save on wear. Don't coast on the roads, and don't coast at work either!

 

More of a chance (if parking on street or parking lot) for your car to get hit than for the e brake to fail, causing it to roll. If you aren't using a gear on a hill better make sure the brake is pulled fully. My uncle has a 911. His son parked it one day in gear in a parking lot and it was bumped by another car trying to park (not hard either - minimal damage to the bumper, tho it was replaced). They had to get the tranny rebuilt cuz it knocked the main shaft out. Be selective where you park in gear (my whole point). Don't want this to happen to your tranny. I rarely park in gear if out on the street or in a parking lot, the hill's gotta be pretty steep (like San Fransciso steep).

 

Don't park on steep hills.

I never do, even though my car in an auto, but then again, there aren't many hills in NYC.

 

When driving a stick I always use the emergency brake and put the car into gear (and turn the wheel towards the curb, if it's on an incline).

In fact, DMVs in the SF bay area will fail you if you don't put the car into gear on an incline when parking. I know, cause the a$$hole who tested me my first time gave me an 'automatic failure' for failing to do it. Which sucks, because I always do it (even before the test), but my habit is to do it before I get out of the vehicle, not while sitting at the curb in the vehicle.

 

After pulling up my e-brake, putting it into gear, turning the car off, and releasing the clutch, I notice I am able to freely change gears without touching the clutch and the car is off. It doesn't seem like my car is in gear. It's a 2001 5spd. Does anyone know why it allows me to change gears without pressing the clutch? Does that mean it's not in gear?

Thanks
Rob

 

I'm a noob too so I'll help you resurrect this ancient thread; then the org will start harassing me and I'll have to type stuff that covers my a$$.

It's because your ebrake is holding your car.
I'm sure that it would "lock" into a gear if you let the tires roll some.

Parking brake is your first defense, but if it fails, that's why you leave it in gear.
Once it rolls it will lock.

 

also...11 year old thread bump..really?

 

 

Wasn't me.
I'm not responsible for the bump, I just answered it because

 

You failed to mention such a grieveous .org error. That'll be one demerit.

 

I did say
That doesn't count now?

 

Judges?






ooh, not good enough, I'm afraid

 

That was harsh. Lol
I'll just edit it then.


Edit: IBTL

 

love the edit

 

Oh look, another thread from the dead!

Well, what I do is set my parking brake, and then place my car in gear (manual)

 

U guys didn't answer his question at all lol

Always put it in gear when I park but after I use the ebrake cause i want the brake to take the stress first before the tranny. Another reason for keepin it in gear is for theft. U can cut the ebrake nd roll the car, but not with it in gear.

I know the max doesnt need to have the clutch in when starting so how is it in gear if you can change gears without depressing the clutch after the cars been turned off? I know it is in gear when it rolls but how does the car stop moving if the clutch isnt engaged to the flywheel?

 

You didn't read much.
I answered.

Also, the OP is from 2001.