Car continues to roll back after putting it in park

[Pacfanweb]

I don't believe there's any debate about whether one should use both, rather the debate is largely about the amount of legitimate risk involved in only using the "Park" function of the automatic. While using both is obviously preferred and recommended, the simple reality is that the likelihood of any sort of dire consequence from using only the "Park" function is incredibly small.

ZV

This.

Emergency, or "parking" brakes can and do allow vehicles to move if they come out of adjustment, and being a wear item, they become "unadjusted" quite frequently.

A parking pawl is a mechanical stop inside the transmission. Mostly, it either works, or it doesn't. They damn sure don't slip after the car's been sitting there awhile, or allow it to slowly move.

ZV is right...parking pawls practically never fail, and are much more reliable than the brake, but both "should" be used, especially on hills.

With a stick, you should always park it with the trans in 1st or Reverse. That should be the main thing holding the vehicle still, NOT the parking brake. And be sure you don't leave it in 3rd, 4th, 5th gear. That gives the vehicle's weight a mechanical advantage over the compression of the engine, and can allow the car to move...basically, it greatly reduces the effectiveness of engine's compression holding the car back.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Don't lump NA in with your parents and friends. Back in Colorado every single person I know uses the parking brake any time they're shutting the car off. It's part of driver's ed, and was part of my driving test (you got points marked off your park job if you forgot the brake). Just because you know a bunch of idiots doesn't mean the entire area is that way. I'm actually shocked an appalled to hear there are people that don't use it. Even more shocked to hear somebody think that's normal in this country.

Gayner, don't listen to this guy. He's surrounded by a special kind of stupid apparently and doesn't speak for this country. It's quite unusual not to use it here.

Look what you wrote: "Back in Colorado".

What does Colorado have that New Jersey mostly does not? Mountains.

So for damn sure you use the parking brake on a hill. On a flat surface, where the vast majority of people park? Not so much.

Yes, it's a good idea to advise people to use the parking brake, but I'd be willing to be the overwhelming majority of people with automatics do not regularly use the parking brake, yet they are practically no failures of pawls. (statistically speaking)

 

[MrPickins]

The parking brake is also known as the Emergency brake for a reason.....it's not designed to be the primary thing holding the car in place.

They haven't been referred to as emergency brakes in quite awhile.

of course it's not the only thing that should be holding the car, but it is definitely one of the things that should be.

Not using your parking break is lazy and borderline neglectful.

 

[jagec]

I had an old car with bad rubber seals on the parking brake cables, which would allow water to enter and freeze up in the winter. After one experience with a parking brake that wouldn't release, I got paranoid about using it in the winter, and just made sure to leave it in gear with the wheels facing the proper direction on hills.

Other than that, I use the parking brake.

The bit about using your parking brake when jacking up your car to work on it is actually pretty important, though, and many people forget about it since they normally just put it in (P) and walk away.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

in mass., the parking brake is universally known as the "e-brake" and never engaged for parking a passenger vehicle, nor are the front wheels ever turned into/out of the curb when parking on a hill.

people get mad when i tell them how to drive, but that's never stopped me.

 

[CZroe]

i know people who wont use the Pbrake with a Manual. they just put in gear and expect it to be there when they get back. lol

I have met these idiots as well.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I always use the parking brake even when parking my automatic on level ground in front of my house. Proper driver's education and years of driving a manual transmission car have taught me this and I do it no matter what car I'm driving or what kind of surface I'm parking on.

Oddly enough, many bikers don't seem to get the concept of their bike rolling off the side stand and probably half the bikers I talk to park their motorcycles in neutral (motorcycles don't have parking brakes).

 

[Pacfanweb]

i know people who wont use the Pbrake with a Manual. they just put in gear and expect it to be there when they get back. lol

The real idiots are the ones who leave it in neutral and only engage the brake. That is the most common mistake I see.