I was sitting in the driveway with my ebrake off, and my car was slowly rolling downhill while in 1st. I've never noticed this before. It would start off slow, and speed up before stopping, and slowly starting the process over. Clutch seems to be normal when driving, so I don't think it is that.

Is it definitely a seal leaking? Car only has 40k on it.

Edit: I tried putting it in 5th, and it rolled as if there was no load on the car at all.

[This message has been edited by 1876er (edited 5/22/2012 8:54p).]

Sounds like the clutch is worn out ans slipping. Is the motor turning? If you want to put the maximum load to keep it from rolling (and turning the engine) put it in first, not fifth.

It was in first. It definitely felt like the engine was turning. I assume that is what caused it to start and stop abruptly; the force was great enough to turn the engine. I put it in 5th just to see how it would react, and it felt as if there was no load on the car at all.

Use the parking brake.


How steep is your driveway? I used to believe you coul tell when clutch failure was imminent, but having expierenced a catastrophic failure without warning, I am no longer so certain.

I'd say it is a fairly steep driveway. I typically do use the parking brake. I was just testing it without the parking brake because last week I left my car in 2nd and came outside 20 minutes later and it was at the bottom of the driveway almost in the street. The engine struggled to start when I got in to drive it back up the driveway. I definitely need to tighten my parking brake since it didn't hold in 2nd, but with the parking brake off and in 1st, it still rolls slowly.

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It was in first. It definitely felt like the engine was turning. I assume that is what caused it to start and stop abruptly; the force was great enough to turn the engine. I put it in 5th just to see how it would react, and it felt as if there was no load on the car at all.

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Sounds like: Driveway too steep, car normal. Just use the parking brake.

As I said earlier, the lowest gear (1st or in some cases, reverse) will always hold the car the best. This is because the wheels must turn the engine over 3-4 times for each time the wheel turns. Assuming 5th is overdrive, then the engine only goes around 3/4 of a turn or so for every drive wheel revolution.

And as an aside, if you are in a forward gear, the engine will be turning backwards if the car is rolling backwards. Shouldn't hurt anything, just an observation.

+1 the driveway is just too steep, use the parking brake. It doesn't sound like anything is wrong with your car.

If the clutch is engaged in a fwd gear, but there is enough normal force on the car(ie a steep enough incline), the car will overcome engine compression and begin to roll backward anyway, causing the engine components to cycle backward.

Shouldn't damage anything, as Canyon said, but obviously if the drive is that steep you should be using the parking brake in addition to engaging a fwd gear.

I always use 1st gear if I am parking on an incline. It takes more energy to overcome engine compression in 1st gear than the rest (because it has the highest gear ratio).

[This message has been edited by madd_ag_05 (edited 5/23/2012 6:17a).]

Put the car in reverse and see if it still rolls down the driveway. I want to say it's easier to turn an engine backwards than forward, but don't feel like thinking hard enough to figure out why.

On a standard transmission, you're supposed to leave the vehicle in the lowest gear in the direction it would tend roll. Car facing downhill, put it in 1st. Car facing uphill, put it in reverse.

Also, tighten your parking brake or bed the pads in if they're new. I replaced the rear, drum brake pads on a standard pick-up I had in high school. I couldn't get the parking brake to hold after that. Then, I drove about a mile with the parking brake set and it began to hold after that.

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On a standard transmission, you're supposed to leave the vehicle in the lowest gear in the direction it would tend roll. Car facing downhill, put it in 1st. Car facing uphill, put it in reverse.

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Wait, what? Sounds counter-intuitive.

it's not any easier to turn the engine backwards.

you mention you had difficulty starting, how many miles? are your rings worn out which would lower your compression?

The only damage I can see happening if your engine spins backward comes from everything being designed to have tension on a certain side. For example, if you have slack in a timing belt, the tensioner would be on the wrong side and allow that slack in the belt to cause parts (valves and pistons) to be out of timing and interfere. Of course, that is engine specific.

After it had rolled down hill about 3-4 ft, it took longer than normal to start the engine. Almost like a carburetor that hasn't been primed properly. It hasn't happened since.

I haven't noticed any decrease in power as if the seals were leaking, but I suppose it would be good to know. How to you test this?

It rolled slightly easier in reverse, which makes sense. First is 3.75:1. Reverse is 3.67:1.

Maybe i missed something, but a standard transmission without an Ebrake will absolutely roll if on a decent incline. It doesnt sound at all unsusual. Even my diesel tractors in low range, first gear will very very very slowly roll if the brake is not on and the engine is turned off. The drive train is connected to the engine, and they tend to turn over when forced you know.

This is another reason I love the Panhandle. Cars won't roll, even in neutral. Too flat. That is, unless the wind is blowing.

How about reverse?

Depends on the wind.