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Anthony
Dodge Dakota


11/26/2001
21:20:19

Subject: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I've been driving standard since I got my 2000 Dakota, I love it. My dad was telling me get an auto your going to hate driving stick after a week, it's been over a 1 1/2 years and I still look forward every morning I get into my truck.
Getting back on topic, when I park my truck I always apply the E-brake and leave it in netural on level grounds. When I park on any kind of downwards or upwards slopes I apply the E-brake and leave it in second gear. I never leave it in gear and walk away, without applying the E-brake. I know a few people who do this, I think it puts pressure on the tranny to hold the truck from moving, this probably causes damaged to the components.
I've heard that leaving the shifter in reverse is better for the tranny. I've seen this too when people gets into their car they start it up the reverse lights come on and then they throw it into netural.

I know this is a stupid question, but I'm curious to know if there's a proper way of parking our trucks.

What do you guys do?

Thanks in advance
Anthony
www.geocities.com/intense79/



CW
GenIII
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11/26/2001
21:37:24

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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Don't worry about wear if you leave it in gear but I do recomend the use of the e-brake.

2001 4.7 5sp RC 3.92 LSD sport plus

HSKR
Dodge Dakota


11/26/2001
22:08:01

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I grew up driving manual trannies, and my family has been using them for years. I was taught to leave it in reverse and only used the e-brake when parking on steep inclines.





Jeff
Dodge Dakota
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11/26/2001
23:53:55

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I always thought put it in first gear for anything except a when pointed down a slope, then use reverse and always use the e-brake.



Mike
Dodge Dakota
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11/27/2001
03:02:30

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I've always parked mine in 1st gear, and the e-brake on, with no apparent problems



HSKR
Dodge Dakota


11/27/2001
03:04:53

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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So it sounds like whatever you want to do is fine for parking it.





Anthony
Dodge Dakota


11/27/2001
18:33:48

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I agree with HSKR everyone has their own way of parking. I guess I'll stick to my way.

Thanks Guys

Anthony
www.geocites.com/intense79/



TallQuad
Dodge Dakota


11/27/2001
19:10:29

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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Its always a good habit to leave it in 1st gear or Reverse (which ever is the lowest gear). It doesn't hurt a thing and its better than leaving it in neutral. I try not to use the e-brake unless its on an incline just so the cables don't get over used. Not a big deal though.



Todd W
Dodge Dakota


11/27/2001
20:19:15

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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Second gear and E-brake here... (Actually, wasn't it originally called a "Parking Brake", but that was kind of redundant on automatics?)

Never rolls, no worries. :0)



MAD DUC
Gen III
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11/27/2001
22:33:06

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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FYI- read your owners manual, it is a parking brake and with regular use it will not stretch out your cables. With lack of use the cables will stick. Also when you use your parking brake it helps to keep the star adjuster working properly and your rear brakes in adjustment.



Nick A.
Dodge Dakota
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11/27/2001
23:09:58

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I have always driven standards and cant get enough of them. I agree with those guys about whatever you want to do is OK. I personally apply the e-brake and put it in first gear even on flat ground and never had a problem or had to worry that my bitc- had rolled off somewhere. If I'm parked on a hill I always put it in reverse and apply the e-brake. I believe that the reverse is a much lower gear than the first gear and if your doubting yourself than that would be the gear of choice! The E-brake thing, Well that is just out of habbit I guess. I drive a Semi all day long and I have to make sure That Damn Thing Doesn't Roll Away. I find myself checking to make sure the brakes are allways set whenever I'm not inside!! Good Luck To You 99, 5.2 ext cab 5 speed 4x4



Knobbyman
GenIII
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11/28/2001
08:29:56

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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1st or Reverse & Parking Brake.. If for some reason you forget one.. There's one to back you up. Just my thoughts..

As long as it doesn't move does it matter? ;-)

'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
http://www.knobbyman.com

pete
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2001
08:59:41

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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On Topic: I always left the truck in 1st gear, but never used the P-brake.

Off Topic: I was told that reverse is the same ratio as 2nd... at least that's the case with tractors. My truck would happily do 80km/h in reverse, if you trust yourself to control it!



Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2001
14:10:04

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I use the E-brake and put in first if nose is uphill or reverse if downhill.

Note that the rear shoe-type brakes are self-enrgizing. They actually use the force of the forward rotating wheel to help the slave cylinder apply the prssure to the drum. This means the brakes are not as effective at standstill and even less so in the reverse direction.

This would suggest putting the transmission in first gear when the nose is uphill and the tendency is to roll backeards.



Todd W
Dodge Dakota


11/28/2001
23:40:26

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I noticed that when I forgot to turn the P-brake off leaving work. Backed up fine, put it in gear to go foreward and promptly went "Pbbbbttt-puh"

Uh, god that was embarressing. 0_o

Anyway, yeah, _use_ the parking brake/e-brake, whatever you want to call it! If you don't, the cable will corrode and jam on or off. Not a real fun or easy fix, if you don't have a lift.



Tanya
Dodge Dakota
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11/13/2002
22:09:52

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I am buyimg a 5-speed tomorrow and I've never driven one before but once I get the hang of it I'll use the first gear and the e-brake when I park, it seems like that's what most people recommend!

Wish me luck, I hope I won't regret this choice to purchase a 5-speed.



1d1
Dodge Dakota
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11/13/2002
22:23:31

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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Whatever you want to do is fine.

This may be outdated info, but in older vehicles with a manual tranny, if you tried to start the vehicle with the tranny in gear, it would lunge forward. I'm sure these days you probably can't start the vehicle without the clutch depressed. I just remember my sister back in the day in a parking lot forgot to push in the clutch and she hit the car in front when she turned the engine over. My dak is an auto, but all my other cars were old manual trannies.

I used the e-brake and neutral on the flat and e-brake and gear on hills. Never had an issue.



joe_himself
Dodge Dakota
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11/13/2002
22:34:27

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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i can start my truck without useing the clutch.. and i always park with it in gear and no ebarake.. cause well i losened it so i can turn off my runnin lights during the day



LiveDakota
GenIII
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11/13/2002
22:43:09

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I do just like Dave Mitchell described. The parking brake and either first or reverse dependend upon if its uphill or downhill. The thing about older vehicles lunging foreward when trying to start without pushing the clutch in is because of the neutral safety switch (i believe thats what it's called). Some of the older daks can still be started without pushing the clutch. Which was the case in a friends 94 sport.

Thomas C.

HUH? WHAT? I CANT HEAR YOU!

a wife story
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
09:10:42

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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In my garage, I USED to just leave it in 1st, and NO e-brake.

My wife went to drive my truck one day, depressed the clutch, started the engine, and it began to roll a little. She immediately took her foot off the clutch and tried the e-brake.

Well, when she dumped the clutch, it was still on the initial slightly higher idle, and the truck lunged forward. It hit a metal crate I had in the garage in front of the truck, and put it thru the sheet rock into the wall! It finally stopped.
A huge chuck of sheet rock caved in.

Here's the good part.

If you looked real closely, you could barely see a little scratch on the chrome bumper(SLT model)!

Needless to say, now, I DON'T leave it in gear, and use the e-brake.

But that's an isolated example, 20+ years of leaving it in gear had to be broken.

01, QC, 4.7 5spd



huh
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
09:31:04

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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IMHO - put it in reverse ( lowest gear ratio ) and use emergency as you wish but never in freezing temps as the cable can freeze up, if moisture in the cable.
One time I had to pour alcohol on my brake cable to unfreeze it. Dam waste of good alcohol. Never used it again. The emergency brake that is.



dewey
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
14:03:18

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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37 years of sub zero winter temps in Indiana and Nebraska and I've never had my e-brake on any vehicle freeze up.



teamfast
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
15:10:21

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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a wife story... why wouldnt she hit the regular brakes? You better check up on her, maybe she is braking with the emergency brake! LOL



wife story
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
15:34:07

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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team fast,

I check her all the time, real nice!

She was about to put our son in the child seat, and thought that she sould start it and get the A/C going, not first checking that it was in neutral with the e-brake on like she leaves her car.

Like I said, big whole in the sheet rock in the back of the garage, no stud damage at all in our new house. Virtually no damage to the Dak!, Didn't have to do a thing to it!



avdak
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
15:42:06

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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Anthony,
I know you've heard everyone elses explanation, here is my two cents. If you put your parking brake on while the truck is in neutral there is zero pressure on your tranny, so placing the truck in 1st gear or reverse afterwards is just an additional safety precaution. Also if you park facing uphill or downhill turn your wheels to the right. If all hell brakes loose your truck will hit the curb instead of rolling into the street.


Bill
www.geocities.com/sgbofav



Anthony
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
16:36:18

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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I can't believe that this post is still alive!!, and almost shy of one years old too. LOL!!! Thanks guys for all your responses.

Hey avdak,
This is what I do. I leave it in neutral with the parking brake only in my garage.
Parking facing uphill I do exactly as you mentioned apply the brake first and then place it in 1st. Parking facing downhill I apply the brake first and then place it in reverse.

When ever I go out I always apply both the brake and slip it in gear. Thus if they try stealing your Dak with a tow truck in makes it very hard to do if your wheels are locked. Safetly precaution!!!

Anthony
www.geocities.com/dak2nv/



dogliftsleg
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
17:01:01

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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wife story Kinda sounds like the ol toilet seat controversy, According to you its her fault but according to her its your's as you left it in gear, ain't never gonna be a winner here.



dogliftsleg
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
17:02:21

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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as for the rest of you----- see my name



nate
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
20:28:52

RE: 5 speed (how to park)?
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theres no difference in putting the tranny in 1st or
reverse if your parking up or downhill. Turning an
engine backwards takes the same amount of energy as
it does to turn it forward if the ignition is off. The only
difference is the ratio of the gear, which is usually lower
in reverse. Hence, without parking brake, it is harder to
push a truck (forward or backward) whose tranny is in
R, as it requires more turnes of the engine. Trannies
can pop out of gear, so there is never any reason to
leave the brake off when you are parked.



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