I am new to driving a Manual Transmission, and my driveway is on a steep hill. Today I parked my car (in neutral with e-brake engaged), and then walked a friend to the trainstation a few blocks away. When I came back home (about 10 minutes later) as I was walking up my driveway I might have accidently hit my "unlock" button on my keyring. As if on cue, my car started rolling backwards. I chased after it and was able to stop it when it got to the street. I jumped in, started it and reparked.

My questions are (1) am I supposed to park on hills in gear? (2) could something in my key have somehow triggered the car to start rolling. Or was this just a strange coincidence? (3) Is it possible I have a faulty e-brake. After all it held for about 10 minutes, and then released. Do I need to get the car checked?

Thanks for any and all help.

 

Always leave the car in gear.

 

always leave it in gear. you can test your e-brake by engaging it and putting it in 1st and slowly letting out on the clutch as if pulling forward...the back end will drop down as it trys to pull. If your car starts forward easily without bogging down your probably have an issue with your e-brake or it needs adjusting.

 

I wonder if the e-brake was pulled up all the way. Even if your Mini is in neutral, the e-brake should still hold. Still, always leave the car in gear. When I park in our garage I always put the car in reverse and set the e-brake.

 

No the key fob has nothing to do with it. Always keep it in gear and on inclines gear and e-brake. I also park with the wheel turned so if the car is on a road it will roll in the other direction. Like in a parallel park the car would roll into the curb not traffic.

 

Agree, I always leave the car in gear, even if it's on level ground.

 

I vote with MBX5 - the safest way to park a standard shift.

Feliciadawn, you must have really been ! You are one very lucky lady with quick reflexes!

 

No kidding Otra. Glad Minis are small and light. I weigh about 100 pounds and I was able to stop the car from rolling once it was off the hill.

I hope none of my neighbors were watching...

Felicia

 

That is impressive, but thank goodness it was not a steep hill.

Always follow the rules that MBX5 outlined and you should be safe and sound from here on out.

 

Pull up harder on the E-brake handle next time - a lot harder..............it will hold. I park in my fairly steep driveway with mine with no issues, and I do not leave it in gear.

 

Feliciadawn.....aren't you in PhillyMini? I swear I've seen your name on the forums there. I'm Suprcoopr in those forums.

 

http://break.com/index/bmw-rolls-away.html

 

Bad idea. Always park a manual in gear. No car should be left unattended in neutral, regardless of the handbrake.

 

Agreed. Nothing good or useful can come from leaving it in neutral. No reason to do it. And nothing bad can come from leaving it in gear. No reason not to do it.

 

If you park facing down hill keep the shifter in reverse and wheels turned to the curb. If you park facing uphill keep it in first gear and wheels turned away from the curb.

Always apply the e-brake.

 

Had a similar thing happen...twice.

I'd gotten in the habit of the VW being in park (auto transmission), so I'm still a little lax in remembering to put it in gear. Went to a GTG at the MINI dealer in Charlotte. Was busy eating their food when one of the MAs walks over and says: "Your Clubman is rolling out of the parking spot."



So...having learned my lesson, yesterday I'd parked at a local coffee shop, left my wife and the dogs in the car. I glanced out the window and saw my wife in the driver's seat. WTH???

OH...walked out and she has this panicked look on her face, as she had tossed the dogs out of her lap, somehow jumped into the driver's seat, and had her foot firmly planted on the brake. The car was about four feet back from where I'd left it.

So...yeah, leave it in gear, and pull the hand brake up an extra click. The results are better.

 

Agreed...always in gear and e-brake engaged!!! Gets to be second nature in time. I always double check this....hill or no.

 

Having learned to drive/park in EssEff, one learns quickly to curb the wheels...even if something were to happen, the vehicle will only 'roll' a few feet until it hits a curb or hill.

 

Leave the car in gear and if it were me I would still get the car checked out just to make sure everything is working properly.

 

yes same person. You can see I have had the car about 2 weeks and I am living an exciting motoring life.
-Felicia

 

I find the e-brake on the MINI a little "mushy"; it's almost as if bungee cord was used as part of the cable. After I release the e-brake, there's usually a little play/slack in the handle, then gradually it will tighten up over 30 min or so. I'm guessing it is because it's hydraulic?

 

To be more specific, leave the car in first or reverse. And use the E-brake.

I once used my car to push a parked car out of my way. It was in gear, but I don't think the e-brake was on.

 

The MINI emergency brake is hydraulic? That's very unusual, I thought all emergency brakes were cable activated, independent of any hydraulic systems. I'm not saying it's not correct, but every other car I've owned has had a cable-activated emergency brake.

 

I should clarify. The linkage up to the calipers on the MINI is cable, but it seems to me the pads are actuated by the pistons. On my Z3, there are separate drum shoes for the parking brakes, and they're actuated directly by the cables. I'm quite curious of exactly how the parking brakes work on the MINI.

 

It's completely mechanical - cable operated.