Long term parking my Automatic on an incline

[JimbobVFR]

Tim Cognito said:

I put mine in neutral, applying handbrake, release footbrake so the hb takes the weight and then put it in park.

Putting it in park and then applying the hb feels like the transmission takes the weight before the hb. Whether or not this is damaging long term I have no idea...

I do similar but it's only possible because my car is old with an old school Auto and Handbrake (the handbrake is actually separate drums built into the rear disc bell) Most modern cars probably wouldn't give you options like that, My father in laws Golf both the transmission selector and hand brake are essentially just switches.

[Snow and Rocks]

Out of interest, has anyone had any issues with a modern electric handbrake sticking if the vehicle was parked up for a while?

[sunbeam alpine]

Snow and Rocks said:

Out of interest, has anyone had any issues with a modern electric handbrake sticking if the vehicle was parked up for a while?

Our Arteon is sometimes parked up - usually outside - for periods of up to a month (and maybe maximum 6 weeks) and we've not had any problem so far (car is now 5 years old).

[healeyneil]

Has anyone in the history of motoring ever had a problem with damage caused to an automatic gearbox be leaving it in park ?

[mdb55]

Snow and Rocks said:

Out of interest, has anyone had any issues with a modern electric handbrake sticking if the vehicle was parked up for a while?

Hi. In short yes, on two of my cars I've had the pads stick to the discs a bit (though thankfully not bind). It's part of the reason I started the thread, but given some of the replies you'd be easily forgiven for missing that fact.

healeyneil said:

Has anyone in the history of motoring ever had a problem with damage caused to an automatic gearbox be leaving it in park ?

I guess that depends on some people's loose definition of gearbox. I've seen several references to broken parking pawls, especially when the vehicle is left in Park but not using the parking brake when on an incline.

[TarquinMX5]

waremark said:

I don't think you should worry about use either of parking brake or of Park. Personally, I would use both.

I think it is common for automatic cars to change automatically to park when the ignition is switched off. In my daily and my wife's car, switching off puts the transmission into Park and applies the parking brake.

I have never heard of a parking pawl failing, has anyone else here? And that is spite of many drivers of autos using only Park and never using the parking brake.

I have. A colleague broke the 'park' pawl on his company Granada (yes, a few years ago), by selecting Park shortly before the vehicle was stationary He didn't do it again.

[mdb55]

TarquinMX5 said:

I have. A colleague broke the 'park' pawl on his company Granada (yes, a few years ago), by selecting Park shortly before the vehicle was stationary He didn't do it again.

Ouch...that's pretty much the guaranteed way of breaking a parking pawl.