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Why do you use the “park” gear to park a car and not only the handbrake?

How can I move my push-to-start car with the starter?97 Bonneville, strange problems acceleratingHandbrake during cold winter between -50 Celcius and 0 Celcius? Should it be used or not?Toyota Hilux Surf 1998 Stuck in Park and speedometer and odometer not workingPeugeot 207 Handbrake lever loose with handbrake onWhy couldn't I shift into 1st gear with car not stopped in my Renault, but my Volvo lets me do it?Why can some cars pull up a hill with just the clutch?Leaving car with automatic transmission in Neutral instead of ParkParking pawl or parking brake creakCar moved to front when the engine is off while in D gearWhat will happen to a car with a manual transmission if it rolls the wrong way in gear?

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2

Here on the internet people just explain the difference between the two and how you should also apply the handbrake when it gets steep, but why is there even a parking gear in the first place when you can just use the handbrake?

transmission automatic-transmission car handbrake driving

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

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• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Interesting question. Especially from the point of someone one from Europe where most cars seem to use regular gears instead of automatics and the park position does not even exists.
  
  – Hennes
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

Here on the internet people just explain the difference between the two and how you should also apply the handbrake when it gets steep, but why is there even a parking gear in the first place when you can just use the handbrake?

transmission automatic-transmission car handbrake driving

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

1111 bronze badge

New contributor

Peter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Interesting question. Especially from the point of someone one from Europe where most cars seem to use regular gears instead of automatics and the park position does not even exists.
  
  – Hennes
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Here on the internet people just explain the difference between the two and how you should also apply the handbrake when it gets steep, but why is there even a parking gear in the first place when you can just use the handbrake?

transmission automatic-transmission car handbrake driving

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

1111 bronze badge

New contributor

Peter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

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Peter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

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Peter is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

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asked 9 hours ago

PeterPeter

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2 Answers
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4

Putting the transmission into "Park" engages the "parking pawl" - essentially a metal pin that locks the output shaft of transmission (and thus the driven wheels) in place.

As to why it exists - it is intended as additional roll-away protection that compliments (rather than replaces) the handbrake (which, as the name implies applies actual brakes - usually to the rear wheels). The idea being that if either the handbrake or the pawl fails there's still something to prevent the car rolling away.

Handbrakes, like regular ones wear and thus become less effective with repeated use - and this isn't always immediately apparent to the driver so an extra safety net isn't a bad idea.

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  But a manual car can also park with the handrabke while being in a gear. Should the park gear be considered as a perk of automatic gearboxes or is it there to make up for something a manual gearbox would have?
  
  – Peter
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Peter You can achieve a similar result by putting a manual 'box in gear when parked - although IMO "Park" has the advantage here since you aren't risking forgetting to take it out of gear and unexpectedly lurching/stalling.
  
  – motosubatsu
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @motosubatsu complement not compliment - the handbrake is not polite to the gearbox... just for info, plus 1 from me...
  
  – Solar Mike
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I have often seen the "parking pawl" described, as in this answer, as a "metal pin". And ever since I saw it so described I've wondered how damn strong this metal pin is? Because sometimes, on a hill, when I shift to park and then take my foot of the brake the car shifts and there's definitely a shock as the "pin" takes the weight of the car - and I wonder: Will it ever break? Can it wear out?
  
  – davidbak
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

Modern car systems also talk to each other - in more recent cars its impossible to start the motor while the car is in gear. So the gearstick has to be in Park or perhaps Neutral, perhaps with the brake pedal pressed or some other combination.

This is another safety interlock to stop a driver rolling on engine-start because the gearbox was left in a gear.

Of course there are very rare situations you might need to move/bump the car on the starter alone, which is now impossible. The classic Driver's Ed example was "stalled on a railway level crossing with a train coming and motor won't start"

Related How can I move my push-to-start car with the starter?

Also, by putting the transmission into park you're also telling the car its not going to move for a bit, so the computer may choose different courses of action for the engine compared to if you were simply stopped at a red light.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Well if the systems have learned to talk to each other perhaps is is possible that the gearbox really does -- as motosubatsu says -- compliment the handbrake.
  
  – A. I. Breveleri
  31 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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4

Putting the transmission into "Park" engages the "parking pawl" - essentially a metal pin that locks the output shaft of transmission (and thus the driven wheels) in place.

As to why it exists - it is intended as additional roll-away protection that compliments (rather than replaces) the handbrake (which, as the name implies applies actual brakes - usually to the rear wheels). The idea being that if either the handbrake or the pawl fails there's still something to prevent the car rolling away.

Handbrakes, like regular ones wear and thus become less effective with repeated use - and this isn't always immediately apparent to the driver so an extra safety net isn't a bad idea.

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  But a manual car can also park with the handrabke while being in a gear. Should the park gear be considered as a perk of automatic gearboxes or is it there to make up for something a manual gearbox would have?
  
  – Peter
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Peter You can achieve a similar result by putting a manual 'box in gear when parked - although IMO "Park" has the advantage here since you aren't risking forgetting to take it out of gear and unexpectedly lurching/stalling.
  
  – motosubatsu
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @motosubatsu complement not compliment - the handbrake is not polite to the gearbox... just for info, plus 1 from me...
  
  – Solar Mike
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I have often seen the "parking pawl" described, as in this answer, as a "metal pin". And ever since I saw it so described I've wondered how damn strong this metal pin is? Because sometimes, on a hill, when I shift to park and then take my foot of the brake the car shifts and there's definitely a shock as the "pin" takes the weight of the car - and I wonder: Will it ever break? Can it wear out?
  
  – davidbak
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

Putting the transmission into "Park" engages the "parking pawl" - essentially a metal pin that locks the output shaft of transmission (and thus the driven wheels) in place.

As to why it exists - it is intended as additional roll-away protection that compliments (rather than replaces) the handbrake (which, as the name implies applies actual brakes - usually to the rear wheels). The idea being that if either the handbrake or the pawl fails there's still something to prevent the car rolling away.

Handbrakes, like regular ones wear and thus become less effective with repeated use - and this isn't always immediately apparent to the driver so an extra safety net isn't a bad idea.

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  But a manual car can also park with the handrabke while being in a gear. Should the park gear be considered as a perk of automatic gearboxes or is it there to make up for something a manual gearbox would have?
  
  – Peter
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Peter You can achieve a similar result by putting a manual 'box in gear when parked - although IMO "Park" has the advantage here since you aren't risking forgetting to take it out of gear and unexpectedly lurching/stalling.
  
  – motosubatsu
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @motosubatsu complement not compliment - the handbrake is not polite to the gearbox... just for info, plus 1 from me...
  
  – Solar Mike
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I have often seen the "parking pawl" described, as in this answer, as a "metal pin". And ever since I saw it so described I've wondered how damn strong this metal pin is? Because sometimes, on a hill, when I shift to park and then take my foot of the brake the car shifts and there's definitely a shock as the "pin" takes the weight of the car - and I wonder: Will it ever break? Can it wear out?
  
  – davidbak
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Putting the transmission into "Park" engages the "parking pawl" - essentially a metal pin that locks the output shaft of transmission (and thus the driven wheels) in place.

As to why it exists - it is intended as additional roll-away protection that compliments (rather than replaces) the handbrake (which, as the name implies applies actual brakes - usually to the rear wheels). The idea being that if either the handbrake or the pawl fails there's still something to prevent the car rolling away.

Handbrakes, like regular ones wear and thus become less effective with repeated use - and this isn't always immediately apparent to the driver so an extra safety net isn't a bad idea.

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

motosubatsumotosubatsu

6,04711 gold badge1111 silver badges3333 bronze badges

0

Modern car systems also talk to each other - in more recent cars its impossible to start the motor while the car is in gear. So the gearstick has to be in Park or perhaps Neutral, perhaps with the brake pedal pressed or some other combination.

This is another safety interlock to stop a driver rolling on engine-start because the gearbox was left in a gear.

Of course there are very rare situations you might need to move/bump the car on the starter alone, which is now impossible. The classic Driver's Ed example was "stalled on a railway level crossing with a train coming and motor won't start"

Related How can I move my push-to-start car with the starter?

Also, by putting the transmission into park you're also telling the car its not going to move for a bit, so the computer may choose different courses of action for the engine compared to if you were simply stopped at a red light.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Well if the systems have learned to talk to each other perhaps is is possible that the gearbox really does -- as motosubatsu says -- compliment the handbrake.
  
  – A. I. Breveleri
  31 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

Modern car systems also talk to each other - in more recent cars its impossible to start the motor while the car is in gear. So the gearstick has to be in Park or perhaps Neutral, perhaps with the brake pedal pressed or some other combination.

This is another safety interlock to stop a driver rolling on engine-start because the gearbox was left in a gear.

Of course there are very rare situations you might need to move/bump the car on the starter alone, which is now impossible. The classic Driver's Ed example was "stalled on a railway level crossing with a train coming and motor won't start"

Related How can I move my push-to-start car with the starter?

Also, by putting the transmission into park you're also telling the car its not going to move for a bit, so the computer may choose different courses of action for the engine compared to if you were simply stopped at a red light.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Well if the systems have learned to talk to each other perhaps is is possible that the gearbox really does -- as motosubatsu says -- compliment the handbrake.
  
  – A. I. Breveleri
  31 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Modern car systems also talk to each other - in more recent cars its impossible to start the motor while the car is in gear. So the gearstick has to be in Park or perhaps Neutral, perhaps with the brake pedal pressed or some other combination.

This is another safety interlock to stop a driver rolling on engine-start because the gearbox was left in a gear.

Of course there are very rare situations you might need to move/bump the car on the starter alone, which is now impossible. The classic Driver's Ed example was "stalled on a railway level crossing with a train coming and motor won't start"

Related How can I move my push-to-start car with the starter?

Also, by putting the transmission into park you're also telling the car its not going to move for a bit, so the computer may choose different courses of action for the engine compared to if you were simply stopped at a red light.

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges

answered 48 mins ago

CriggieCriggie

1,54011 gold badge1111 silver badges3131 bronze badges