slickfx3

I heard the trans( automatic) had a brake in it and the e brake is not nesseary...

StealthLT4

I wouldn't call it a 'brake.' The transmission has a pin that will keep the transmission from rotating while in Park, but it's best to not put too much weight on it, since it is possible to break it off and then major problems. The car won't roll away in Park, but I would still use the e-brake, especially when parking on a slanted surface.

pkazsr

I use the parking brake often enough to make sure it works. Every time, no.

1stL98

using the brake often keeps everything working freely,and keeps u aware it still works wen needed

RollaMo-LT4

And that is the reason you find it hard to shift out of park when not using the parking brake on an incline.

SJW

Correct. Set parking brake, take foot off brake pedal, verify car doesn't roll, THEN shift into park. If you do this every time -- in this sequence -- you'll never have a roll-away crash, and your shifter will never get jammed in Park.

A roll-away crash is never excusable. And it's 100% avoidable. I've seen several of them happen. I pulled quite a few cars out of some mighty strange places back when I was driving tow trucks for a living, and more than one of them got there with no driver aboard.

Live well,

SJW

383vett

The "pin" in the transmission is called a pawl. On a hill, you wouldn't want to trust it to work 100% of the time. It only takes one failure to wipe or a car or worse, a life.

slickfx3

Do later c4's have a foot ebrake? is it easy to switch it over to the hand brake of the older models?

runner140*

Can't think of a reason why I would ever use my ebrake. Havn't in six years.

RollaMo-LT4

No, all C4's have the parking brake lever between the drivers seat and door.

What SJW meant by this 1. Hold brake pedal down with foot (normal brake you use to stop car).
2. Set parking brake (pulling up on parking brake handle).
3. Now, take your foot off the brake pedal.
4. Verify car does not roll, THEN shift transmission into park.

Steve59

One thing I learned on a Ford Taurus (yes I know!), years ago, is that the shift indicator can indicate that the car is in "Park" when it isn't. I got out of the car (thank God it was on a relatively flat surface), locked the doors and it immediately began to roll backwards. It only went two feet and hit the car behind it, which was also mine. But it scared the s... out of me. Don't know if that can happen with my 87. Don't want to learn. Always use the handbrake.

RetiredSFC 97

On both fronts.

Although not rquired when parking on a level surface, I would use it when on any type of incline or if you ever ask yourself "should I set the brake?" Then set the brake.

There have been many a folk stranded by locking up their tranny on a hill and not be able to take the car out of park. you can still get it out of park but most people usually end up ruining the tranny before they figure it out.