calling all car-nerds

[TdC]

hi all,

a question from my mother:

Today she forgot to put her car on the hand brake when out to the shops, and when she came out of the supermarket, she discovered to her surprise and fright that the car had rolled out backwards on to the street (and that she forgot to do the hand brake ofc).

Now I've always been under the impression that a car can't roll backwards if it's engaged in gear unless the clutch is depressed (obv not reverse eh), and my mum swears she left it in 1st, so we want to know if it's possible for the rolling backwards to occur.

Data: the car was in 1st, parked in a parking spot facing a shop with the front wheels against the sidewalk. hand brake was not engaged. can the car roll backwards.

Answers on a postcard please, and thanks.

 

[Gumbo]

If the gradient is high enough to overcome the compression of the engine, then yes it could still roll. This would have to be on a very steep hill though.

 

[TdC]

Holland doesn't have hills So I have to assume that my lovely mother had the car in neutral gear :/

 

[old.user4556]

My old 3 series used to roll backwards even in first gear.

 

[Tom]

Your mum is lying, or the gear wasn't properly engaged.

G your piston rings were probably a bit dead

 

[Skyler]

Narcotics anonymous

 

[Bodhi]

Put it this way, 1st gear will hold a lardy Golf in place. I think she didn't engage it properly to be honest.

 

[psyco]

natural curve of the earth?

 

[leggy]

Your mum is lying

Harsh,

Maybe she just forgot on this occassion.

natural curve of the earth?

Oh give it a rest.

 

[dysfunction]

Its never a good idea to leave a car in gear I always thought.

If someone crashes into it you could ruin the gear box??

 

[- English -]

i always leave mine in gear

mainly for the comedy of my bro starting the engine and shititng himself as hes a noob driver

 

[Munkey]

i always leave mine in gear

mainly for the comedy of my bro starting the engine and shititng himself as hes a noob driver

****

But i like it!

 

[psyco]

Oh give it a rest.

give what a rest?

 

[Tom]

If someone crashes into it you could ruin the gear box??

No, its more likely just to slide on the tyres. It is, however, a bad idea to tow a RWD car by the rear wheels, as that can destroy the gearbox.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I was parked up and sat in the car once... a woman parked in her driveway on the opposite side of the road and unloaded the car. As she came back she saw it rolling towards my car, before gaining control of it again.

So yes, it's very possible.

 

[TdC]

Your mum is lying

fuck off.


Mum's getting on a bit (70). I'm more inclined to think she "forgot" to put it in gear. Much like her "forgetting" to engage the rear brake.

 

[Tom]

Didn't mean it in a bad way Teeds My mum often 'forgets' things...