Forgive the naiveness, if it turns out to be a no-brainer, but am I doing my car any harm in leaving it in gear when parked, along with the handbrake?

My first car was very old and had a suspect handbrake capabilities, so I used to always leave it in gear through fear of the car rolling away! Does this have any wear and tear effects, or does it do no harm in the slightest?

I don't think it does any harm at all, I always do it.

i think it might cause premature wear of the gearknob and thats about it.

i think it might cause premature wear of the gearknob and thats about it.

The 'knob on the Fabii looks like new after 53k, so I guess I can't be doing it that much harm. :eek:

Cheers guys.

Forgive the naiveness, if it turns out to be a no-brainer, but am I doing my car any harm in leaving it in gear when parked, along with the handbrake?

My first car was very old and had a suspect handbrake capabilities, so I used to always leave it in gear through fear of the car rolling away! Does this have any wear and tear effects, or does it do no harm in the slightest?

Thought it was best practice to leave car in gear :confused:

I always leave mine in gear.......just out of habit I guess!

I leave it in gear, but always take the strain off by dipping the clutch after applying the handbrake and switching the engine off.

I was going to say only put it in gear after the handbrake is on and the engine is off.

This means there is no loading on the gears, only if the car moves will it strain the gears.

I rarely leave it in gear - only when on a big slope - but ALWAYS forget to check it's in neutral before starting. *LURCH*

Leaving the car in gear equates to a new porch, and badly scratched bumper....ask the wife.

Aye. It's always handbrake on, switch car off, clutch in, in gear, get out.

Odd little sequence, but it keeps me happy, and so long as it isn't harming my car, I shall continue.

Leaving the car in gear equates to a new porch, and badly scratched bumper....ask the wife.

:rofl:

I rarely leave it in gear - only when on a big slope - but ALWAYS forget to check it's in neutral before starting. *LURCH*

After the last time this happened to me (when someone else had driven my car and left it in gear) I trained myself to always have my foot on the clutch before turning the key in the ignition. Surprisingly it only took me a week to train myself (and I am very forgetful!) and now I always do it.

Mine's always left in gear.

in swmbo's old car(mk1 hyundai accent) you had to have the clutch in otherwise it wouldn't start.

and yes its supposed to be like that.

In gear as extra safeguard in case handbrake fails

In reverse gear if facing downhill.

if parked on a slope i leave mine in gear as its cheaper than a repair bill if the handbrake fails.

I leave every car in 3rd!!

I always leave my car in gear when parking on a slope but don't bother if it's flat.

Just how I was taught to drive and was taught before starting the car you should always do a tug and a wobble and if all is OK proceed to start the car

(For all you filthy minds Tug on the handbrake and wobble the gearstick to check if it's in gear and remove if necesary)

I don't leave in gear when the ground is level but otherwise it depends on the degree of the slope. If it's fairly steep (i.e. I need to put the handbrake on an extra notch) then I'll put it in gear.

I hate it when people leave it in gear when there is no need to :(

Always leave mine in gear.

Girlfriend asked if she could have a go in my car which was parked an inch from a post ...

Hmm. I always leave mine in gear as soon as a manfolk has driven my car and stretched the handbrake cable No way can I put the handbrake on (or take it off for that matter) at that ratcheted height, so back to the garage for re-tensioning, ho hum. I don't blame menfolk, it's just instinctive to them, even though I say "Don't....." (too late).

As matt@theforce says though, you'd always check gear and handbrake anyway

Mo

Edit PS: Sorry, on topic, I don't know if it causes damage, but as the lesser of two evils, it's probably a cheaper bet than the knock-on effect otherwise.

After the last time this happened to me (when someone else had driven my car and left it in gear) I trained myself to always have my foot on the clutch before turning the key in the ignition. Surprisingly it only took me a week to train myself (and I am very forgetful!) and now I always do it.

That is good practice anyway as it lessens the load slightly on the starter motor.

That is good practice anyway as it lessens the load slightly on the starter motor.

and if they don't use the handbrake and only leave it in gear the moment you dip the clutch the car rolls forwards/backwards. tug and wobble always works.