Should You Shift Gears or Pull the Handbrake First When Parking a Manual Transmission Car?
3 Answers
Shift to neutral first, then pull the handbrake. Another requirement when pulling over is that the distance between the car body and the roadside line should not exceed 50CM. Sometimes, if you notice that the distance seems a bit too large, you can shift gears to adjust the car body and bring it closer to the line. Relevant information about Auto Hold is as follows: 1. Introduction: Auto Hold, also known as AUTO-HOLD, refers to an automatic braking function. Once activated, for example, when stopping at a red light, there's no need to pull the handbrake, simplifying operations by avoiding the use of the handbrake or electronic handbrake. For automatic transmission models, it also eliminates the need for frequent switching between D to N or D to P. 2. Working Principle: The AUTO-HOLD function provides precise braking force through a slope sensor controlled by a controller. During startup, the parking control unit calculates information provided by sensors such as the clutch distance sensor, clutch engagement speed sensor, and throttle pedal sensor. When the driving force exceeds the running resistance, the parking brake is automatically released, allowing the car to start smoothly.
Every time I park a manual transmission car, I first press the brake to bring the car to a complete stop, then immediately pull up the handbrake. At this point, the car is secured by the handbrake, and then I release the foot brake and shift the gear into neutral. Once on a slope, I tried shifting into gear first, and the car body moved slightly, making me feel the transmission gears straining. A mechanic mentioned that operating this way over time would accelerate clutch wear, especially when parking on a slope, so it's important to develop the habit of pulling the handbrake before shifting into gear. Before turning off the engine, it's best to press the clutch and check if the gear is in neutral to avoid starting the car in gear, which could damage it.
The driving instructor repeatedly emphasized the operating sequence: pull the handbrake immediately after the car stops, then shift to neutral. The most critical aspect of this sequence is to prevent the car from rolling. Once the handbrake is engaged, the tires are locked, and even on a slope, the car won't move. I've seen people who are used to shifting gears first, and when they release the clutch, the car jerks violently, which wears out the transmission system. Now, after parking, I do one more thing—turn the front wheels toward the curb, especially on steep slopes. It's like adding triple insurance to safety.
