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Well fwiw my Z car only returns to my driving position presets if when I shut down the car the ebrake is applied, otherwise after it goes to egress position it will stay there even after starting the car, all though I'm not crazy about this set up it kind of trained me to always use the ebrake, leaving it in gear ( any gear) is something I've always done anyway
I promise that I have learned my lesson from this expensive mistake, and vow to always place my car in gear prior to exiting it. As I mentioned earlier, prior to my vacation from manuals it was "always" standard practice to place my vehicles in gear. Hopefully through repetition I will regain this habit.
It's just that I was startled a few times when I started my vehicle in gear in my garage and automatically took my foot off the clutch, the car would thrust forward abruptly. If it weren't for the distance of where I park in my garage I would've propelled right through the drywall into my guest room.
I've driven manuals for my entire 40 years of driving and have never parked one without having it in gear.
And after hearing this, I will continue to put it into 1st every time! My Wrangler would probably slip and roll faster WITH the e-brake on .. Gear always...
Technically you'd want the steepest gear available, so that any movement in the axle causes the most movement (and therefore most resistance) in the engine.
First gear on our car (well, your car, as min'e an auto) is 2.29 but reverse is 2.70
So, on paper at least, I'd have to agree with him that reverse is the best choice.
I've driven manuals for my entire 40 years of driving and have never parked one without having it in gear.
Other than explicitly doing it for a reason (e.g., while working on it and wanting it in neutral), I can say the same thing. Except ... only 32 years of driving ...
My Z should be ready for pickup today from the repair shop, and from here on out I promise to engage the E-Brake and place the vehicle in gear prior to exiting it. Heck I was thinking about carrying a few blocks to place behind my tires as a backup measure and safety precaution....LOL!!
Seriously, I've had over 3 weeks since my accident to practice(1st gear+e-brake)on my other manual and by gosh I think I got it down now!! Thanks for all your input and hopefully this thread will help someone avoid unnecessary accidents if just a little precaution is taken prior to getting out of their vehicles.
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
The EPB can also be used to
prevent roll back for vehicles with a
manual transmission taking off on a
hill. When no roll back is desired, an
applied EPB will allow both feet to
be used for the clutch and
accelerator pedals in preparation for
starting the vehicle moving in the
intended direction. In this case,
there is no need to push the switch
to release the EPB.
Dependant on circumstances pertaining to incident, this may apply.
This is a great Heads Up to A8 drivers, or old mechanics like me, that think you can set the eBrake and put the auto into drive with engine running, get out of the car to try to hear a noise in the engine or under the car only while in gear and running. I use to trouble shoot this way using the Parking brake many years ago. Thankfully the Vett releases the eBrake the moment you let your foot off the brake and the car moves. You won't make it out of the seat without knowing.
This is a great Heads Up to A8 drivers, or old mechanics like me, that think you can set the eBrake and put the auto into drive with engine running, get out of the car to try to hear a noise in the engine or under the car only while in gear and running. I use to trouble shoot this way using the Parking brake many years ago. Thankfully the Vett releases the eBrake the moment you let your foot off the brake and the car moves. You won't make it out of the seat without knowing.
Good point! From the manual it appears that once it is in gear (A8) if the EPB lever is held up "until the vehicle stops" the brake will remain engaged. From this it sounds like it will function like the older mechanically actuated parking brake if applied at a stop while in gear but I would:
a. Test this in a safe location
however b. not really trust it for use in situations like you describe since like the car in Stephen King's "Christine" the C7 has its own personality and it could decide an appropriate time for it to release the parking brake is not an appropriate time for you.
This is a great Heads Up to A8 drivers, or old mechanics like me, that think you can set the eBrake and put the auto into drive with engine running, get out of the car to try to hear a noise in the engine or under the car only while in gear and running. I use to trouble shoot this way using the Parking brake many years ago. Thankfully the Vett releases the eBrake the moment you let your foot off the brake and the car moves. You won't make it out of the seat without knowing.
My 1963 Imperial does this too... as soon as you put it in D, the push-button trans selector sends a vacuum signal to a solenoid that releases the parking brake.