Engine Idle and Vibration

[Weezy]

Stop car,handbrake on,car in neutral. Lights turn Green,look in mirrors,turn head left and right to look in blind spots,engage 1st gear,cover handbrake and move the clutch to bite,another glance left and right,release the handbrake and the clutch and............ bugga, lights changed to Red again

[oilburner]

Originally Posted by Clan

Someone hits you up the back , or a car backfires and shocks you , your foot comes off the brake and you hit the car in front ,,

Errm, well actually Clan I was hit from behind recently whilst stopped and only held with the foot brake. My car didn't budge an inch, just the same as with the handbrake. I was only maybe 3-4 feet from the car in front and they weren't affected at all.

Personally, I do try to put the handbrake on if stopped for more than 5-10 seconds, but it is simply too much trouble to be on and off, in and out of drive (not comfortable leaving it in drive on handbrake) every 10-30 seconds in busy traffic. That and the fact that I don't like the vibration in neutral...

Just being realistic that's all!

[Clan]

must have been a slow speed impact then , But what about the driver sat behind you with 63 watts of blinding red light in his eyes , especialy if hes in a low car ... its most frustrating , i put main beam on when this happens to lessen the blinding effect and he soon realises how anti social he is and puts his handbrake on as he should ...

[oilburner]

About 30mph? Don't think the handbrake would hold any better than the foot brake?

I take your point though, it is blinding and that's why I put mine into N when stopped for more than a few seconds (or expect to be, light just changed to red, etc). But it's such a pain in some cars (SWMBOs Zafira and the newer Volvos are like this) where you have to press the footbrake to release from N to D. In which case you just cause confusion by applying your brakes immediately prior to setting off again..

When you're in slow moving traffic (stopping and starting every few seconds), that doesn't really work very well. Us auto drivers might be guilty of this more than most, but I see plenty of people driving manuals who never use the handbrake, not sure what their excuse is!!

[Clan]

You shouldnt keep moving the gear lever from D in a queue , the handbrake will easily hold it if its adjusted properly just one or two clicks will hold the car
. Yes more than plenty actualy , in fact 90% i would say , its down to the slipping standards of the driving instructors and the test , however harder it may seem with therory tests etc , in fact it HAS to be easier that it used to be to pass with so many poor drivers on the roads these days ...

[Chris Parish]

My S80 D5 has developed a distinct rattle at tickover. Very annoying but otherwise car is fine. I'll let you know if anything shows as being the cause. I'm still on the case....

Brakes: Surely the footbrake is used whilst stationary for short stops and the handbrake when you can see that it will be a while before you will move again. The modern auto gearbox should be left in Drive all the time during the journey.

[Chris Parish]

It turns out my D5 engine idle being rough was caused by a siezed alternator freewheel pulley.