I live in San Francisco and frequently have to park my manual tranmission car on steep hills. I feel as though the parking brake has been loosing its grip because I have to pull it all the way to hold the car. If I park my car in gear, can that be enough to hold it on a steep hill?
2007-12-17 13:14:04 · 11 answers · asked by SFMikey 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Definitely use a combo of the parking brake and leaving it in gear. Reverse is the best gear to leave it in. In fact some automotive manufacturers won't let you pull the key out unless it's in reverse (like Saab).
2007-12-17 13:23:25 · answer #1 · answered by cleanincubus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can and it will. In fact it must if you do it right. You can make it impossible for engine compression to turn over the engine. Think about the situation your car is in and what the transmission gears allow the car to do: forward gears only allow forward motion. Reverse only allows travel in reverse. Just select a gear opposite to the force of gravity, when you park. The car can't roll UP a hill. If the nose is pointing up and the rear down, select first. If the nose is down and the rear up, select reverse. Turn wheels towards the curb and set your parking brake.
2013-12-23 01:48:42 · answer #2 · answered by Yermomdressesufunny 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes the gear alone can hold the car, however it's very bad for the transmission. Like the other guys said use combo of brake and gear. You could even turn your steering wheel away from the curb (if facing uphill) or towards the curb if facing downhill. so that if it were to roll back your tires would hit the curb. Hope this helps!
2007-12-17 13:44:07 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can. Make sure you use low gears, like first or reverse, because it is harder for the wheels to turn the engine in those gears. You should, in fact, always use a combination of the parking brake and leaving it in gear so you have two things holding the car in place should one fail.
2007-12-17 13:19:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you park you car you should ALWAY leave it gear (first or reverse). Just incase your brake fails (or you don't pull it hard enough).
I make it a habbit of leaving it gear. If the car does NOT roll then it doesn't mean anything. If the car rolls then I rather ruin the transmission than the whole car.
Good Luck.
2007-12-17 13:23:50 · answer #5 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I strongly agree with the guy above me.
DO NOT rely on the tranny to hold your car. Do the right thing fix your e-brake it isnt that hard. It sounds like the shoes in your drums need replacing. If you can't do it yourself call around and get a few prices over the phone. It is pretty cheap.
2007-12-17 13:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by jon jon the phenomenon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put on the parking brake if you're going to be at the light a long time. Or just idle in first the whole time keeping the car in a still place, but that uses gas.
2016-05-24 10:45:21 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not, I repeat, Do NOT rely on engine compression to hold a car on a hill. The end result could be very costly. Possibly even causing injury or death to another person
2007-12-17 13:25:58 · answer #8 · answered by sprint driver 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It may help if you use first gear or reverse.
But set the brake anyway, & angle the wheels into curb.
2007-12-17 14:06:15 · answer #9 · answered by Robert S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as the motor ages the pistons wear on the walls. this causes the pistons to be loose. when you rely on leaving it in gear for a brake the motor can turn on its own.
2007-12-17 13:53:28 · answer #10 · answered by Jason 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋