My FR-S rolled away

[Gixxersixxerman]

When I first started driving, I messed up the car somehow and it wouldn't let the car out of park unless my dad got under the dash to disengage the lock out, pressing the brake wouldn't work. Anyways, I just left it in neutral and one day my dad came home asked where my car was when he seen me.. I told him its out front where I left it when I got home 6 hours ago.. Walk outside and the car was gone.. I called the police and made a report.. About 20 mins later the police that took the report was laughing at my front door.. Took me two blocks down and there my car is at the end of the road in a ditch.. It was a 86 merc. Topaz.. Rolled two blocks lol.. It was funny after the situation..

[kthxbai]

Originally Posted by BCooke

So was I the only one that ran outside to check on the car after reading this thread?

Nope, I just got back to my apartment after checking too!

[root]

Originally Posted by comic0guy

Just to let you know. All ebrakes operate with a drum brake. So if your car has 4 wheel disc....there is a small drum behind the rear rotors.


My rule is....just enough clicks to stop the car with the ebrake. Then shake the car from my seat. Then put it in gear. That way I know the ebrake is the main part holding the car and the gear is just in case of failure.

Nope, not all. My AE86 GTS cable actuated the brake calipers, as does/did all 4 of my Corolla FX16's.

[gily25]

Don't feel too bad...when I parked mine in the garage for winter I left it in neutral and the e-brake off, thinking the floor is mostly level (nothing has ever rolled away on its own) it should be fine...about ten minutes later the wife says "why'd you park so close to the garage door"? Now we had deliberately left space in front for the Harley so I thought she was being naggy but it was slowly rolling. $5 wheel chocks at Harbor freight later, problem solved, best purchase for the car so far.

[evox2frs]

Yeah, don't feel too bad. Happened to me today. I'm guessing I didn't put it in gear, but am subscribing here in case it turns out to be an e-brake issue. OP, you're lucky you got no damage. I did get some, not much, but enough to drive me mad considering this car is brand new.

[dori.]

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

I love it when mashal posts. I don't know why but I just do.

This happens to everyone at least once in their life. I was lucky and my roll away didn't hit anybody/thing or do any damage to my car (Prelude).

I can't say that this has ever happened to me.

[Robmilkshakes]

Late one night after dropping my friend off at his house after a very long work day and midnight premier, I drove off and a few miles down the road, I had to pee. It seemed like the 3 gallons of movie theater soda hit me all at once. I knew I wouldn't make it back to my house and I was still a good 10 minutes or so before the nearest bathroom I could use, so I ducked down a side road, with houses on one side and trees on the other, jumped out of my Celica, left it in neutral running with the lights on, to run for the trees. I thought I had pulled the hand brake. Well just as I was feeling relief, I could see my shadow moving. In disbelief, I turned around to see my car rolling down the street. So, I ran after it.

You have not experienced terror like running after your own car rolling downhill with yourself in hand.

I was too slow though, just as I caught up to it, the kind bumper of an old pickup stopped my car for me. Didn't leave a single scratch on the corner of his (luckily), but left me a good sized dent in my front fender....

I'm glad because it could've been much much worse, but still, easily one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me.

[FRSupra]

Originally Posted by sierra

... and leave the handbrake off in the garage.

explain.

[russv]

In gear and handbrake. For auto handbrake as well.

[whaap]

Originally Posted by sierra

That's why you always park a manual in 1st gear.
Reverse if it's on a backward slope and leave the handbrake off in the garage.

You have to have the clutch down to start it so there's no danger of cranking it into anything any more.

Backward slope or forward slope, it doesn't matter. It's not whether your pointed down hill or up hill it's the fact that the lower the gear ratio you park in, the better it will hold your car. The lowest gear ration in your manual transmission is reverse. From there next is first, then second, etc., etc..

[Asterisked Accolade]

I was going to comment, but as i scrolled down and read about 'shrubs'. . .i lost my train of thought.

[whaap]

Originally Posted by FRSupra

explain.

As the traditional garage floor is relatively level, why you would feel a need to park in reverse or first gear and also set the hand brake probably would need an explanation. Unless you park your car on a noticeable slope you really don't need to use your hand brake and then it's only a caution and most likely unnecessary. After all, who on this forum ever had a car roll away after parking it and leaving it in reverse gear or first gear without setting the emergency brake?

[Kensurs]

Originally Posted by whaap

As the traditional garage floor is relatively level, why you would feel a need to park in reverse or first gear and also set the hand brake probably would need an explanation. Unless you park your car on a noticeable slope you really don't need to use your hand brake and then it's only a caution and most likely unnecessary. After all, who on this forum ever had a car roll away after parking it and leaving it in reverse gear or first gear without setting the emergency brake?

I park in a flat garage, and I always put it in reverse AND pull the handbrake... why not make a habit of it? It's not going to hurt anything to pull the handbrake, and it only takes half of a second.

[Mo707]

If you park your car in 1st and don't put the brake does that mess up your transmission? I do both. Just wondering. And if your facing down hill put it in reverse and e brake?