| Author | Message | ||
| Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member Username: Merlyn Post Number: 137 Registered: 8-2002 |
Going back to the first post, the reason cars are left in neutral in a shop is because it is common on some services that the tech reach in through the window and start the car. If it is in gear, the results can be disastrous. I know this for a fact, as it happened to me. from that day on every car brought into the shop was left in neutral no matter what the reason it was in for. | ||
| J R K (Kenyon)
Member Username: Kenyon Post Number: 744 Registered: 10-2002 |
1st gear or neutral with wheel stop, no hand brake on... | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 975 Registered: 11-2001 |
Right on Darryl regarding your comments about forgetting you're in first gear....did that once in the 308 and it wasn't a fun experience. Personally, I prefer to leave the cars parked in neutral and use one of those tire chocks/wedges in front/behind each car tire in the garage. Just have to remember to remove them before taking off -- but then again, just like the 1st gear scenario, I can never remember!  | ||
| Darryl - TR&328 (Tr328)
Junior Member Username: Tr328 Post Number: 89 Registered: 6-2003 |
I have always put my car in neutral because I warm it up before driving and I don't want to forget that it is in gear and have it jump forward. I hadn't thought about which is better. | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 775 Registered: 4-2002 |
If the engine turns backwards, it puts a larger load on the tensioner bearings than what occurs when it turns in the normal direction. Backwards rotation puts the slack in what should be the tension side of the system. This can cause the engine to get out of time due to belt slipping a cog. Put the tranny in a gear so the tendency is to rotate the engine in correct direction. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1738 Registered: 11-2001 |
i use these in my garage, one per car:  and once in position, i leave the car in neutral without the ebrake on. doody. | ||
| Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member Username: Ferrarifixer Post Number: 173 Registered: 7-2003 |
Use a gear that MATCHES it's direction to roll, for the timing chain/belt reasons. As belts get a little older, their slack will increase and it is possible for the engine to skip a tooth or two while turning backwards. From 355 and on, the tensioners are dynamic or floating and not locked into a fixed position, so if tension is applied in the wrong direction, tension can be reduced dramatically for a short while...enough to skip a tooth. On a badly tuned carb/distributor car "running on" or "detonation" can occur when you shut down. Sometimes this actually makes the engine run backwards for a while which is potentially catastrophic, but not always.....but so is the state of tune! | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1838 Registered: 5-2001 |
Verell, there are still a lot of residential streets with no curbs...still a good idea to leave in gear on a hill. Failure to turn the wheel toward the curb, WILL get you a ticket in downtown Seattle...we still have a car or two cut loose down a hill every year or so and make the papers. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member Username: Verell Post Number: 1114 Registered: 5-2001 |
Sam, re:"NOTHING ELSE! My Jag was left in 1st gear when parked and the clutch FUSED to the flywheel ..." Sorry, but it would have still FUSED if you'd left it in neutral. The only time the clutch friction disc is NOT firmly clamped between the pressure plate & the flywheel is when the clutch pedal is depressed. Well, before someone calls me on it, there is another exception: on 3x8s the friction disc also isn't too firmly clamped when it's got quite a bit of wear & the clutch hasn't been re-adjusted, or it's severely worn & adjustment can't compensate - (Ask Jonathan) As to parking on a hill, my driver's ed course always said to turn the front wheels so that the downhill edge was towards the curb. That way if it rolls the wheel will jam up against the curb. (Hmm, well, it will still work, but 3x8s don't quite have the curb clearance of my old XK150 Jags, or my family's faithful '48 Plymouth I was driving back then. Still, curb rash is better than the alternative.) | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1836 Registered: 5-2001 |
Neutral, except when parked on a hill....and there are LOTS of hills in Seattle. ;-) | ||
| Mitchell Le (Yelcab1)
Member Username: Yelcab1 Post Number: 673 Registered: 11-2001 |
If you leave your car parked long enough so the clutch is fused to the flywheel, give me your car. I'll drive it your you. | ||
| Erik (Teenferrarifan)
Member Username: Teenferrarifan Post Number: 305 Registered: 2-2003 |
Come on guys how many times do you leave your Ferrari parked on a hill?  I am sensing another driving around at high rpm thread here. Erik | ||
| Sam NYCFERRARIS (Sam)
Member Username: Sam Post Number: 401 Registered: 4-2001 |
GUYS, LISTEN TO DENNIS! NEUTRAL..NOTHING ELSE! My Jag was left in 1st gear when parked and the clutch FUSED to the flywheel ...It was an expensive mess...I had to buy a new clutch and have the old clutch (which was relatively new) chopped off of teh flywheel and the flywheel refaced etc... humidity and a concrete floor garage make matters worse. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1684 Registered: 4-2002 |
It's left in neutral, because I push it into/out of the garage. | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 271 Registered: 3-2003 |
Well it looks like a perfectly innocent post is on the verge of turning into one of those science projects from hell. When in the garage, I leave my 308 in neutral and put a block of wood behind a rear wheel. Crude but effective. When on the street I use the parking brake. If the hill is too much for the parking brake, I don't park there. Regarding the discussion on belts, timing and reverse rotational engines, what is the difference in the engine rotation between backing off on the throttle while driving and this process of reverse rotating the engine by having it in the wrong gear on an incline? Will the clearances and timing positions of the pistons and cams be the same? JRV where are you? | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Intermediate Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 1050 Registered: 4-2002 |
"but wouldn't a car parked downhill in first gear continue to roll if prompted to do so since the first gear will not stop it?" 1st gear has the highest multiplication ratio, and will hold with more force than reverse (F355). I have seen hills where neither the parking brake, nor 1st gear would hold the car either individually nor in tandem. I would suggest not parking a Ferrari on such a hill. However, when comparing the cost of body work to the cost of belts ($5000) or whole engine ($23000) will allow a lot of body work to be performed; indeed. "does this cause any damage to the cam timing?" Not after the engine gets rotating, the issue is the first turn while the belts have slipped 1/4 to 1/2 tooth from the pulling direction. "Will this cause any mechanical damage to the engine" If the valves touch the pistons--bad things will happen. | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Intermediate Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 1306 Registered: 10-2002 |
>> The reason is that engines are designed to turn in only one direction. If the engine rotates opposite its designed direction, the belts may allow an unfavorable timing position on the cam when the engine is next started. << Mitch, this is very interesting... If one doesn't use a parking brake at all and but parked the car uphill AND downhill in 1st gear - does this cause any damage to the cam timing? Will this cause any mechanical damage to the engine - possibly a bearing or chain? | ||
| Dr. I. M. Ibrahim (Coachi)
Member Username: Coachi Post Number: 386 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for the explanation about the belts...but wouldn't a car parked downhill in first gear continue to roll if prompted to do so since the first gear will not stop it? If so, I had rather fix my timing and cambelts (as expensive as this might be) instead of a totally smashed car... | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Intermediate Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 1044 Registered: 4-2002 |
"I always put my car in a gear opposite to where it might roll to." I disagree with this. "If your parking brake doesn't work so well, and/or you're parked on a steep incline and feel like you need to leave it in gear, leave it in first if the car is pointed downhill and reverse if vice versa." I agree with this. The reason is that engines are designed to turn in only one direction. If the engine rotates opposite its designed direction, the belts may allow an unfavorable timing position on the cam when the engine is next started. | ||
| Mitchell Le (Yelcab1)
Member Username: Yelcab1 Post Number: 672 Registered: 11-2001 |
With my infamous parking brakes for the 308, I always leave my car parked in 1 gear, anyWHERE. | ||
| Dennis (Bighead)
Junior Member Username: Bighead Post Number: 234 Registered: 2-2003 |
I've been told that, theoretically, one should leave the car in neutral. If, for some strange reason, the car should start to roll, and if it's in gear, it could cause the timing belts to stretch/skip/break. If your parking brake doesn't work so well, and/or you're parked on a steep incline and feel like you need to leave it in gear, leave it in first if the car is pointed downhill and reverse if vice versa. Having the car roll forward while the transmission is in reverse will cause everything in the engine to try to run backwards. How good can that be? vty, --Dennis | ||
| Bill Steele (Glassman)
Member Username: Glassman Post Number: 402 Registered: 4-2002 |
Man this post really say's it all. Does anybody care what gear your NON FERRARI is parked in? | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Intermediate Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 1290 Registered: 5-2001 |
I do the same as Coachi | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 591 Registered: 9-2002 |
What ever gear its in when I pull into the garage. | ||
| Ali Haas (Aehaas)
Junior Member Username: Aehaas Post Number: 103 Registered: 5-2003 |
My garage floor is flat (unlike most that are tilted towards the door). It is best to use a low gear if there is danger of rolling. I vary it, 1st, 2nd, rev. and accasionally just neutral. If I am out and about then usually either 1st or rev., depending on the next move needed. If there is more than a 1 degree incline then I also use the emergency brake. ali | ||
| Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Advanced Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 2863 Registered: 4-2002 |
DITTO. JIM E | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 757 Registered: 4-2002 |
R ... for "Ready To Run" | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 678 Registered: 2-2002 |
1st gear | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 2551 Registered: 7-2001 |
1st gear when parked in the garage. | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Intermediate Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 1287 Registered: 10-2002 |
I leave my 348 Challenge in 1st gear in the garage... well, seeing how I don't have a parking brake, I really don't have a choice! LOL | ||
| Dr. I. M. Ibrahim (Coachi)
Member Username: Coachi Post Number: 383 Registered: 5-2002 |
I always put my car in a gear opposite to where it might roll to. If on a downward incline, I leave in in reverse...if upwards, in first. My garage is flat too, but if you don't want the car to go forwards for fear of hitting the wall, your tool chest...etc.. then put in in reverse, the gear will keep it from moving forwards...just in case someone gives a pushg in that direction | ||
| Justyn (Justynb)
Junior Member Username: Justynb Post Number: 79 Registered: 4-2003 |
My 348 is a five speed not six but I always leave it in first gear in the garage. The reason I do this is that I don't put the parking brake on just in case I end up leaving the car for a long time and I don't want the parking brake to seize in the on position, something I have seen in lesser cars several times when they have been left for extended periods of time. The garage is flat so the car wouldn't roll anywhere anyway, leaving it in gear is "just in case". Hope this helps! Justyn. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Intermediate Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 1043 Registered: 4-2002 |
1st is a numerically higher ratio than reverse in an F355, and holds the car better--its even in the users manual. | ||
| Joseph Caretti (Pino)
Junior Member Username: Pino Post Number: 181 Registered: 4-2002 |
I leave mine in Neutral just in case something goes wrong with the F1 system and I can't shift gears to move or start the car. Again, this is an F1 six speed. | ||
| Peter Allen Dysert II (Peterd)
New member Username: Peterd Post Number: 12 Registered: 9-2002 |
All of you six speed drivers out there, what gear do you leave your car in when parked in the garage? First? Reverse? Neutral? Why? I noticed at my local dealer that they leave all of their 6 speed cars in the neutral position. Does it make any difference besides keeping the car from rolling should you forget the parking brake? |