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Parking a Stick Shift

16K views 55 replies 40 participants last post by  john97TJ 
#1 ·
This is probably a question that has been answered on here, but my search didn't turn up any results that matched my question.

I have a 2003 Wrangler five-speed. It's awesome.

When I park - at home, work, out running around - I put the Jeep in first gear and turn it off. I never use the emergency brake, except if I'm on a hill, or if I leave the Jeep running for a minute or two.

Is this wrong?

The reason I'm asking is that lately I've noticed something. When I go out to leave work, and get in the Jeep to start it, I put my foot on the clutch and the brake. The Jeep starts fine, but I've noticed the brake doesn't always go down until the Jeep is running. I am just noticing this, so I don't think this has been the norm. I park on flat ground 95% of the time, anywhere I go.

Is there any reason to change what I am doing? I've been doing it this way for five years, and with previous stick shifts I owned as well. It's just that my Jeep will be paid off within a few months (my first paid-off car since age 17), and I want to keep it going as long as possible.

Thanks for the info!!
 
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#39 ·
I remember once, my son asked me why I don't use the parking break. I told him I never did, I just leave it in gear (first gear). We went to Waffle House a few weeks later for breakfast. As soon as we got seated at a table, a couple came in and asked who's red Mustang was outside. I said mine, and they said it rolled back into the driveway. Good thing, aside from not hitting anything, was it was uphill both ways from where it stopped because a little further, and it would have been in a ditch. So, even after 20+ years of not using the parking brake, it only took one time of thinking I had it in gear to make me use it every time now. As far as which gear, guess what, there is no lever inside the engine to stop it from turning backwards. So, reverse or first the engine can turn either way, especially if the compression leaks down. Use your parking brake! And for the owners manual, it says to always use the handbrake, and to use first gear when parking on a hill.
 
#40 ·
also, if you leave it in gear only (no p-brake) and it gets rear-ended, could it not push-start itself and keep going? or would the fact that the ignition switch is off keep that from happening? or am i just drunk and being retarded? quite possible.
 
#45 ·
I have a 2003 Wrangler five-speed. It's awesome.

When I park - at home, work, out running around - I put the Jeep in first gear and turn it off. I never use the emergency brake, except if I'm on a hill, or if I leave the Jeep running for a minute or two...
Is there any reason to change what I am doing? I've been doing it this way for five years, and with previous stick shifts I owned as well. It's just that my Jeep will be paid off within a few months (my first paid-off car since age 17), and I want to keep it going as long as possible.
I'm guessing they don't teach this in drivers' ed anymore...

1) E-brake: use it or lose it. Actually, my Dad gave me this bit of wisdom. One of my younger brothers learned this the hard way when his e-brake cable rusted. He actually remembered to use it (once?) but it wouldn't release when it was time for him to go. The engine was only strong enough to overcome the brake driving in reverse. That was expensive... :p

2) With a manual trann'y, ALWAYS use the e-brake. Imagine what might happen if it slipped out of gear. How far and in what direction might it roll? And turn the wheels hard over when parked on a hill: into the curb facing down-hill, away from the curb facing up-hill.

Come to think of it, use the e-brake with auto trannies, too; see #1 above. That and there is only one little pawl between your vehicle and a runaway...
From the Wiki:
The parking pawl locks the transmission's output shaft to the transmission casing by engaging a pawl (a pin) that engages in a notched wheel on the shaft, stopping it (and thus the driven wheels) from rotating.
Most vehicle manufacturers and auto mechanics do not recommend using the transmission's parking pawl as the sole means of securing a parked vehicle, instead recommending it should only be engaged after first applying the vehicle's parking brake. Constant use of only the parking pawl, especially when parking on a steep incline, means that driveline components, and transmission internals, are kept constantly under stress, and can cause wear and eventual failure of the parking pawl or transmission linkage. The pawl might also fail or break if the vehicle is pushed with sufficient force, if the parking brake is not firmly engaged. Replacement can be an expensive operation since it generally requires removing the transmission from the car.
 
#47 ·
if flat(which most of it is around here) i use the e brake. if other than flat, e brake and 'R'. I do have a ?? for those that always park in gear-if you live in the north, how do you warm up your jeep-sit in it? I warm mine up 10 min every morning, and i'd be damned if i'm going to sit in it while it warms up. warm up is as much for me as it is the jeep. :)
 
#49 ·
Question for the group. Since the OP states that lately the brake peddle doesn't go down till the engine is started, shouldn't the vacuum system hold enough vacuum for 2-3 peddle pushes? If this is the case is it possible the OP may have a vacuum leak in his system someplace?

My auxilliary brake system for the Jeep says to press the brake peddle 2-3 times after hooking up and turning off the engine. Guess its not suppose to work with any vacuum assist.
 
#51 ·
Question for the group. Since the OP states that lately the brake peddle doesn't go down till the engine is started, shouldn't the vacuum system hold enough vacuum for 2-3 peddle pushes? If this is the case is it possible the OP may have a vacuum leak in his system someplace
that sensation is normal for power brakes w/ the engine off, with any vehicle.
 
#55 ·
taken from owners manual, cut and pasted for your viewing pleasure

PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking brake is fully applied. Also, be certain to leave an automatic transmission in PARK, or manual transmission in REVERSE or first gear.

When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade. For vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, apply the parking brake before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load on the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK. The parking brake should always be applied whenever the driver is not in the vehicle.
 
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