Is it better for an automatic transmission to put it in neutral and put the E-brake on then park instead of just putting it in park?oark
Is it better for an automatic transmission to put it in neutral and put the E-brake on
This is my procedure for parking on steep hills or with heavy vehicles (I drive a full size van). It prevents strain on the transmission parking pawl, and keeps it from getting stuck.
- Stop the vehicle and keep foot on brake
- Shift transmission into Neutral (N)
- Apply parking brake
- Slowly let go of brake pedal, and allow the weight of the vehicle to settle onto the park brake
- Now shift into Park (P)
And remember to always turn your wheels:
Facing uphill:
- with curb - turn towards middle of road
- without curb - turn towards side of road
Facing downhill:
- towards side of road
Some parking brakes are quite unreliable, and you don't want to rely only on transmission pawl. So if it's a very steep incline I will use chocks as well (which are always with me in my vehicle)
Level ground: doesn't matter. 'P' gear is all you need.
A parking brake is not needed on a fact ground. It is not a bad habit to use the brake .
Yes, it is a good practice and habit to maintain even on flat ground - from a safety perspective redundancy is good (especially if one has a manual transmission vehicle). I do it all the time. For one, it does reduce some pressure on the clutch, transmission, parking pawl, CV joints, etc. so there is less wear on those items which makes them last longer. Also for cars with the mechanical cables/levels still, it keeps them moving so they don’t potentially oxidize and seize in place.
Here is a good reminder to always engage your E-brake even when you think your vehicle is in Park:
https://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/20/star-trek-anton-yelchin-death-jeep-recall/
what is the correct sequence for parking on a hill
My ritual is different from all of yours.
- Stop the vehicle and keep foot on brake
- Shift transmission into N
- Apply parking brake
- Slowly let go of brake pedal and allow vehicle to settle
- Now shift into P
And remember to always turn your wheels
Facing uphill:
- with curb - turn towards middle of road
- without curb - turn towards side of road
Facing downhill:
- towards side of road
Some parking brakes are quite unreliable, and you don't want to rely only on transmission pawl. So if it's a very steep incline I will use chocks as well (which are permanently in my vehicle)
Level ground: doesn't matter. 'P' gear is all you need.
I would agree it's not a bad idea to use the parking brake with an automatic. Although most people don't.
Here's a good reason to use it. If you rarely use the parking brake it can get "sticky", rusty and all. Then when you go get your annual safety inspection the mechanic (excuse me, "tech") will stomp (pedal) or pull (handle) on the P brake and may break the cable or it may "stick" on, greatly increasing your cost at the inspection.
If you always use the P brake, you will always know the condition of your brake and you will know it works good enough for the inspection. By always using it the cable will always slide good and there won't be any surprises.
I only set it on inclines
I always use the parking brake. I put it in neutral first, apply parking brake, release brake pedal, push brake pedal then put in park (OCD). I believe doing this is better for the car since it's not jerking back and forth when going from drive to park and using it often keeps it in better working condition.
Read your owner's manual. It'll tell you the correct procedure for your car.
Hi Scotty,
what is the correct sequence for parking on a hill to prevent strain on the automatic transmission? once in position while gear is in Drive, do I apply the E-brake, then put the car in Park, then turn off engine?
And does it matter when parking on level ground?
sorry for the silly questions
Hey Scotty for the last few years, I’ve had the habit of applying the parking brake when parking even on flat ground in cars with automatic transmissions because I heard somewhere that it “protects the transmission from the weight of the car”.... is this true ? Or is it unnecessary to use the parking brake when parking an automatic on flat ground ?
Hi Scotty. I want to know is it alright to park the car on hill with this following steps.
1. Bring the car to a full stop.
2. Keep the foot brake pressed.
3. Shift to “N”.
4. Engage the parking brake.
5. Lift your foot of the foot brake.
6. Press the foot brake.
7. Shift the gear into “P”.
8. Lift your foot of the foot brake.
Hello Scotty, my question is about parking. Is it bad for your transmission when parking in a incline driveway, and you don’t use your e-break?
