As I was getting out last night, I uncharacteristically forgot the car in R, with the handbrake on; engine was off. This morning everything seemed ok, but I was still slightly worried. Specifically - could I have damaged the gears or parking pawl by keeping it in this state for 12 hours? Could I have drained the battery by running parking lights with the engine off? Could it have rolled off and I just got lucky?
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Most automatics will not start unless they are in Park or Neutral. Most common now is park and also many cars need a foot on the brake.– Solar MikeCommented Sep 3, 2020 at 9:31
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Three unrelated questions. 1) No. 2) Perhaps. 3) It's not usually likely to roll away even with manual transmissison left in neutral. That's what the parking brake is for, and I try to avoid using the transmission to brake the car (that's a secondary defense). Aside: you can't remove the ignition key in my car unless it is in 'park'.– Weather VaneCommented Sep 3, 2020 at 12:05
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My Merc SUV car goes to “park” automatically when the key is removed, yet has an annoying motion when parked on a incline after the pedal brake is removed when passenger is getting out. But not enuf slope to need a parking brake.– Tony Stewart EE75Commented Sep 3, 2020 at 15:38
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There seems to be a difference of opinion about whether the primary brake when parked should be the transmission in 'park', or the parking brake.– Weather VaneCommented Sep 3, 2020 at 18:25
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1 Answer
The handbrake will accept outside forces up to a certain limit. If your vehicle was parked on a level or near-level surface and did not begin to move from gravity, the handbrake was providing the necessary force to prevent damage to the transmission. As it is an automatic transmission, there is also a fluid coupler known as the torque converter providing a disconnect between the wheels and the engine.
A manual transmission in reverse would transfer outside forces to the engine. Compression in the cylinders is sufficient to prevent movement on level and near-level surfaces. Greater slopes require the handbrake to restrict movement and in extreme cases (large heavy vehicles, severe slopes) wheel chocks would be required.
Your second question is unrelated to the first. If you leave any electrical device in an operating state, the battery could be drained over sufficient time. As is, the question is ambiguous.
"Could it(?) have rolled off..." The battery? A disconnect of the discussion makes your third question ambiguous. Allowing for a reference to the first question, it's unlikely that your vehicle could have rolled off, if your handbrake was set firmly enough AND an outside force acted upon the vehicle.
