Should an automatic transmission car use the P gear first or the electronic handbrake first?
3 Answers
For an automatic transmission with an electronic handbrake, you can either engage the P gear first and then pull the handbrake, or pull the handbrake first and then engage the P gear. The relevant explanations are as follows: 1. Introduction: The car electronic handbrake, abbreviated as EPB, has a button marked with the letter "P". Its working principle is the same as that of the traditional mechanical handbrake, both achieving parking braking through the friction generated by the brake disc and brake pads. The only difference is that the control method has changed from the original mechanical handbrake to an electronic button. 2. Precautions: When pulling the handbrake first and then engaging the P gear, the driver's foot must not leave the brake pedal. Since there is a hydraulic transmission mechanism inside the automatic transmission, and the flow of the liquid has a certain inertia, it cannot change abruptly directly.
When parking, I usually press firmly on the brake pedal, shift to neutral, and wait until the car comes to a complete stop before immediately engaging the electronic parking brake. Then, I release the brake pedal and can feel the car slightly settle and lock into place before finally shifting into Park and turning off the engine. A mechanic friend told me this allows the electronic parking brake to bear the car's weight, preventing stress on the Park gear's locking mechanism. Once, I forgot this sequence on a slope, and the transmission made a scary clunking sound when shifting—quite a shock! Especially for cars with auto start-stop, temporarily parking in Park can harm the transmission more. Remember, let the parking brake do the work first—that's the key.
As a mom who shuttles kids every day, parking procedures are especially important. After the car comes to a complete stop, I directly press the electronic parking brake button with my right hand. Upon hearing the 'beep' sound confirming brake engagement, I then shift to P gear and turn off the engine. My mechanic said this sequence protects the transmission gears from being crushed by the vehicle's weight when parking on slopes. Last year at a mall parking garage, I forgot the sequence and almost needed a tow truck when the gearshift got stuck upon restarting. Now it's muscle memory—once the parking brake light comes on after foot brake stop, I feel at ease. This detail is particularly crucial on rainy days—safety always comes first.
