Is it okay to park in P gear without engaging the handbrake?
2 Answers
P gear parking still requires engaging the handbrake, otherwise it may cause damage to the transmission. When parking on a flat road, there is not much difference whether you engage the handbrake first or shift to P gear first. However, if parking on a slope, it is best to engage the handbrake first and then shift into P gear to reduce the burden on the car's transmission gears. Below is an introduction to the P gear: 1. P gear is the most common gear in automatic transmission models, usually located at the front position of the gearshift console, in front of the R gear. Its purpose is to lock the axle when the car is stationary on a slope. 2. The direct function of shifting into P gear is parking. When temporarily parking on a level road, shifting into P gear puts the car's transmission in neutral operation, completely interrupting the power transmission between the engine and the output shaft. The driver does not need to turn off the running engine during short waits. Additionally, the P gear has a wheel lock device, so even for long-term parking, the driver does not need to engage the handbrake.
I've been driving for over twenty years and used to think it was no big deal to park on flat ground without engaging the handbrake, just shifting to P gear, since the transmission is locked anyway. But once, I parked on a slope in my neighborhood without paying attention, only shifting to P gear. The next day, I found the car had rolled forward half a meter, and I heard a creaking sound from the transmission. The mechanic told me I had worn out the parking pawl, costing me over a thousand yuan to fix. Since then, no matter how flat the ground is, I always make sure to pull the handbrake tight first before shifting to P gear. This double fixation is safer, preventing accidental slides caused by external factors like strong winds or other cars bumping into mine. The transmission parts are quite delicate and prone to damage under frequent pressure; pulling the handbrake only takes a second or two. Developing this habit can save a lot of trouble, especially on rainy or snowy days or in areas with many slopes.
