What happends in Park ?

[PJH]

What actually happens inside an automatic geabox when Park is selected ?
Does it select first AND reverse or is there a seperate transmission locking device ?

 

[Ade B]

I'd like to know too - when I select mine a bit too briskly the whole car rocks very slightly backwards and forwards for a split second.....

Ade

 

[Parrot of Doom]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/automatic-transmission.htm

Basically its a little pin of metal that locks the output of the transmission up. Its only very small, and isn't really a suitable (IMO) replacement for the handbrake as some people seem to use it.

 

[blackscooby]

Basically its a little pin of metal that locks the output of the transmission up. Its only very small, and isn't really a suitable (IMO) replacement for the handbrake as some people seem to use it.

oh cr@p, I always, always use Park and not the brake !

 

[Parrot of Doom]

That pin of metal up there is all thats holding your car. If that fails, well.....

 

[Dieselman]

I'm not sure that park pawl is a MB part.
The cutaway picture on the first page of Parrots link is a 722.6 box and you can clearly see the parking ring at the output of the box.

The pawl that fits into this is substantial.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The link and picture are only meant to be illustrative I only ever use Park because I can't get the key out if I don't

 

[Ultymate]

Parking pawls have been known to punch their way out of the side of a transmission whilst the car is on the bed of a transporter they should not be used whilst the car is being transported!! this includes trailers.

 

[Glenn Smith]

I always use the parking brake, my other half never, so if i leave the car, and she will be the next to use it, i have to take the park brake off, otherwise she can't get the car to move and has to ring me up, when i say the park brake is on she says where is that then she also rings me every time it's foggy to ask where the fog light switch is. Bless her, i wouldn't have her any other way.