Parking Manual transmission? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

KaBoom1701 · 01-01-2015, 02:33 PM

So while I'm waiting to go pick up my ZL1 tomorrow I decided to re-read the 13' Camaro manual to see if I can pick up any ZL1 tid bits....

Section 9-24 says to put the manual transmission in reverse and then shut the car off?

I've always left my manual cars in 1st gear when parking.

Any reason or logic to what the car manual recommends?

punkindave · 01-01-2015, 02:36 PM

Reverse gear is lower than first..
In past cars I've always used first because reverse always seemed to not engage quite right and would occasionally pop out. (Older cars) Also never used parking brake after I had one freeze in the winter. (again, old car) LOL

Bizaro · 01-01-2015, 02:37 PM

When parked at home I leave it in neutral since where i park its flat, other than that I park in either reverse or 1st depending on angle of slope.

mySSt · 01-01-2015, 02:39 PM

If I'm parking front end up hill, I put it in first. If I'm parked front end down slope, I put it in reverse.

Enjoy the ZL1 !!!

KaBoom1701 · 01-01-2015, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mySSt

If I'm parking front end up hill, I put it in first. If I'm parked front end down slope, I put it in reverse.

Enjoy the ZL1 !!!

Ok, thx makes sense. Thx

banter · 01-01-2015, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mySSt

If I'm parking front end up hill, I put it in first. If I'm parked front end down slope, I put it in reverse.

Enjoy the ZL1 !!!

This, if I'm on flat ground, I park in neutral. Always using the parking brake of course.

Flashpoint135 · 01-01-2015, 05:42 PM

I put it in first or reverse, whichever will do the least damage if I accidentally let the clutch out in gear at startup...

not that I've ever done that...

Norm Peterson · 01-01-2015, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

I've always left my manual cars in 1st gear when parking.

I have no idea what Chevy's logic is unless it's tied to the logic of an old anti-theft technique requiring you to put the transmission in reverse gear where movement of a back-drive linkage off the reverse lever on the transmission would then let you remove the key. Friend of mine with a '71-ish big-block Camaro had to deal with this.

Personally, I always leave any MT car in either reverse or 1st, and my choice of which depends mainly on which direction would cause the least damage should the car actually be able to start without the clutch pedal fully depressed. I've had cars that never had a clutch starter interlock to begin with (I am that old), a car with it that physically broke its little switch, and a car whose clutch interlock was such a PITA that inside two weeks I had intentionally and completely disabled it.

Leaving a MT car in neutral is a lot like leaving an AT car in "N" instead of "P" - you've just thrown away the more reliable means of holding the car still for no good reason, and are now relying on the P-brake being in proper adjustment. Cables stretch, fray/unwind, freeze up in winter . . . just saying.

Norm

Baldwin feeder · 01-01-2015, 06:42 PM

I have always parked manual transmiasion cars in first gear including my current Camaro. I wonder if it would be worth trying to retrain myself after all these years.

1SSFever · 01-01-2015, 06:59 PM

Oh no not this again.

Reverse or first it doesn't matter, 30 years never had a mishap. Never has my car rolled into another while parked.

Then there's the camp that wants to leave their car in neutral and put total trust in the parking brake.... that's risky.

Turbosaurus · 01-01-2015, 07:13 PM

Depends on how I parked...
Head in = reverse
Backed in = first

Unrulie · 01-01-2015, 07:42 PM

Neutral and parking brake every time every vehicle. I've had over a dozen manual trans vehicles for 30 years including my 2013 Kenworth. That's 80,000 lbs on the parking brake.

ckaram · 01-01-2015, 07:50 PM

I read in this forum that it also kept the battery from draining when parked in reverse. Don't know if true, but plenty of stories on C5 about older Corvettes and dead batteries due to the issue. Since it's in the owner's manual I've been doing it on both Camaro M6 cars since 2009. Common sense, too, always use e-brake.

Quicksilver-SS · 01-01-2015, 09:11 PM

Usually in 1st with parking brake on in all situations. With my old 73 Z/28 Muncie M22 it had to be in reverse. Lift up and to the left to remove the key.

01-01-2015, 02:33 PM	#1
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	Parking Manual transmission? So while I'm waiting to go pick up my ZL1 tomorrow I decided to re-read the 13' Camaro manual to see if I can pick up any ZL1 tid bits.... Section 9-24 says to put the manual transmission in reverse and then shut the car off? I've always left my manual cars in 1st gear when parking. Any reason or logic to what the car manual recommends? __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

01-01-2015, 02:36 PM	#2
punkindave The Great Punkin Drives: 2013 2SS M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 185	Reverse gear is lower than first.. In past cars I've always used first because reverse always seemed to not engage quite right and would occasionally pop out. (Older cars) Also never used parking brake after I had one freeze in the winter. (again, old car) LOL __________________ Who opened up a fresh box of idiots without finishing the old box, now they're everywhere!! Tesla > Edison

01-01-2015, 02:39 PM	#4
mySSt Drives: '11 SS M6, '14 SS 1LE, '17 SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: East TX Posts: 533	If I'm parking front end up hill, I put it in first. If I'm parked front end down slope, I put it in reverse. Enjoy the ZL1 !!! __________________ Anyone can drive fast in a straight line, its what you can do thru the curves that matters! '11 CGM SS M6 ordered in 3/11, '14 BRM SS 1LE from stock in 10/13 & '17 HBM SS 1LE in 11/16 - all from BeckyD!!

01-01-2015, 05:42 PM	#7
Flashpoint135 Drives: 2016 SS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Newark, NY Posts: 1,283	I put it in first or reverse, whichever will do the least damage if I accidentally let the clutch out in gear at startup... not that I've ever done that... __________________

01-01-2015, 06:59 PM	#10
1SSFever Drives: 2012 1SS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: home Posts: 280	Oh no not this again. Reverse or first it doesn't matter, 30 years never had a mishap. Never has my car rolled into another while parked. Then there's the camp that wants to leave their car in neutral and put total trust in the parking brake.... that's risky. __________________ Rowing through the gears of an SS Camaro always makes for a better day.

01-01-2015, 02:37 PM	#3
Bizaro Account Suspended Drives: 2015 Redhot 1LE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Westchester NY Posts: 1,409	When parked at home I leave it in neutral since where i park its flat, other than that I park in either reverse or 1st depending on angle of slope.

01-01-2015, 06:42 PM	#9
Baldwin feeder Drives: 1986 Chevy C-10 and 2013 BRM 1SS Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 153	I have always parked manual transmiasion cars in first gear including my current Camaro. I wonder if it would be worth trying to retrain myself after all these years.

01-01-2015, 07:13 PM	#11
Turbosaurus Drives: '14 Camaro 2SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Antonio Posts: 62 View My Garage	Depends on how I parked... Head in = reverse Backed in = first __________________ Past: '69 Chevelle SS396 '79 Camaro 400SBC/TH400 *Present:* '14 Camaro 2SS/1LE '03 Avalanche (tow car for...) Twin-turbo SBC Super Comp Dragster *Future:* FFR 33 Hot Rod w/ SBC RCR GT-40 w/ LS7

01-01-2015, 07:42 PM	#12
Unrulie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Cyber Grey Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Howell, mi. Posts: 319 View My Garage	Neutral and parking brake every time every vehicle. I've had over a dozen manual trans vehicles for 30 years including my 2013 Kenworth. That's 80,000 lbs on the parking brake. __________________

01-01-2015, 07:50 PM	#13
ckaram Drives: 2011 2SS RS, 1968 ragtop Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,850	I read in this forum that it also kept the battery from draining when parked in reverse. Don't know if true, but plenty of stories on C5 about older Corvettes and dead batteries due to the issue. Since it's in the owner's manual I've been doing it on both Camaro M6 cars since 2009. Common sense, too, always use e-brake. __________________ 1968 Camaro Convertible LS1, T56

01-01-2015, 09:11 PM	#14
Quicksilver-SS Drives: 2014 1SS / RS M6 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Zebulon, NC Posts: 602	Usually in 1st with parking brake on in all situations. With my old 73 Z/28 Muncie M22 it had to be in reverse. Lift up and to the left to remove the key.