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'Nuff said.

Until about 2 months ago, I used to let the parking pawl engage, and unless I parked on a hill, I did not use the parking brake at all. I read somewhere that this puts undue stress on the transmission, and since then, I shut off the engine in N, with my foot firmly on the brake, engage the parking brake, and then shift to P.

Proper way to park an AT:

FAS to parking spot on incline until car is completely stopped using hill to slow car, using no brakes. Once completely stopped brake to hold car, shift to P, engage parking break, remove keys.

For these reasons I didn't vote as shutting off the engine isn't the first step :D

Yeah the most common way I see it done is, Foot on brake, shift to P, shut off car, remove foot from brake. But I think the proper way is Foot on Brake, Shift to P, Engage Parking Brake, Remove foot from brake. And yeah, you shut off the car somewhere in there after shifting to P.

Then if you're on an incline, depending on what side of the road you're on and if you car is tilted up or down, you turn your wheels one way or the other so that if the parking brake fails and then transmission can't hold your car either, then your car rolls into the curb instead of going and rolling down the hill.

'Nuff said.

Until about 2 months ago, I used to let the parking pawl engage, and unless I parked on a hill, I did not use the parking brake at all. I read somewhere that this puts undue stress on the transmission, and since then, I shut off the engine in N, with my foot firmly on the brake, engage the parking brake, and then shift to P.

Not only does it prevent stress on the parking pawl, but by using the parking brake regularly you prevent the parking brake from seizing - depending on the type of parking brake.

I have seen a few cars that had been bought used from a previous owner that never used the parking brake and then the new owner uses it and the brake freezes in place as it gets jammed from all the corrosion that has built up from lack of use.

Many cars with drum rear brakes adjust the brake shoes when the parking brake is activated, so they get loose if one never uses the parking brake. Maybe good for fuel economy, not so good for proper brake action.

Many cars with drum rear brakes adjust the brake shoes when the parking brake is activated, so they get loose if one never uses the parking brake. Maybe good for fuel economy, not so good for proper brake action.

No they adjust the brakes when using them when braking going backwards. If you put the auto adjuster in backwards or get the adjusting lever on the wrong side of the auto adjuster. The brakes will adjust them selfs when going forward thus causing the wheels to lock up. That was funny to watch. :D

May drum brakes go away,,, forever.

I usually do...

Foot on brake.
Shift into park.
Emergency brake.
Key off.

I think I read on some gas saving website....

Foot on brake.
Shift into neutral.
Key off.
Shift into park.
Emergency brake.

I find it odd when people don't use the emergency brake; namely, all the Toyota techs who drop off my car.

On every car I've ever owned with an AT, I use option 4 except I don't use the parking brake unless I'm on a really steep hill. No problems with parking pawls either.

Proper way to park an AT:

FAS to parking spot on incline until car is completely stopped using hill to slow car, using no brakes. Once completely stopped brake to hold car, shift to P, engage parking break, remove keys.

For these reasons I didn't vote as shutting off the engine isn't the first step :D

It's better if you park on a decline, facing out so when you leave your parking space you gain momentum for free.

When possible, I coast to a decline parking space and slow down using the emergency (parking) brake. Now with the car stopped using the parking brake, I leave the parking brake engaged, turn off the car and then shift into P.

No they adjust the brakes when using them when braking going backwards. If you put the auto adjuster in backwards or get the adjusting lever on the wrong side of the auto adjuster. The brakes will adjust them selfs when going forward thus causing the wheels to lock up. That was funny to watch. :D

May drum brakes go away,,, forever.
Yep, many cars do adjust the brakes by applying them while moving backwards. Many others do it by pulling up on the parking brake handle, or stepping down on the parking brake pedal.

I'm surprised many do not do it like I've done for years.

Turn off engine , and when car comes to a stop shift it into park without brakes.

I don't think it matters as much the order you do things in. But to avoid stress on the transmission, you want to engage the parking brake before you release the foot-brake. You don't want the car to try to roll against the parking gear. Though here in Maine, people seldom use the parking brake (it's still called an emergency brake up here). Heck, even people with a standard tranny don't use it! :eek:

I don't think it matters as much the order you do things in. But to avoid stress on the transmission, you want to engage the parking brake before you release the foot-brake. You don't want the car to try to roll against the parking gear. Though here in Maine, people seldom use the parking brake (it's still called an emergency brake up here). Heck, even people with a standard tranny don't use it! :eek:
To be honest, I never heard it referred to as a "parking" brake until relatively late in life. I had always heard it called an "emergency" or "E" brake. We were also taught to turn the wheels towards the curb when parked going downhill and away from the curb when going uphill. Also, on a stick, to put the car in the gear opposite of which direction the car was going when on a hill.

It doesnt matter what you do as long as there is some type of brake applied BEFORE placing it in park and some type of brake is stayed applied so that the car doesnt roll and put stress on the transmission.

But this is what I do:

1) Foot on Brake
2) Put in Park
3) Engage Parking Brake
4) Foot off brake
5) Engine Off

I am always in FAS when I am about ready to park. I put the car in neutral coast, FAS, then coast into the spot. Next I apply brake, pull emergency brake, release regular brake, then finally shift into park. There is never an instance when my car is in park without the emergency brake engaged. It takes the stress off the tranny

I never thought about there being pressure on the transmission. Usually when I put it in park, I shut off pretty quickly, or I still have my foot on the brake while shutting down.

I would assume the same would hold after starting the car, would it not?

I can't remember the last time I used my parking/emergency brake. My wife does when she drives me car, and it annoys me because I never do, so I don't notice.

I also live in the plains of central florida; it is never an issue.

Does it really put THAT much stress on the tranny?

-Mike

My driveway is about a 15% grade. If the parking pawl fails with no emergency brake, the car could roll down through the garage door and out the back of the house where there is almost a 6 foot drop. The lot slopes 25 feet in 180 feet from front to back end.

Stop completely, shift to neutral, apply brake until it will hold car, put it in park and turn off the ignition.

One of my daughters does it right. The other one never does it right (the college grad). When she tries to shift out of park with no emergency brake applied there is a huge PRANG noise as the pawl releases. Sometimes she can get it to release and I have to manhandle it until it does. I am wincing the whole time.

Yes you can break it and you will learn to use the parking brake after you pay over a grand to fix the tranny.

Tires pointed towards curb downhill, away from curb uphill.

regards
gary

I always use my parking brake to lock the wheels before I shift to park. (Ignition is already off btw)

I initially started off doing PARK --> E-BRAKES --> IGN OFF. But read that it puts a lot of strain on the PARK mechanism, so I changed my routine to NEUTRAL --> E-BRAKE --> PARK --> IGN OFF.

EDIT: My bad, didn't realize this thread was months old.

With the Honda Civic Hybrid, the engine shuts off when you come to a stop (assuming it's fully warmed, has sufficient battery pack charge, and a few other parameters are met). However, if you shift into Park the engine starts up again. So, I've taken to turning the ignition key off before shifting to park, to avoid that superfluous engine start up.

After that, with foot on the brake, I usually shift to Park, pull up the Parking Brake, release foot brake.

As far as tire position on grades, our provincial Drivers Manual's guidance is:

1. Car pointing downhill (with/without curb): tires angled towards curb or side of road.

2. Car pointing uphill with curb: tires angled towards centre of road.

3. Car pointing uphill without curb: tires angled towards side of road.

Guidance I got when in driver training:

When parking faced uphill with curb: angle the tires towards centre of road, with a slight space to the curb, and then let the car roll back gently, till the back of tire was bearing on the curb, and then put it in Park and set the parking brake.

When parking faced downhill with curb: angle the tires towards side of road, with a slight space to the curb, and then let the car roll forward gently, till the front of the tires was bearing on the curb, and then put it in Park and set the parking brake.

Yeah the most common way I see it done is, Foot on brake, shift to P, shut off car, remove foot from brake. But I think the proper way is Foot on Brake, Shift to P, Engage Parking Brake, Remove foot from brake. And yeah, you shut off the car somewhere in there after shifting to P.

Then if you're on an incline, depending on what side of the road you're on and if you car is tilted up or down, you turn your wheels one way or the other so that if the parking brake fails and then transmission can't hold your car either, then your car rolls into the curb instead of going and rolling down the hill.

Exactly what I was going to say.

I remember when I was a kid someone simply put their car in "park" on a fairly steep hill. my dad was outside close to that car and heard a "POP" come from the car followed by the car starting to roll downhill. He was right by the car at that time and got in front of it to stop it rolling down the hill. owner came out and engaged the parking brake. Problem solved.

If you really want to get technical...
step 1 apply brakes
step 2 shift to "N"
step 3 apply parking brake
step 4 release brakes while still keeping a hand on the parking brake (just in case car starts drifting)
step 5 apply brakes once more to shift to "P"
step 6 all done, you are now free to exit the car :D

Step 2 could also be shift to "P" the rest being the same (save step 5 since that is already done).

Also, for owners with manual transmissions.
Always shift to 1st gear when parking. This is a lot like putting your car in park in a auto car.
Always apply parking brake.