I've never understood why people don't apply the e-brake in automatics. Any time I pick up my car from any shop, it's always flopping about with that 1" margin of movement without the e-brake applied. That ____es me off. But I learned on a stick so it's still just an automatic response even though I've driven an auto for five years now. They even tell you you need to apply it in driver's ed and taking the state driver's tests. (I think, it's been awhile.)

Oh but what do I know...I'm just a girl that's posting on a forum that's about something I don't own.



Yet :D

 

You guys (and gals)are putting way too much thought into it...

Seriously, when's the last time you heard of an Auto popping out of Park? When's the last time you've seen tranny problems because of the "pressure on the tranny"?

Sure, setting the e-brake is good insurance but not something to stress over.

 

actually there have been some automatic transmissions from honda and other manufacturers where the parking pawl (that part that stops the transmission) broke..

much safer to use the brakes than a small piece in the transmission..

bottom line.. yes there are automatics within the past 1-3 years that have broken and let the car roll..

 

except when parking uphill with a curb, of course....

"Headed uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a few inches. The back of the front wheel should gently touch the curb. Set the parking brake."


http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs2...tm#hillparking

 

Actually, if you really want to baby the car, the best sequence is:

1. Come to a stop with foot on brake (transmission is in drive at this point)
2. Put transmission in neutral.
3. Set the emergency brake
4. take foot off brake
5. put transmission in park.

This way you can be certain that no weight will be on the pin in the transmission because if the car moves a little on step #4 you know that the emergency brake wasn't set hard enough.

For a manual the same procedure can be used, but at step 5 you can put it in first or reverse. (First if you are pointed uphill, reverse if you are pointed downhill.)

It doesn't take anymore time or effort to park this way. I don't see why everyone doesn't do it, except that most everyone is ignorant.

 

LOL!!

 

I always use my e brake... foot on brake pedal, set e brake, then release pedal....

 

So was this due to improper parking brake usage?

I didn't say not to use the parking brake, I'm just saying it doesn't seem like it should take 2 pages worth of posts to get the "perfect" precedure ironed out...

 

Step on Break > Pull Emergency Break > Release Break. Been doing it for years.

 

that is some good info on brake procedure