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Park in Reverse??

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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 07:53 AM
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Default Park in Reverse??

Stopped in a local Carmax recently just to look. Every MN6 Vette on the lot had a notice inside.." I am a Corvette, and need to be Parked in Reverse or my battery will drain " ??? Did not inquire with anyone there...not sure of the response I would get..Anyone ever heard of this??
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 08:01 AM
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you park in reverse because it's less likely to pop out of gear, but it doesn't do anything to the battery on a C5. I think there is something on the C6 that actually tells you to shift into reverse.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 08:02 AM
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It's in the owners manual page 2-34.

Yes,I always park it in reverse have been since I owned it.

I'm curious as to why as well,I could never find clarification.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 08:28 AM
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The manual C6's need to be put in reverse on shutdown otherwise it drains the battery for some odd reason.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 08:34 AM
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Patman
The manual C6's need to be put in reverse on shutdown otherwise it drains the battery for some odd reason.
Not totally correct.

This applies to the '05's only.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 09:39 AM
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I guess I'm just lazy.. I park in reverse if I will need to back up when I next start the car and park in 1st if I will be pulling out when I next start the car.

Although, if I am on a hill, I normally park in reverse regardless if I will be pulling out or backing out of the parking spot I am in.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 09:46 AM
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You park in reverse for safety reasons and turn the wheels into the curb! Remember drivers ed?
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by AC54ME
Not totally correct.

This applies to the '05's only.
Haven't checked my Owner's Manual but my 08 battery went dead when I parked in 1st. So I suspect parking in Reverse is necessary for all standard trans C6's.
BTW I now park in REV - no more dead battery.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 10:03 AM
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I also park in reverse it does state so in the manual but i also have no idea why, other than it seems safer than in 1st??
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 10:33 AM
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Default Makes no sense but this is what page 2-34 says

Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking brake.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!! Be aware that these transmissions like to pop out of gear with slight loads. The slope of my garage floor to drain water is enough to have it slip out from either 1st or reverse. So I always use my E-Break. At work I back in and let the rear tires rest against the curb and leave it out of gear and the E-Break off. Never had a problem with the battery, ever, except when I did something stupid like leave an accessory on an unswitched line.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 10:39 AM
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Originally Posted by ZO6 Lee
Haven't checked my Owner's Manual but my 08 battery went dead when I parked in 1st. So I suspect parking in Reverse is necessary for all standard trans C6's.
BTW I now park in REV - no more dead battery.
Parking with the Vette in reverse was mandatory on the '05's MN6 - you could not shut down the Vette unless it was.

The '06 and above removed this mandate (and idiotic requirement) - mostly because of DBS (dead battery syndrome) that was a MAJOR issue on the '05's, however the '06 and above manual still 'suggests' this procedure (for the MN6).
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by jrose7004
You park in reverse for safety reasons and turn the wheels into the curb! Remember drivers ed?
Obviously you don't. If you are parking uphill and there is a curb, remember UP UP AND AWAY!

Otherwise, downhill, or no curb uphill, then you point them in.


I always park in reverse as it is the highest ratio gear.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Purdone
Obviously you don't. If you are parking uphill and there is a curb, remember UP UP AND AWAY!

Otherwise, downhill, or no curb uphill, then you point them in.


I always park in reverse as it is the highest ratio gear.
I think reverse is the LOWEST ratio. That is one rev of the engine to ? rev of the wheels.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 12:58 PM
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Says so in the owners manual.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 01:05 PM
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good to know, I always leave it in 1st with the e-brake set
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 01:25 PM
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reverse and first are the same gear ratio.

reserve allows the rear trans to lock, and puts the least stress on the motor, gears, etc. The ebrake is not reliable alone.
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To Park in Reverse??

Old Jul 9, 2008 | 01:27 PM
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I put mine in Park




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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by gray-c5
I think reverse is the LOWEST ratio. That is one rev of the engine to ? rev of the wheels.
1st = 2.66:1
Reverse = 2.90:1

It is rev of the engine to turn of the driveshaft. Then you have 3.42:1 turns of the driveshaft to turn of the wheels.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 06:48 PM
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They guy at the Chevy dealership told me that parking in reverse disables the cigarette lighter power supply when the engine is off. (It doesn't.) I don't know if that is a feature of the C6 or not.
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