Parking a Manual car

[B0000rt]

When parking a manual car:
Do you leave it in neutral, or do you leave it in first, if parked uphill, and reverse if downhill

[EP32k2]

1st gear all the time. Relaying on the handbrake solely is silly.

[Jon04CTS]

Always in gear with parking brake.

[Kunman]

the reason you would leave your car in 1st or R while parking are:

1. Brakes are often hot after use. If you leave car in N on a hill with a gradient hand brake pulled with hot brakes the car will not move. However, once the brakes cool down, and the brakes contract....u know what happens.

2. Hand brake is just a cable, holding on to a 1.5 tone car

3. It takes tremendous force to over come a stopped engine. Even if you are facing up a hill, with nothing but the car engaged in 1st, the car still will not roll back.

[B0000rt]

the reason you would leave your car in 1st or R while parking are:

1. Brakes are often hot after use. If you leave car in N on a hill with a gradient hand brake pulled with hot brakes the car will not move. However, once the brakes cool down, and the brakes contract....u know what happens.

2. Hand brake is just a cable, holding on to a 1.5 tone car

3. It takes tremendous force to over come a stopped engine. Even if you are facing up a hill, with nothing but the car engaged in 1st, the car still will not roll back.

For your first point, some cars have built in drums into the rear disc brakes, so when the disk/drum combo cools down, it would hold even better...

For your second point, I guess, but what difference is it with a tiny Parking Pawl holding the car stationary in automatics, not many people use the e-brake when parking with an automatic transmission :)

Your third point is very true.

[Jon04CTS]

For your second point, I guess, but what difference is it with a tiny Parking Pawl holding the car stationary in automatics, not many people use the e-brake when parking with an automatic transmission :)


Your wheels aren't moving if your transmission is in Park.

[NEMESIS_2008]

Always in gear with parking brake.

This is what I do.

[Blue_Thunder13]

I usually park it in gear. But do most of you park it in any gear or in first gear specifically?

I've noticed that I usually park it in 2nd gear...and lately I've noticed that every so often I shift into 2nd while driving I'd hear a slight grinding of the gears and it only happens with the 2nd gear and not with any other gear...So I'm curious if parking in 2nd has an adverse affect on it?

[kingrukus]

Always park in gear with the hand brake up.

[Maymybonneliveforever]

Always in gear with parking brake.Exactly!

[Darryl]

Your wheels aren't moving if your transmission is in Park.

I think he is saying that with automatic cars, the only thing stopping the transmission from "moving" is a small pin when putting it into Park, yet no one ever sees the need to use the e-brake with automatics.

[NLI10D]

when i'm parking my truck on an incline or decline, i put the e-brake on before i put it in park. easier to take it out of park when its time to go

[lildevilx]

reverse on downhill, 4th or 5th on up hill
why? honestly not too sure that what my brother (auto mech) always told me to do when he taught me manual xD

[Muney]

If its on flat ground, just stick it into reverse. Any type of incline, reverse and ebrake.

[steve-0101]

How can 6 of you have chosen neutral? Seriously?

I can't believe this question is even being asked.

[ekashyap]

Gear + Parking Brake ALWAYS.

If you don't put it in gear, let me know where you park so I can come by and just push your car into another car and run away.

[jimmy-j]

i've always put in in first gear. first vehicle i ever owned was a 84 datsun king cab pickup and parking brake didn't work so i had to turn the wheel and put it into first every time.

[flyinggonzo]

Always in gear.

If your brakes are very very hot (I don't see how you'd ever get to this point driving on the street) then you will park in gear but NOT engage your parking brake, as that will cause your rotors to warp.

[lildevilx]

Gear + Parking Brake ALWAYS.

If you don't put it in gear, let me know where you park so I can come by and just push your car into another car and run away.

+1 let me know too i'll come join you! :D

[valinrace]

How can 6 of you have chosen neutral? Seriously?

I can't believe this question is even being asked.

I am also thinking the same thing but here is my opinion 1st gear when parking then pull the hand brake.

Also I like automatic car rather than manual, unless I am driving a sports car. Automatic car is more comfortable driving rather than manual especially if its traffic.

[Bomberman07]

first car sunbird 89 no parking break, so always parked in gear
second car cavalier 98 parked with only parking brake until I cutted it instead of paying for having it fixed, after that parked in gear
current car Mazda 3 2012, parking in neutral and parking brake

always tough that parking in gear is bad for the transmission or something else because the car always move up to a point where the wheels stops moving (like 1/4 inch or something).

[lildevilx]

the thing is parking brake doesn't always have the strength to stop the car rolling so putting it into gear just uses the inertia (yay physics) of the engine to stop the car from rolling.............

[Slawek]

1st plus brake.

I remember years ago I'm having dinner and look out the window and see my car. 5 min go by and I look up again and the car is gone. Lol... So I jump up and run outside to see the car hopped up on a curb down the street, missed trees thankfully.

Parking brake was on and it was in neutral!

[AzureD]

Gear + Parking Brake ALWAYS.

If you don't put it in gear, let me know where you park so I can come by and just push your car into another car and run away.

actually if you've been to asia lots of places ask you to park in neutral w/o parking brake so they can roll your car to fit more in the parking lot

[zonetbh]

I always leave the car in gear and only use the parking break if its on a hill. I never bother with the parking break on relatively flat surfaces.

[Slawek]

I guess if you have a remote starter you don't really have a choice but to leave it in N

[shaolinmonk]

I guess if you have a remote starter you don't really have a choice but to leave it in N

yep.. my old 88 e30 had a remote starter... i launched it into the garage by accident trigger the starter in my pocket..

1st if the car doesn't have a remote starter lol

[Kunman]

yep.. my old 88 e30 had a remote starter... i launched it into the garage by accident trigger the starter in my pocket..

1st if the car doesn't have a remote starter lol

lmao da fuq??

remote starter on a manual is dangrous LOLOL

[brian.gerson]

As Muney said, always leave it in reverse on an incline and set the parking brake. Reverse has the most advantageous gear ratio, it's better than leaving it in 1st.

[shaolinmonk]

lmao da fuq??

remote starter on a manual is dangrous LOLOL

supposedly the old remote starters did that.. the news today don't though i think.. i didn't need a damn remote starter anyway it came with the car lol

[kennyluo]

i am one of the neutral guy lol...

i park with parking brake and neutral on flat, but i put in first when any incline.

[Talon88]

:::

Better at 1st or Reverse gear all the time....!

:::

[greybrick]

1st or reverse. Never neutral. I mean, why take the small chance that something goes wrong?

[steve-0101]

i am one of the neutral guy lol...

i park with parking brake and neutral on flat, but i put in first when any incline.

There is absolutely no good reason to do this, and many reasons not to.

[InTheNavy]

Correctly installed remote starts for manual transmissions will only work if the car is in neutral and the parking brake is engaged. If someone tells you that they recently launched their car from their pocket, it is either BS or the remote started was installed completely wrong.

[Jon04CTS]

I find it hard to believe that we have 65 (so far) manual drivers here...

[ViperZ]

I find it hard to believe that we have 65 (so far) manual drivers here...

I ride a (obviously manual) bike, but my current car is auto. Funny thing that parked bike is in neutral, but manual car obviously is in (1st) gear.

[klp2332]

actually if you've been to asia lots of places ask you to park in neutral w/o parking brake so they can roll your car to fit more in the parking lot

where in Asia?

[AzureD]

where in Asia?

most places I've been to indonesia, thailand, philipine

[jeeva86]

I thought it should places in the gear that the car would naturally move in. If a car would roll down, then it should be placed in 1st and vice versa to avoid some sort of grinding?

[Kunman]

I ride a (obviously manual) bike, but my current car is auto. Funny thing that parked bike is in neutral, but manual car obviously is in (1st) gear.

i used to ride a bike.

considering the context of the discussion. When parking your bike on a negative gradient, you should consider putting your bike on 1st gear. So the bike wont roll on your stand and drop :/

[MeiserT]

http://www.plasticrecycling.us/traffic/chocks/chocks_288x221.jpg

[flyinggonzo]

most places I've been to indonesia, thailand, philipine

That makes sense. They park their cars so tightly there that you need to bump your neighbours' car in order to get in or out. In those areas people will leave the transmission is neutral or risk damaging the transmission when someone bumps your car.

[ToNIX]

Neutral + handbrake on flat ground.

1st or reverse + handbrake on hill.

[BDSL]

I just leave it in 1st gear (no handbrake) when I park.
After years of working on my cars and other people's car, I witness many times the handbrake cables seized / partially seized...resulting in more damage (i.e. seized brake calipers, warped rotors, etc).
You have to remember, the cable is a push\pull cable with rubber boots on either side. Over time, these boots will develop cracks and water will get in. In winter, water freezes. You get the picture...

If you are afraid of the shifter popping out of 1st gear while in park, you have another issue. Check cable bushings and transmission linkages.

[zulu888]

I'm one of the neutrals, neutral 100%, doesn't matter if it's an incline or not (not many in Edmonton), parking brake has always worked for me... that being said, :flamesuit: ON

[jr!]

seeing as my parking brake is somewhat broken right now, I always park in 1st.

[B0000rt]

For your second point, I guess, but what difference is it with a tiny Parking Pawl holding the car stationary in automatics, not many people use the e-brake when parking with an automatic transmission :)


Your wheels aren't moving if your transmission is in Park.


I think he is saying that with automatic cars, the only thing stopping the transmission from "moving" is a small pin when putting it into Park, yet no one ever sees the need to use the e-brake with automatics.

Yep, but I guess more often then not, e-brakes fail, and Parking Pawls fail less often.

[honbut]

Usually 1st and Brake.... don't wont someone to lift up the rear end of my car and walk away with it HAHA...:razz:

[greybrick]

I thought it should places in the gear that the car would naturally move in. If a car would roll down, then it should be placed in 1st and vice versa to avoid some sort of grinding?

I've always done the opposite. If my car is facing up a hill I put it into 1st; if my car is facing down a hill I have it in reverse. That being said, if your car is in 1st or reverse it's very unlikely that the car will roll forward/backwards as there should be enough pressure to hold it in place (in the event of an emergency brake failure) as long as the hill isn't extremely steep.

[john widow]

I'm so accustomed to parking in neutral with the hand brake on. I've tried changing tires like that I notice sometimes I can move the car unless the hand brake is pulled extremely tightly.

If I park at home in the driveway, there is a slight incline so the car might move forward a bit. I need to reverse out anyways.

When arriving home. Do I push down on clutch all the way, shift to reverse then turn off engine while clutch pushed in?

[fivesolas]

how did the 20 people who voted to leave their car in neutral get their licenses in the first place?

It's been a long time for me but isn't this still part of the driving exam? Kids these days ... sigh*

[EPcjay]

1st gear all the time. Relaying on the handbrake solely is silly.

+1

1st gear for me + brake

I remember one time I parked at the commuter lot at warden station. I was walking across the lot and noticed a car in the middle of the road which hit another car. I walked by it to see no one in both cars. The car in the middle of the road had roll forward and hit the car infront. I have a picture, but just dont remember where I put it. LOL moment.

I remember I also borrowed a friends manual car, and parked it with 1st gear and brake. When he started the car, it jumped forward and he said WTF to me. We got into a pretty big argument about parking with gear 1 and parking brake.

[ToNIX]

how did the 20 people who voted to leave their car in neutral get their licenses in the first place?

It's been a long time for me but isn't this still part of the driving exam? Kids these days ... sigh*

Flat surface + remote starter... neutral needed.

I'd never park it in neutral on a hill though.

[BDSL]

Everyone talks but only a few really knows what they are talking about.
Everyone drives manual/stick but only a few really knows how to drive it properly....

[ToniCipriani]

Gear + Handbrake. I don't want my car going around Ragu-ing people.

[Badman]

Flat surface + remote starter... neutral needed.

I'd never park it in neutral on a hill though.

+1, this is what I do. If parking on a flat surface or in a garage(flat) I would rely with just the parking brake if I want to enable the remote start. On a hill or parking for a long duration I would leave in first gear as well.


My question to people with auto or manual do you pull the hand brake first and then park/1st so the weight it on the parking brake or do you let the transmission hold the weight?

[Mr.Sea]

If I park downhill, I still put it into first gear.

[UrbanPoet]

I put it in neutral+handbrake I'm sorry. lol.
I didn't know putting it in 1st would make that big a difference.
I never drive manual cars. Except the time my brother went on a 1 month vacation and I used his car in order to refresh my learning many years ago.

Maybe manual one day when I could afford a super duper sports car. But even then, don't most high end sport cars use a really advanced automatic F1 style tranny?

[akito925]

when Ever I Park, engage Parking break, then turn off engine, they place in 1st gear, and get out of car, and lock

if I am on a hill 1st or reverse + handbrake on hill.


This one time, someone blocked the driveway infront of my, i've noticed he parked his car in neutral, got out my hydrolic jack, and lifted up the back end, push the car down the street where there was space. The next day, the guy was puzzled. how he thought he parked his car over there. lol

[Vegeta]

I always leave it in neutral and pull the handbrake, even when my car is on the driveway (which is on a hill). The car hasn't rolled away and crashed yet...don't understand all the hatred towards those who park their cars like that =/.

[BDSL]

I always leave it in neutral and pull the handbrake, even when my car is on the driveway (which is on a hill). The car hasn't rolled away and crashed yet...don't understand all the hatred towards those who park their cars like that =/.

That is because your handbrake cable is still working and hasn't seized on you yet!!
In Ontario, where salt is being used on the street during winter, the rubber boots at the end of your shift cables will eventually crack and water will get in.
It happens frequently on high mileage vehicles and vehicles stored over a long period of time.

[greybrick]

One of these days you'll regret it. My last car had the handbrake fail. If I left it in neutral even on a slight incline it would roll back like nobody's business. It's all fine and good to have your car in neutral and the handbrake on when the handbrake is working, but as your car gets older things happen. It's better to be responsible and safe.

[BDSL]

One of these days you'll regret it. My last car had the handbrake fail. If I left it in neutral even on a slight incline it would roll back like nobody's business. It's all fine and good to have your car in neutral and the handbrake on when the handbrake is working, but as your car gets older things happen. It's better to be responsible and safe.

Exactly.

Or the handbrake cable is seized and the rear brake can't be released. Therefore, you have to call a tow truck and your whole day (or maybe whole week) is ruined.

[B0000rt]

Ha, so it looks like it isn't all cut and dry and some people are doing it wrong, myself included, but have since changed to parking in gear, gotta be a little more mindful after I start the car and release the clutch that I'm in neutral again.

[Quiying]

When you doing your manual test in hong kong leaving on any gear you fail is a must on neutral when is park. That's what my instructor taught me.

That's what my instructor say but a lot of people leave on first gear or reverse but that should only apply when you are up hill or down hill situation. The rest of the time when you park should be in netural and hand brake.

I am pretty sure all instructor will tell you be on netural when parking in city area
Hand brake with Netural when in parked position is best way in any situation

[shaolinmonk]

Ha, so it looks like it isn't all cut and dry and some people are doing it wrong, myself included, but have since changed to parking in gear, gotta be a little more mindful after I start the car and release the clutch that I'm in neutral again.

here are my steps when i was taught
car off
neutral, pull up handbrake, shut off car, clutch down and 1st

car on
clutch, neutral, clutch start car, 1st, handbrake down

[spike1128]

manual: leave in 1st, pull the handbrakes. leaving in neutral and handbrake it's like putting your automatic in neutral and pull handbrake. no one put on neutral in an auto, so manual shouldn't either.

auto: put in P, pull the handbrakes.

[B0000rt]

here are my steps when i was taught
car off
neutral, pull up handbrake, shut off car, clutch down and 1st

car on
clutch, neutral, clutch start car, 1st, handbrake down
Why do you even depress the clutch to put it in gear when the car is off?

[shaolinmonk]

Why do you even depress the clutch to put it in gear when the car is off?

Cause sometimes I'm fiddling with the radio, windows or whatever before shutting off the car then next thing you know whoops stall.. So I've turned it into a habit of throwing into first before I exit the car

[Biff88]

When you doing your manual test in hong kong leaving on any gear you fail is a must on neutral when is park. That's what my instructor taught me.
That's what my instructor say but a lot of people leave on first gear or reverse but that should only apply when you are up hill or down hill situation. The rest of the time when you park should be in netural and hand brake.
I am pretty sure all instructor will tell you be on netural when parking in city area
Hand brake with Netural when in parked position is best way in any situation

That sounds irresponsible, those parking brake cables wear, get weak, develop slack to the point of not being able to hold the vehicle weight anymore and cannot be depended to hold 2,000+ pounds of vehicle alone.
If the driving instructors in HK are as clueless as the ones in Canada, then perhaps I can understand why they told you that.

[hilroy97]

First gear with parking brake always.

[BDSL]

When you doing your manual test in hong kong leaving on any gear you fail is a must on neutral when is park. That's what my instructor taught me.

That's what my instructor say but a lot of people leave on first gear or reverse but that should only apply when you are up hill or down hill situation. The rest of the time when you park should be in netural and hand brake.

I am pretty sure all instructor will tell you be on netural when parking in city area
Hand brake with Netural when in parked position is best way in any situation

You should ask the instructor "why" instead of just taking his/her words for it.
Many people just accept what is told to him/her without questioning especially when told by someone with more experience.

[Quiying]

My instructor told me before is by law you leave it on neutral. After the manual test everyone leave it on gear lol.

Is something about safety on the road. Allowing some sort of situation other people or cops most likely to move your car without towing it. But that's way before.... This law for park poistion on neutral and handbrake still exist in hk. Or you fail in parking in hk and china

You can drive and park whatever way you want but during the test is a must.

Some people when starting from the light, he/she will jump to 2nd gear instead of 1st then 2nd,

Is personal matter the way you drive