Should You Pull the Handbrake First or Shift to P Gear First?
4 Answers
You should pull the handbrake first before shifting to P gear. Here's the detailed explanation: 1. Pawl gear mechanism: In a car's transmission, both P gear and N gear cut off the power transmission between the input shaft and output shaft. The difference is that P gear has an additional pawl gear mechanism at the end of the output shaft. 2. Function: The pawl is fixed to the transmission housing, while the gear is fixed to the end of the output shaft. When the transmission is shifted to P gear, the pawl presses down and engages with the gear, achieving a locking effect. At this point, both wheels cannot rotate in the same direction simultaneously, preventing the vehicle from moving forward or backward.
My habit is to shift into neutral and engage the handbrake first when parking, then shift into P (Park) only after the car has come to a complete stop. Back when I ran a repair shop, I saw too many cars with damaged transmission parking pawls from shifting into P too early. Especially when parking on a slope, the entire weight of the car rests on that small P gear hook, which can eventually deform and cause strange noises over time. Now I teach my neighbors this procedure: Brake to a complete stop → Shift to N (Neutral) → Engage handbrake → Release foot brake to confirm the car doesn't roll → Finally shift to P and turn off ignition. This sequence keeps the transmission completely stress-free - any mechanic would praise you for knowing your cars if they saw you do this.
As a seasoned driver with ten years of experience, I've discovered a trick: on flat roads, casual operation doesn't matter much, but on slopes, you must strictly engage the handbrake first. I remember one time in an underground mall parking lot, the car in front rolled back precisely because they shifted to P first. The moment you release the foot brake, the car will shift backward due to gravity, putting direct impact on the transmission's parking pawl—the metallic clunking sound is heartbreaking. Now my parking routine consists of three fixed steps: press the brake pedal firmly—engage the handbrake—gradually release the foot brake to let the handbrake take the load—confirm the car is stable before shifting to P. This method protects the transmission and ensures safety.
Personal experience has taught me how crucial the parking sequence on slopes is. Last year, while driving my bestie's car up the mountain, I habitually shifted to P first before pulling the handbrake. When I returned to the car, the gear lever was stuck and wouldn't budge. The dealership later said the transmission locking mechanism was deformed, costing over 3,000 yuan to fix. Now I've learned my lesson: whether it's a steep or gentle slope, always pull the handbrake tight first before shifting to P. Letting the handbrake bear the vehicle's sliding force is far better than relying on the tiny hook in the transmission. This is especially important for CVT cars, as their locking mechanisms are particularly fragile.
