A problem I've never encountered before my '03 5spd Vibe!

[Heh! heh!]

I've always driven a standard shift since my first, a '71 Datsun 510. Til now, I've always just left it in gear when parking, never using the emergency brake unless on an incline.With my '03 Vibe, I have to use the emergency brake virtually all the time when. I've found it has rolled across seemilgly level parking lots and even down my driveway which has a minimal grade for water runoff.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by Heh! heh! »Til now, I've always just left it in gear when parking, never using the emergency brake unless on an incline.For my 5 speed, when parked, I always leave it in gear *and* have the emergency brake engaged.However for my auto I never use the emergency brake.

[JustinVGT]

I've only been driving 7-8 years, all stick shift, but I was always taught to use the handbrake and put it in gear when parked. Quote, originally posted by Heh! heh! »I've found it has rolled across seemilgly level parking lots...Have you actually parked, gone shopping or to work and come back to see your car parked across your original spot? That could be dangerous but also funny as long as no one or anything is hurt.

[joatmon]

I always use the hand brake when parked, almost never leave it in gear.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »I always use the hand brake when parked, almost never leave it in gear.Is there a technical reason why not to leave it in gear and use the brake? Or is it just personal preference

[joatmon]

I use the brake to keep the car from rolling. Always use the parking brake in a manual tranny car, only ever use it in an auto when the grade is really steep. I don't have any particular reason to leave it in neutral when parked but I could make some up , like easier on the tranny if you get towed, no risk of accidentally jumping when starting the car, but no real reason.

[PopeyeFAFL]

I guess it is better to always use the hand brake, otherwise if it is never used, the cable might rust inside and not be usable when needed,Then on top of that, I always leave it in gear as a double safety, in case the hand brake fail.Anyway, that my rational.

[iinan]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »I don't have any particular reason to leave it in neutral when parked but I could make some up , like easier on the tranny if you get towed, no risk of accidentally jumping when starting the car, but no real reason.Doesnt the clutch have to be in, before the car will turn over?I have always left my car in 1st and used my brake, no reason to take the risk of your car rolling away

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by iinan »Doesnt the clutch have to be in, before the car will turn over? yes, but I was just making up some reasons to explain my negligent failure to leave it in gear Since reverse is geared so low, wouldn't you be better leaving it in reverse than in 1st?

[Mavrik]

I leave mine always in gear and always with the ebrake on. Its a double problem for anyone wanting to push/tow your vehicle heh. Just habit for me I guess to do that since thats how I was taught when I started driving manual cars. With an automatic though, I never touch the e-brake.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I leave mine always in gear and always with the ebrake on. Its a double problem for anyone wanting to push/tow your vehicle heh. Just habit for me I guess to do that since thats how I was taught when I started driving manual cars. With an automatic though, I never touch the e-brake.You and I are exactly alike Mavrik. You have described my routine.

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by Boxgrover »You and I are exactly alike Mavrik. You have described my routine.heh, awsome. You also park, turn the front wheels in, leave it in gear and crank on that e-brake when parking in town? I do cause no one can tow your car then from the front or the rear and it can't be dragged onto a flat bed tow truck. Not that I park where I shouldn't but you just never know what could happen.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »heh, awsome. You also park, turn the front wheels in, leave it in gear and crank on that e-brake when parking in town?Yup... that's spooky

[iinan]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »Since reverse is geared so low, wouldn't you be better leaving it in reverse than in 1st?Yeah probably would, but I have driving sticks my whole life and its hard to teach an old fart new tricks.

[remusrm]

that is when u start having tranny problems...

[ragingfish]

You should always park with the shifter in R and the e-brake engaged! As it says on page 2-26 of the owner's manual:Quote »REVERSE (R): To back up, press down on the clutch pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.NOTICE:Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle isstopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while yourvehicle is moving could damage your transaxle.Also, use REVERSE (R) along with the parking brake for parking your vehicle.and on 2-33:Quote »Parking Your Vehicle(Manual Transaxle Only)Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into REVERSE (R), and firmly apply the parking brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the ignition key to OFF, remove the key and release the clutch.If you're parking without engaging the parking brake (hence the name ), then you're asking for trouble IMHO.

[tecton]

cool

[Baltovibe]

Quote, originally posted by Boxgrover »However for my auto I never use the emergency brake.On my auto Vibe, I put it in Park and use the e-brake.Had a friend who never used the e-brake on the automatic. One day someone nudged his car and broke the parking pin in the transmission ... cost him over $1000 to get it repaired.

[sloth]

On my old Gran Prix the brake repair person I took it to said that the e-brake also adjusts the brake calipers. If you don't use it you could freeze a caliper up so it never actually engages. I know on older drums it is when you go in reverse that the brakes adjust.

[Mase]

Are there any thoughts on this problem?The parking brake works very well and plants the car solidly when facing downhill. On the other hand, when the car is facing uphill the brake doesn't do anything. The car will roll backwards as if there's little or no brake at all! Doesn't matter how tight the lever is pulled. I always leave it in park to make up for the lack of a brake, but sometimes the torque lock is hard and very noisy for the engine to overcome when it's time to leave.Any help? I'm just glad it's not on my Matrix .