Car parked in gear, no handbrake and slight incline...wrong?

[MisterDJ]

Hi everyone. I tried to search for a similar question but could not find anything similar, so here it goes.

My car (z4) is parked outside and the handbrake tends to stick whilst parked for long periods. I wonder if by parking it in gear and without the handbrake pulled will do any damage to the gearbox? As per the title, the car is parked on a very slight incline (just enough to make to make the car move if in neutral and no HB).

Happy to hear your thoughts on this.

cheers

[*Al*]

I can't see it being a problem.

[NHK244V]

As long as it's in a low gear the compression should hold it but it may not (disclaimer in case you wake up and it's in the next county)

[kwk]

It is an offence to leave an unattended motor vehicle on a road, with the engine running or when the handbrake has not been set. Commonly known as quitting.

[MisterDJ]

NHK244V said:

As long as it's in a low gear the compression should hold it but it may not (disclaimer in case you wake up and it's in the next county)

The car does not move at all, as I put it in 1st and the incline really is very small. Even if the car was to roll backward it would not go anywhere far, as 5m behind it the incline shifts the other way.

Edited by MisterDJ on Tuesday 25th January 23:07

[The Black Flash]

Considering the torque which the engine puts through the gearbox, I can't imagine that the weight of the car could possibly damage it.
Might want to chock it to be absolutely safe, if you're at all worried.

[blearyeyedboy]

kwk said:

It is an offence to leave an unattended motor vehicle on a road, with the engine running or when the handbrake has not been set. Commonly known as quitting.

The OP said it was "outside" but didn't clarify if it was on a public road. If it is, this is worth considering.

I hope I don't sound a bit flippant saying this... but why don't you fix the handbrake?

[wombat172a]

It'll be fine.

If you're really concerned point the front wheels to the kerb so if it does slip it will steer into the kerb and stop.

[DAVEVO9]

blearyeyedboy said:

I hope I don't sound a bit flippant saying this... but why don't you fix the handbrake?

I doubt there is anything wrong with the handbrake.. It's prob just the pads sticking to the discs if left for any length of time?

[davepoth]

Put it in reverse, it's usually the shortest gear. Also make sure the front wheels are pointing right at the curve so if something does go wrong it will just roll into the nearest wall, rather than one a few hundred yards away at 20mph.

[MisterDJ]

blearyeyedboy said:

kwk said:

It is an offence to leave an unattended motor vehicle on a road, with the engine running or when the handbrake has not been set. Commonly known as quitting.

The OP said it was "outside" but didn't clarify if it was on a public road. If it is, this is worth considering.

I hope I don't sound a bit flippant saying this... but why don't you fix the handbrake?

Its a private car park, so no issues there.

Re: fixing the handbrake, I don't think there is a fix. It just tends to happen when the car is parked for a long time, as the pads can stick to the discs. Once it happens I just need a bit more effort when moving the car out of parking, and then its fine.

[MisterDJ]

MisterDJ said:

The car does not move at all, as I put it in 1st and the incline really is very small. Even if the car was to roll backward it would not go anywhere far, as 5m behind it the incline shifts the other way.

maybe I was not clear here - the car park is actually a flat surface, but the parking spaces have a slight incline, maybe to prevent standing water there. It really is a very slight incline, and car changing position is not a concern.

All I wanted to confirm was if there could be any damage to the car by doing this. As far as I know there is none... but thought would be worth to confirm!

[DAVEVO9]

If you don't want that horrible "bang" when you pull off after it's been stood for a while, leave it in gear, 1st or reverse.

It won't do any harm at all.

[james_gt3rs]

MisterDJ said:

blearyeyedboy said:

kwk said:

It is an offence to leave an unattended motor vehicle on a road, with the engine running or when the handbrake has not been set. Commonly known as quitting.

The OP said it was "outside" but didn't clarify if it was on a public road. If it is, this is worth considering.

I hope I don't sound a bit flippant saying this... but why don't you fix the handbrake?

Its a private car park, so no issues there.

Re: fixing the handbrake, I don't think there is a fix. It just tends to happen when the car is parked for a long time, as the pads can stick to the discs. Once it happens I just need a bit more effort when moving the car out of parking, and then its fine.

You need to drive your Z4 more then! Problem solved

[Patrick Bateman]

I've been doing this recently.

Left the car for 2 days a few weeks ago and when I next drove it I was sitting at 1200rpm, handbrake off and going nowhere for about 5 seconds until it freed itself with a rather loud bang.

[MisterDJ]

james_gt3rs said:

You need to drive your Z4 more then! Problem solved

wish I had the time mate



Looks like all of you agree that there should be no issues with leaving it in gear - that's what I will start doing. Thanks!

Edited by MisterDJ on Wednesday 26th January 09:50

[blearyeyedboy]

MisterDJ said:

james_gt3rs said:

You need to drive your Z4 more then! Problem solved

wish I had the time mate



Looks like all of you agree that there should be no issues with leaving it in gear - that's what I will start doing. Thanks!

Edited by MisterDJ on Wednesday 26th January 09:50

LMAO @ james_gt3rs

Yeah, forget what I said- private land and that slight an incline, the chances of damage are tiny.

[MGJohn]

I never do that. I always use the handbrake on all my cars.

A friend habitually left his car in first gear for same 'safety' reasons. One day his delightful wife who always uses the handbrake got into the car and started it up. It shot through the door of his double garage. Quite a lot of expensive damgage to both car and door...

My Rovers, so I'm told by my MoT tester and others, have the "They all do that" useless and poor rear handbrake efficiency. Only my cars do not do that. My MoT tester is puzzled by this as most Rovers he tests ... do do that... .. There is a steep slope in front of my double garage and I always use the handbrake. Never had a problem in over 40 years. My Montego Turbos have rear Hubs... They can be locked @ 70 mph... so no problems there. It does help if you do not use your car, ANY car for a long period, to release and apply the handbrake a few times. Move the car a little to get a fresh part of the disc clamped to the pads with the handbrake. Dampness on any discs that are not used for a while will see the pads 'welded' temporarily to to discs with light corrosion. Hence the clunk when moving off after that first start up.
..

[LivingTheDream]

This is entirely normal......if you own a TVR.

[Gaygle]

MGJohn said:

A friend habitually left his car in first gear for same 'safety' reasons. One day his delightful wife who always uses the handbrake got into the car and started it up. It shot through the door of his double garage. Quite a lot of expensive damgage to both car and door...

I'd say that's her fault for not putting her foot on the clutch or checking the car was out of gear. Any experienced driver knows to do this.