Parking in gear

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Parking in gear

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What are people's thoughts in parking in gear rather than in neutral other than on hills? Always something I do since passing my test. Any thoughts do you do it? What about on your drive or in your garage?
 
Ey up. Mat hope you are ok and alls good. I always park my car in gear I just want to make sure it doesn't roal off plus I don't stretch the hand break. All so I always press the couch when I start up. It's a harmless habit, your car your rules. My regards Phil. Enjoy your evening my regards Phil :)
 
It's a habit that irritates me. But don't let me stop you.

Used to work in a large Rover dealer in Dorset 76-87. Workshop foreman always parked cars in gear. So we've had your car all day, put a blob of grease on the gearlever, relieved you of your life savings, and shown you we don't think the handbrake works. If we can't be confident of the handbrake following a service, how dare we take your money.

The handbrake should be capable of holding the car. If it is not, get it fixed.

Some modern cars will not hold themselves on engine compression. Corsa D 1.4 never did when we used them with BSM. Park on hill, Put into gear, release handbrake, car rolls to first compression, then slowly pushes over, onto the next, gradually gathering speed.
Current Fiesta 1.0 turbo won't hold on compression either.

DVSA advice says when facing uphill select 1st gear, when facing down, select reverse. That will turn the engine the wrong way. That advice frightens me. There's no evidence that compression would be greater in reverse. However, timing chain or belt will now be untensioned, as the tensioner will be operating on the slack side. Perhaps that's the reason for the advice, as it moves away down the hill, the belt or chain slips, piston hits valve, mechanical stop prevents car rolling.
 
I've never counted the clicks. Push button, lift lever, keep tensioned, release button. Allowing it to click wears the ratchet mechanism. These are rarely lubricated by the manufacturer, relying on the oil film present from when it was pressed. I've seen them worn out in 18 months with people who drag them up every time. Can last a lifetime if used with care.

Manufacturers mostly now state in the handbook to allow it to click. This is a result of being blamed for inadequate application by the driver. Many people release some of the tension as they release the button, often dropping it down a tooth. This can be enough to allow the car to move. I insist all my pupils get it right, and don't drop the lever as the button is released.

Number of clicks will be dependent on size of teeth. Big teeth, fewer clicks. In the eighties, Maestro and Montego had fine teeth, and standard adjustment was 8-9 clicks. Many got tensioned to three clicks and then the self-adjusters don't work.
 
What are people's thoughts in parking in gear rather than in neutral other than on hills? Always something I do since passing my test. Any thoughts do you do it? What about on your drive or in your garage?

I don't leave in gear ever.
This comes from driving early diesels. If they did roll or got shunted and the fuel cut-off wasn't pulled out they could start and drive away. Generally think it's a bad idea. Also runs the risk of someone not used to it getting in your car, turning key and shunting into something. Another option is to turn the front wheels so the nearside one touches the kerb at an angle. The kerb then acts as a chock.


Robert G8RPI.
 
Always park in gear with handbrake off ,unless on a hill. If car not used for a while it saves the handbrake sticking on .
 
I'm very much old skool & it's one of those things that on the face of it can cause no damage at all, & in my 40+ driving/working on cars, I've never come across damage by leaving a car in gear. However if you are stupid enough to jump into a car & are the type of person to immediately starts a car up, you could be in trouble, if in gear. An obvious well known habit if parked on an incline, is to obviously use the handbrake & position the wheels towards the kerb, depending which way you are facing. Simple. Leaving in gear as well ain't going to damage anything per say, just use your common sense when starting the vehicle again.:)
 
Always park in gear with handbrake off ,unless on a hill. If car not used for a while it saves the handbrake sticking on .

Highway Code Rule 239
"You MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle"
This is law, so not applying it is an offence. Not sure how anyone would notice with an electronic one though. Unlikely to get caught unless it moves, or a bored copper notices.
Makes no sense with an auto that makes a physical lock in P, but that's been the law for as long as I can remember.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

Using the handbrake frequently, every time you park, and every longer stop at junctions and traffic lights, etc., actually prolongs the life of the cables, by keeping them free and moving. Not using them promotes them seizing up.
 
Only car I've ever had to do it on was a mk1 punto where the only thing pulling the handbrake did was operate the light on the dash (despite several garage visits).

Currently I do it out of habit if I'm parked on an incline but given it allows you to knock it out of gear without pushing the clutch on returning to the car it would suggest it doesn't roll at all anyway. If you have to push the clutch to return to neutral then it's moved in your absence.
 
Highway Code Rule 239
"You MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle"
This is law, so not applying it is an offence. Not sure how anyone would notice with an electronic one though. Unlikely to get caught unless it moves, or a bored copper notices.
Makes no sense with an auto that makes a physical lock in P, but that's been the law for as long as I can remember.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

Using the handbrake frequently, every time you park, and every longer stop at junctions and traffic lights, etc., actually prolongs the life of the cables, by keeping them free and moving. Not using them promotes them seizing up.

Highway code is not law, but the "MUST" means there is a law that forms the basis of the rule. In this case its the construction and use regulation 107 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/107/made
Note as well that's illegal to have your engine running when stationary (other than in traffic or to operate equipment attached to the vehicle) r have headlights or foglights on.

Robert G8RPI.
 
Gentlemen, I think as adults we get the overall picture here regarding the OP. I've said on numerous occasions if anyone has read my bletherings, I always try to make my driving experiences & all that entails with information about topics, both upbeat & enjoyable. A bit of humour in the right places goes a long way in my book. Getting too hung up about certain facts can lead to willy waving conversations......:D

Just my thoughts.
 
Oooops. Well got away with that for 63 years. Must remember in future to use handbrake more...
 
I leave them in gear
My punto didnt have a good handbrake for a long time.... would NOT hold on hills....
So leaving in gear helped

To this day - i still do it!
why?
if somebody wants to steal your car onto a low loader - they could just snip the handbrake cables and yank it on alot easier

if the front wheels dont wanna turn easily either - then it makes it that little bit harder for them

So much so - the habit now is EVERY car i get into, i stick my foot on the brake AND clutch while starting incase its in gear and i've not checked

plus if it was in gear cause handbrakes ****e, i wont roll away either

ziggy
 
It's always a good idea to put the clutch down when starting the engine. It reduces the load on the starter because it's not turning the gearbox input shaft and connected bits in cold oil.
Like a lot of modern cars the Croma insists you press either the clutch or brake pedal before the starter will engage.

Robert G8RPI.
 
Like a lot of modern cars the Croma insists you press either the clutch or brake pedal before the starter will engage.



Yep, golf and mini (old mini and our new one) all require the clutch down before they will start.

Many new cars also have electronic started so no connection between the ignition and the starter motor like the olden days.

For example, put the key in the golf flick it on to the start position and let go, it will then warm the plugs and start the engine at the appropriate time without any further input.

New mini has a big start toggle in the middle of the dash and you flick this (with the keys somewhere in the car) and again it will warm the plugs and spring into life not needing any further input.

Don't push the clutch and you get a warning on the dash telling you to push the clutch pedal to start.

Don't see there is really any need to park a car in gear, years ago when cars had very poor cast iron drum brakes maybe but not new cars with much higher build quality and brake.
 
Always park in gear with handbrake off ,unless on a hill. If car not used for a while it saves the handbrake sticking on .

It's also illegal, dangerous and invalidates your insurance policy to park with your handbrake off. Not recommended
 
Well this is the thing, new cars braking systems should work really well & in theory that should be fine, but human nature being what it is, some will still be in the habit of leaving in gear. At the end of the day does it really matter. It may seem senseless to some but not to others. Just to add I'm in the habit of pushing in the clutch pedal when starting any vehicle, old skool remember :D Obviously if you're in a situation that requires the use of the handbrake you're going to use it.....No stop, I think I'm beginning to sound too obvious..:D

Why do I get that feeling that some are thinking that oranges are just the only fruit....:D Seriously gentlemen it's not the end of driving as we all know it. I can think of far more annoying habits.. OK I'm going to stop now....Ahhhh
 
I tend to leave in gear too. When I parked on the drive at home I don't put the handbrake on either!

As for clicking the handbrake that really annoys me for some reason. Has anyone ever noticed that Mike Wheeler does it all the time? And he slams doors/bonnet/boot too! Argh!!
 
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