Car rolled in ice/slush/snow

[Deleted member 134751]

I parked my 2012 C-coupe on a slight incline with the boot end 'up'. As the ground was icy/slushy I thought it wise to apply the park / foot brake.

Got out the car for a fag and the car starts rolling away! Luckily it stopped before hitting a brick wall.

Is this normal / to be expected if parking nose down on a icy hill??

At last service I was advised that front brake discs and pads will need replacing 'soon'. Could that be why? They told me a light would come on the dashboard when it's time.

Also, is there an equivalent of leaving the car in 1st gear for automatics?

Thanks!

EDIT: Or maybe it's a tyre tread issue? They are all legal at the moment.

 

[markjay]

Did it roll, or did it slide?

If the wheels were turning while it 'rolled', then your parking brake isn't working as it should.

If the car was skidding with the wheels locked, then this has nothing to do with the parking brake, but with the fact that the car has summer tyres (as opposed to winter tyres).

So it's either the parking brake or the summer tyres.

The brakes themselves (other than the parking brake) do not come into it, and the condition of the summer tyres will not have much effect either (a bit, yes, but not much).

 

[renault12ts]

I parked my 2012 C-coupe on a slight incline with the boot end 'up'. As the ground was icy/slushy I thought it wise to apply the park / foot brake.

Got out the car for a fag and the car starts rolling away! Luckily it stopped before hitting a brick wall.

Is this normal / to be expected if parking nose down on a icy hill??

At last service I was advised that front brake discs and pads will need replacing 'soon'. Could that be why? They told me a light would come on the dashboard when it's time.

Also, is there an equivalent of leaving the car in 1st gear for automatics?

Thanks!

EDIT: Or maybe it's a tyre tread issue? They are all legal at the moment.

Are you being serious?

Why would your front brakes have absolutely anything to do with this?

The car in Park (I presume you had it in Park and would not have been that****** to get out of the car without doing this) locks the rear wheels. The foot brake was a good idea...but added nothing to the situation.

Yes...it is normal for any car not just yours to run away on a very icy incline whether facing up hill or down.

Use your sense (and perhaps learn a little more about how cars work).

 

[renault12ts]

Did it roll, or did it slide?

If the wheels were turning while it 'rolled', then your parking brake isn't working as it should.

If the car was skidding with the wheels locked, then this has nothing to do with the parking brake, but with the fact that the car has summer tyres (as opposed to winter tyres).

So it's either the parking brake or the summer tyres.

The brakes themselves (other than the parking brake) do not come into it, and the condition of the summer tyres will not have much effect either (a bit, yes, but not much).

But the use of the parking brake is irrelevant assuming he was in P.

 

[markjay]

But the use of the parking brake is irrelevant assuming he was in P.

Good point. So a roll is unlikely (unless the autobox is faulty). The only remaining culprit is the summer tyres then? I.e. best avoid icey hills if your car does not have winter tyres.

 

[kianok]

If it was is park it shouldn’t have rolled at all.

Even with summer tyres it’s unlikely it would have started sliding from a stand still unless is was on a significant incline in which case you wouldn’t have been able to stop in the first place.

 

[renault12ts]

If it was is park it shouldn’t have rolled at all.

Even with summer tyres it’s unlikely it would have started sliding from a stand still unless is was on a significant incline in which case you wouldn’t have been able to stop in the first place.

I don't think we have all the facts. If it was that slippery he wouldn't have been able to stand.

 

[CaptainChaos]

OP, when you put an automatic into P (Park) you are engaging a pawl in the gearbox which locks the transmission so the wheels can't turn.
Your parking brake works on the rear wheels only on your car, so the condition of your front brakes is irrelevant.
If you are in P and the parking brake is on you have a double lock - much like leaving a manual in gear as you mention.

You need to try and think if your wheels were turning or sliding!

 

[Deleted member 134751]

Are you being serious?

Why would your front brakes have absolutely anything to do with this?

The car in Park (I presume you had it in Park and would not have been that****** to get out of the car without doing this) locks the rear wheels. The foot brake was a good idea...but added nothing to the situation.

Yes...it is normal for any car not just yours to run away on a very icy incline whether facing up hill or down.

Use your sense (and perhaps learn a little more about how cars work).

Yes I am 100% serious.

The car was in park and the foot brake was applied.

With regards to learning, that's what I am trying to do by asking for advice here

 

[Deleted member 134751]

Did it roll, or did it slide?

If the wheels were turning while it 'rolled', then your parking brake isn't working as it should.

If the car was skidding with the wheels locked, then this has nothing to do with the parking brake, but with the fact that the car has summer tyres (as opposed to winter tyres).

So it's either the parking brake or the summer tyres.

The brakes themselves (other than the parking brake) do not come into it, and the condition of the summer tyres will not have much effect either (a bit, yes, but not much).

Good question - not 100% sure but I think it was sliding so I'm thinking it's the tyres.... thanks for your input - I didn't know brakes and parking brake worked differently.

 

[Deleted member 134751]

But the use of the parking brake is irrelevant assuming he was in P.

Yes I was in P. Foot brake on as well.

Good point. So a roll is unlikely (unless the autobox is faulty). The only remaining culprit is the summer tyres then? I.e. best avoid icey hills if your car does not have winter tyres.

Yes I am thinking it's the tyres.

 

[ph47mf]

sounds like it's just the ice, not your tyres or brakes, problem solved, close the thread

 

[Deleted member 6183]

What was in that fag of yours?

 

[Deleted member 134751]

If it was is park it shouldn’t have rolled at all.

Even with summer tyres it’s unlikely it would have started sliding from a stand still unless is was on a significant incline in which case you wouldn’t have been able to stop in the first place.

The incline wasn't that much really - that's why I was surprised at what was happening.

I don't think we have all the facts. If it was that slippery he wouldn't have been able to stand.

I very nearly did fall over. It was very icy in places.

OP, when you put an automatic into P (Park) you are engaging a pawl in the gearbox which locks the transmission so the wheels can't turn.
Your parking brake works on the rear wheels only on your car, so the condition of your front brakes is irrelevant.
If you are in P and the parking brake is on you have a double lock - much like leaving a manual in gear as you mention.

You need to try and think if your wheels were turning or sliding!

Thanks for the info - useful to know.

Regarding turning or sliding, can't say I was looking at the wheels but going by my memory of the sound, I think it was sliding.

Presumably it must have been a slide as if the wheels were turning, why would it have stopped?

 

[Deleted member 134751]

What was in that fag of yours?

I don't smoke funny fags any more.... and certainly not when driving!

 

[CaptainChaos]

Regarding turning or sliding, can't say I was looking at the wheels but going by my memory of the sound, I think it was sliding.

Presumably it must have been a slide as if the wheels were turning, why would it have stopped?

Fair point. But more worrying - why was it rolling when you were in P and the parking brake was on?!
I would assume it was sliding. Next time you park, turn your front wheels into the kerb so it can't go too far.

 

[Deleted member 134751]

Next time you park, turn your front wheels into the kerb so it can't go too far.

Will do, thanks.

Do you lot use the foot brake every time you park? I usually just leave it in P unless I am on an incline and then I'll apply the foot brake too.

 

[grober]

Sounds like a lack of friction between wheels and the road surface. You may have been a victim of regelation first described by one Michael Faraday Regelation - Wikipedia its how glaciers move downhill Heat from the engine or simply the weight of the car may have caused localised melting of the ice under the tyres leading to a "water on top of ice" scenario causing a drop in friction and the car moving off. Fortunately on this occassion you won't have to explain this on your insurance claim form.

 

[ph47mf]

Will do, thanks.

Do you lot use the foot brake every time you park? I usually just leave it in P unless I am on an incline and then I'll apply the foot brake too.

I put my foot brake on whenever I park, same as any other cars with handbrake I have driven.

And I believe (someone might have said it here before) it puts stress on the gearbox if you're just relying on that to stop your car rolling away.

 

[renault12ts]

And it keeps the parking brake working...which is useful at MOT time.