5 speed manual? You should put it in 1st gear when parking on a hill. It's not a Jeep thing.

 

and your parking brake probably needs adjustment.

 

Well, there you have it. This is my 5th or 6th manual and I never knew that you weren't supposed to put it in a gear opposite the direction you're facing. Then again, I never parked my cars on a 45 degree dirt mound either.

I automatically thought that if I was facing downhill I should put it in reverse to counter the forward momentum.

Thanks!

 

Just a quick followup question to this...

Since manual transmissions don't lock when parked, and since they really rely on the gears being held back by the non-running motor, for situations like this is it safe to assume you're really relying primarily on the parking brake?

In your folks' experience, is it possible to tighten the parking brake enough that it would hold the jeep back while parked on a steep angle?

 

...for situations like this is it safe to assume you're really relying primarily on the parking brake?

I took my driving lessons with old Soviet cars with manual transmission (with them you could not rely on anything, really), therefore I was teached always to turn the wheels out, to the right (away from the road) when parking on a not-horisontal land. If the parking brake would fail and the stopped engine could not hold it, the problem would be minimum this way

 

I don't have a manual tans, but the parking brake hold mine on some pretty steep grades. I would have the parking brake checked for sure.

And, where are those photos you stopped for?

 

I use mine to tow my boat and the parking brake can be adjusted until it will hold the jeep + 1600 pounds of stuff on a 30 degree slope without movement.

 

How do you adjust it to achieve that ?

My Patriot and my fiend's Compass have the worst handbrake in the world. I have had a look, and for some reason, the handbrake works on a small drum brake within the disk brake. Crazy.

cheers in advance....

 

My manual says to always park it in reverse gear. I wouldn't like to leave it parked on a 45deg slope - that's 1 in 1 which is pretty steep.

 

I never had any problems with my Caliber ( CVT) or Patriot ( 6 speed Manual CRD)handbrakes , however my Avenger is just on 14.000 miles & the handbrake just about holds on the Last click. It goes in for its 2nd service next week , so I'll get them to adjust it.

 

I had a concern about the parking break on my brand new Pat, as well. I REALLY, REALLY have to yank the sucker up to get it to hold on a hill. I don't necessarily trust that parking break, considering I've had some slight 'roll' while parking on a hill/incline. I thought I'd keep an eye on it, to see if things changed over time. Hubby said it could be because the car is so new...needs to be broken-in, maybe?

Incidentally, I've been driving a manual transmission for 25 years and I've always put the car in 1st gear when parking facing uphill and in reverse when parking facing downhill. Interesting that the manual says to put the car in reverse when parking. Any ideas why???

 

Incidentally, I've been driving a manual transmission for 25 years and I've always put the car in 1st gear when parking facing uphill and in reverse when parking facing downhill. Interesting that the manual says to put the car in reverse when parking. Any ideas why???

The Patriot 1st gear ratio is 3.77 and the reverse is 3.42 so you would expect 1st gear to hold the car better.

However, reverse gear is not synchronised so maybe it is less likely to jump out of gear accidentally when parked?

 

can you park across the slope rather than directly into it? - also crank your steering completely one way so that if it does decide to move it will reach an equilibrium point before careering down the hill...

my 2c

 

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who thinks the handbrake on the Patriot is pretty bad. However, I'm glad to have heard about the old soviet car experience. My dad, who lived in Poland until around the age of 25, always turned the wheels to the right as well. It's good to know WHY he did that.

 

We were always taught to turn the wheel towards the curb, when parking on a hill. I've parked mine on some pretty steep hills, off road, in snow and ice, etc, and the brake has held well. After 2 years and 55K miles my brake handle comes up about half way, and the brake still holds firm.

 

My Patriot and my fiend's Compass have the worst handbrake in the world. I have had a look, and for some reason, the handbrake works on a small drum brake within the disk brake. Crazy.

cheers in advance....[/QUOTE]



All cars with rear discs are set up that way as far as I know.

 

Thanks for the interesting discussion. I feel better knowing it's not just my Patriot.

In regard to the pics, I didn't get any because the Jeep started rolling!

I had it out yesterday and crossed a ditch into a trail along the high tension lines - had 'er leaning and slipping. Awesome!

I bought the vehicle from a reputable dealer, so I'm not concerned they didn't give it a good once over, but they are not a Jeep dealer. I plan to take the Pat to our local Jeep dealer to tune it up and ask some questions - Considering the stuff I'm already getting into, I should probably look at beefing up the suspension a bit, and maybe throwing a better skid plate on.

Did I mention I am LOVING this Patriot?

Another question for those with a 5-speed:

In higher gears - 4/5 - starting at about 3500 RPM I hear a bit of a whistle (pitch increases with speed). There doesn't seem to be anything wrong though. Is this normal engine noise from the Pat? It actually almost sounds kinda cool - like a small jet engine.

 

Mine is 4 wheel disc, and the parking brake has held off road on some steep slopes. I always do the hand brake in neutral just to be sure it holds, before I put it in park. One time on a slope was to shovel, and a couple times were to remove trees from the trail (or more accurately my driveway).

 

Mine is 4 wheel disc, and the parking brake has held off road on some steep slopes.

Good to know. Seems I should probably get mine checked. Cripes, and I just spent a fortune on ball joints and extra lights...

 

Patriots have disc brakes on all 4-wheels as standard

 

They do, are there really any Pats with drum brakes at the rear?

 

The Pats that are FWD (not 4wd) have rear drums. Even with an auto, when parking on a hill you should lock the parking brake. With my FDI, I set the brake FIRST, then shift into Park.

 

i always put my car in reverse when i park and the e-brake, its a habit i formed with my old saab 900se where to take the key out you have to be in reverse. sounds annoying yes but i my e-brake cable was broken so it kept me from getting out of the car with it in neutral and no e-brake as far as i can tell if your on a hill and your park, if you leave the car in reverse(5 speed) it wont roll then the e-brake is the added protection and takes the force off your gears.