Should You Engage P Gear or Apply the Handbrake First?
2 Answers
You should apply the handbrake first. Here are the specific reasons for pulling the handbrake first: 1. Engaging P gear on uneven ground can damage the transmission. When an automatic transmission vehicle is put into P gear, a hook inside the transmission locks the gear. On uneven roads or slopes, the hook and gear will exert force on each other, which can damage the transmission over time. The force is applied to the locking mechanism of the P gear, so the transmission will bear the corresponding force. 2. When parking, you should first press the foot brake, then apply the handbrake to achieve the braking effect of the braking system, and then engage P gear to lock the transmission shaft, which is safer.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for over a decade, and when parking, I always shift to N (neutral) first, then engage the handbrake, and only then move to P (park). This is because the P position has a small latch that locks the transmission. If you shift directly to P on a slope, the entire weight of the car rests on this latch, which can cause wear and damage over time. Once, I forgot and shifted directly to P on a small slope, and later experienced some transmission stiffness, costing me some money in repairs. So now, my habit is: stop the car firmly with the foot brake, shift to neutral (N), slowly engage the handbrake until the car comes to a complete stop, release the foot brake to ensure the car doesn't move, and then shift to P before turning off the engine. This sequence ensures the braking system takes the weight first, reducing pressure on the transmission and making the vehicle more durable. Developing this habit can save you both hassle and money.
