Parking on a steep driveway?

[jlude90]

that isn't the engine turning hombre

[Qacer]

Here is the official statement that I got from Toyota:

According to our information, there is no preference of setting the parking brake before putting the vehicle in park, or of facing the front or back to the road.

However, you may have state or local laws that dictate how you set your wheels when parking.

[Jordan Y.]

It's better to set the E-brake then put it in park/gear. It's better not to have the car's weight pulling against the tranny. On an auto trans, it will wear out the parking interlock. This is what the tranny shop that redid the trans in our old minivan said. We've been parking with e-brake, then gear on our steep hill of a driveway ever since. If you just throw it in park it even feels bad on the car- the car rolls back a few inches and then yanks to a stop as the transmission stops it.

A manual tranny car left in gear could theoretically start rolling back by turning the engine over. There's nothing to stop the engine from being spun mechanically by the transmission- that's what happens when you mis-shift and over-rev the engine. You're supposed to put a manual transmission car in Reverse when you're parking up a hill, and a forward gear when you're parking down a hill. Not sure why, other than the negative effects of spinning an engine "backward" if it did roll. I think a higher gear provides more resistance to rolling- the lower gears multiply the torque available to spin the flywheel and turn the engine over. So park in overdrive if you're parking facing down a hill.

[senor honda]

I would park it rear end toward the road. That way when it rolls backward into the road, they don't hit my motor! -Bob

[Puto]

You're supposed to put a manual transmission car in Reverse when you're parking up a hill.

But wouldn't your reverse lights come on like this???

[jlude90]

no, they go off

[Jordan Y.]

They should be off when the car is off. That's how my cars have worked, at least.

[GsT Racer]

i agree with devils advocate. just park in the garage. or park on the street or something.

if you are on a hill, i dont think there would be any problem with putting the parking brake on AND put it in park. if its a manual, same thing, except leave it in 1st gear. if you have any fears about the engine turning over and still rolling backwards, put the parking brake up and it shouldnt roll or turn over or anything, because that is two forces that are keeping the car in place.

how much of an incline is it? my driveway has a bit of a steepness to it, especially in the arrea of the driveway where i park. there is about a 2.5 foot difference between the highest part of my driveway and the lowest part(the street), and about 12 feet long. i guess thats not too bad, but i still havnt had any problems. i never leave my car in gear because i remote start it sometimes, i just put the parking brake up. now one time, i parked at a friend's apartment and the parking spaces were VERY steep. maybe a 10 foot long regular parking spot, with about a difference of 3feet. very steep. i put my parking brake up and slowly let off the regular brake, and the car still rolled back slowly. scared the crap out of me, but it eventually caught tight and i was able to leave it with just the parking brake. id say, make sure your parking brake and rear brakes and all that is in good condition, and you should be fine. especially if you have an automatic.

[Jordan Y.]

Our driveway is at least 6 feet up in about 20 feet of length. Over 30 percent grade.

[Eric]

like every1 else said pretty much....just pull the parking break and let that grab, then put it in gear. I'm not sure about the rear or front facing the road. i doubt that matters much