What is the "Proper" Way to Park an AT?

nidly · #11 05-30-2009, 04:16 PM

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.

melinuxfool · #12 06-01-2009, 02:38 PM

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!

diamondlarry · #13 06-01-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melinuxfool

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!

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.

Boston Man · #14 06-02-2009, 09:35 AM

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

aburk4 · #15 06-02-2009, 10:31 AM

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

phlack · #16 06-02-2009, 02:31 PM

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

R.I.D.E. · #17 06-06-2009, 09:40 PM

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

JusBringIt · #18 06-07-2009, 01:40 PM

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

av911 · #19 11-06-2009, 02:12 AM

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.

Mendel Leisk · #20 11-06-2009, 09:05 AM

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.