Why doesn't the car move or roll back when starting on a slope?
2 Answers
There are several reasons why a car doesn't move or roll back when starting on a slope: Not in neutral gear: After stopping on a slope, the car must be in neutral gear. If it's not in gear, when you stop on a slope, press the brake, shift to neutral, and the car won't stall or roll back. Releasing the clutch too quickly: After stopping on a slope, immediately press the brake and shift to neutral. Within five seconds, press the clutch, press the brake, and shift to first gear. When starting, slowly release the clutch. You must release the clutch slowly when starting. When starting, first slowly release the clutch until you feel the car is about to move forward, then slowly release the foot brake. Note that the speed must be consistent, otherwise the car will either stall or roll back.
I've encountered similar situations while driving, probably due to improper clutch operation. If the car stops on a slope, doesn't move forward or roll back after depressing the clutch and releasing the handbrake, it's likely that the clutch isn't fully engaged or the handbrake is still partially applied. I remember when I was learning to drive, the instructor often said this requires gradual practice to develop pedal feel – releasing the clutch too quickly will stall the engine, while releasing it too slowly will leave the car stuck. Some cars have insensitive handbrakes that only stop the car after a slight rollback. Another factor could be wheel spin, especially on rainy days or sandy slopes, where the car might stay in place without rolling back. In such cases, gently pressing the accelerator while operating the clutch is necessary. For automatic transmissions, it might be the hill start assist system activating, where the electronic system holds the car to prevent rollback – a convenient feature found in many new cars. Never force it, as this can easily damage the transmission. Safety first. It's best to practice hill starts more before your next drive or have a professional mechanic check the braking system.
