Should I engage the P gear first or the electronic handbrake first?
2 Answers
For automatic transmission vehicles, you should engage the P gear first when parking. Below are some precautions for gear shifting while driving: 1. Normal roads: There are no specific requirements for gear selection; you can drive normally by keeping the gear in D (Drive). 2. Parking: When the engine stops running, you need to shift to P (Park) to indicate that the vehicle is no longer in use. Some cars require shifting to P before the key can be removed. 3. Reversing: After pressing the brake to stop the car from moving forward, you can shift to R (Reverse). Gently releasing the brake will allow the car to move backward. 4. Waiting while parked or driving in congested traffic: You can shift to N (Neutral). 5. Highways or overtaking at high speeds: You can shift to S (Sport) mode. S mode is the sport mode for the car, allowing free gear changes like D mode. You can also choose S mode when climbing hills, as this gear provides the maximum torque output and acceleration.
Once at the 4S shop, I saw a technician working on a transmission, and he explained the sequence very carefully. After you stop the car and press the brake, first engage the electronic parking brake to let the brake calipers grip the brake discs—this secures the car, with the vehicle's weight supported by the braking system. Wait until the parking brake light comes on before shifting to P (Park), so the transmission gears don’t have to bear the full force of the car’s weight sliding downhill. Especially when parked on a slope, if you shift to P before engaging the parking brake, you’ll hear a 'click' sound the next time you shift gears—that’s the transmission lock gear being forced apart, which can cause damage over time. Now I’ve developed muscle memory: stop completely, engage the parking brake, check the dashboard indicator, then shift to P and turn off the engine.
