Should You Engage the Handbrake or Shift to P First When Parking?
3 Answers
When parking, you should first shift to P and then engage the handbrake. The correct method for applying the handbrake is: 1. Press the handbrake button while pulling it up; 2. Apply gentle force when pulling the handbrake; 3. The handbrake only needs to be pulled up to about 70% of its capacity. Pulling it all the way to the maximum point will shorten the lifespan of the handbrake cable. The function of the handbrake is to provide braking when parking on flat ground or slopes, preventing the vehicle from moving unintentionally when unattended and avoiding traffic accidents. The dangers of forgetting to engage the handbrake while driving include: 1. The brake pump cannot provide sufficient braking force, potentially stalling the engine; 2. Accelerated wear on the brake discs and hardening of the brake pads due to friction heat; 3. Stretching of the handbrake cable; 4. Potential leakage of brake caliper fluid, leading to brake failure.
I've been thinking about parking for a long time, and the sequence of operations really matters. My habit is to firmly press the brake pedal to bring the car to a complete stop, then shift to neutral (N), and steadily pull up the handbrake. At this point, gradually release the foot brake, and the car body will slightly settle, with all the weight now supported by the handbrake. Only then do I shift to park (P), turn off the engine, and leave. Why go through all this trouble? If you directly shift to P on a slope, that small pawl in the transmission has to bear the entire weight of the car, and over time, it's bound to cause issues. My neighbor's Highlander suffered badly from this—when the repair shop opened it up, they found the transmission gears were deformed, costing over 8,000 to replace the parts. Now, every time after parking, the gearshift feels exceptionally smooth.
With over a decade of experience in auto repair, I've witnessed countless cases of transmission damage caused by improper gear shifting. The correct procedure is actually very simple: after coming to a complete stop, first shift to neutral, engage the parking brake firmly to let the braking system take the load. Only when the vehicle remains stable after releasing the foot brake should you shift to Park and turn off the engine. The danger of shifting directly to Park is that, for instance when stopping on an underground parking ramp, the entire vehicle's weight rests on the transmission's locking mechanism, accelerating metal fatigue. Last month, a Tiguan owner came to me with this exact issue - disassembly revealed the parking pawl engagement slots were completely worn down. Developing this good habit only takes three extra seconds, potentially saving thousands in future repair bills.
