Leave in gear while parked..?

Peer · July 25th, 2013, 06:31 PM

As a kid back home, my dad taught us to always leave the car in gear when parked. Years later, here in California, my moto mechanic told me to never do so since if someone bumps into the car, it will damage the transmission. I tend to trust my mechanic, so nowadays I never leave it in gear anymore.

However, this afternoon when parking in downtown Palo Alto, I ended up performing a Buster Keaton / Charlie Chaplin stunt as I walked away from the car after forgetting to apply the handbrake -- running after my dear P-car as it slowly meandered into the intersection, desperately trying to slow it down with one hand while fishing for my keys with the other. (I'll sue if this somehow ends up on YouTube.)

So I wonder if it's true that you can actually damage the transmission if left in gear and someone bumps into you? If not, I think it's time for me to go back to my dad's routine -- gear AND handbrake -- especially since this is now the second time this has happened to me.

-- peer

Tom M · July 26th, 2013, 11:18 AM

I've always gone by leave in gear if on a hill of some sort just in case the parking brake doesn't hold and neutral all other times.

mcomet · July 27th, 2013, 03:22 PM

There was a related thread on planet 9 recently. It seemed like most agreed to use the handbrake and to apply it FIRST so the weight of the car etc rested on the brake. Then apply into gear if needed for additional hold if that is your thing. I've actually always just used a hand brake. Drives me bonkers if someone else parks my car cuz I almost always forget to check neutral on startup and end up bucking the car. Of course that doesn't happen very often.

Edit : on steep hills I would definitely do both brake and gear.

Tom M · July 27th, 2013, 08:26 PM

It's especially important on AT cars. Stop with foot on brake, engage parking brake, shift into Park. Putting the car into Park before applying the parking brake can add load to the transmission if parked on an incline. It's possible to get away with putting it into Park and then activating the parking brake but you have to keep the foot brake engaged the entire time to ensure the parking brake is engaged before releasing the foot brake.

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July 25th, 2013, 06:31 PM	#1
Peer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 203	Leave in gear while parked..? As a kid back home, my dad taught us to always leave the car in gear when parked. Years later, here in California, my moto mechanic told me to never do so since if someone bumps into the car, it will damage the transmission. I tend to trust my mechanic, so nowadays I never leave it in gear anymore. However, this afternoon when parking in downtown Palo Alto, I ended up performing a Buster Keaton / Charlie Chaplin stunt as I walked away from the car after forgetting to apply the handbrake -- running after my dear P-car as it slowly meandered into the intersection, desperately trying to slow it down with one hand while fishing for my keys with the other. (I'll sue if this somehow ends up on YouTube.) So I wonder if it's true that you can actually damage the transmission if left in gear and someone bumps into you? If not, I think it's time for me to go back to my dad's routine -- gear AND handbrake -- especially since this is now the second time this has happened to me. -- peer __________________ http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~peer

July 26th, 2013, 11:18 AM	#2
Tom M Site Founder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Westfield, IN Posts: 2,635	I've always gone by leave in gear if on a hill of some sort just in case the parking brake doesn't hold and neutral all other times. __________________ Tom M (Westfield, IN) '04 996 C4S MBM/GG (gone) '00 986 S MBK/NBL/BLK (gone) '11 958 Cayenne S

July 27th, 2013, 03:22 PM	#3
mcomet Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 17	There was a related thread on planet 9 recently. It seemed like most agreed to use the handbrake and to apply it FIRST so the weight of the car etc rested on the brake. Then apply into gear if needed for additional hold if that is your thing. I've actually always just used a hand brake. Drives me bonkers if someone else parks my car cuz I almost always forget to check neutral on startup and end up bucking the car. Of course that doesn't happen very often. Edit : on steep hills I would definitely do both brake and gear. Last edited by mcomet; July 27th, 2013 at 10:18 PM.

July 27th, 2013, 08:26 PM	#4
Tom M Site Founder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Westfield, IN Posts: 2,635	It's especially important on AT cars. Stop with foot on brake, engage parking brake, shift into Park. Putting the car into Park before applying the parking brake can add load to the transmission if parked on an incline. It's possible to get away with putting it into Park and then activating the parking brake but you have to keep the foot brake engaged the entire time to ensure the parking brake is engaged before releasing the foot brake. __________________ Tom M (Westfield, IN) '04 996 C4S MBM/GG (gone) '00 986 S MBK/NBL/BLK (gone) '11 958 Cayenne S

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September 29th, 2020, 08:56 AM	#5
lizbee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: spokane Posts: 279	Thanks for sharing this! helped me soo much! Love

November 13th, 2020, 06:23 AM	#6
cherrykey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: davao city Posts: 109	thanks for sharing this! but i wonder how much is a tummy tuck ?

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cherrykey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: davao city Posts: 109	we have the same idea! but im more concern on the tummy tuck cost

December 6th, 2020, 05:14 AM	#8
lizbee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: spokane Posts: 279	love this soo much! -dan

December 7th, 2020, 03:45 AM	#9
alexpogi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: davao Posts: 223	thanks for this! corpus christi bathroom remodeling

January 6th, 2021, 12:36 AM	#10
alexpogi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: davao Posts: 223	very cool and helpful information! thanks for this! window cleaning tacoma