Scirocco Central

Somthing I've never had on any other car, wondering if anyone else has had this:

I have a manual gearbox, and always leave it parked in neutral. I sometimes come back to it to find it in third gear. This happens even when it is parked perfectly level in my garage.

It has never caused a problem as I'm in the habit of checking handbrake-neutral when I get into any car, and I always start cars with clutch down.

Just curious really.

JeffW wrote:Somthing I've never had on any other car, wondering if anyone else has had this:

I have a manual gearbox, and always leave it parked in neutral. I sometimes come back to it to find it in third gear. This happens even when it is parked perfectly level in my garage.

It has never caused a problem as I'm in the habit of checking handbrake-neutral when I get into any car, and I always start cars with clutch down.

Just curious really.

Odd, but always good practice to leave a manual in first gear (or reverse facing down on a hill) when parked. Won’t roll away if handbrake fails.


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JeffW wrote:Somthing I've never had on any other car, wondering if anyone else has had this:

I have a manual gearbox, and always leave it parked in neutral. I sometimes come back to it to find it in third gear. This happens even when it is parked perfectly level in my garage.

It has never caused a problem as I'm in the habit of checking handbrake-neutral when I get into any car, and I always start cars with clutch down.

Just curious really.

Odd, but always good practice to leave a manual in first gear (or reverse facing down on a hill) when parked. Won’t roll away if handbrake fails.


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Maybe I’ve got a poltergeist. German car - German ghost. [emoji317]


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JeffW wrote:Maybe I’ve got a poltergeist. German car - German ghost. [emoji317]


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Me too. Posted reply twice!


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Odd, but always good practice to leave a manual in first gear (or reverse facing down on a hill) when parked. Won’t roll away if handbrake fails.

NEVER do this with a Timing Chain engine, especially a TSI engine - not unless you like having to have your engine rebuilt or scrapped after starting it....

The timing chain tensioner requires hydraulic pressure to apply tension to the chain. When the engine is off, only a small spring is applying tension.
In the case of the 2.0 TSI there is also a ratchet mechanism which is supposed to stop the tensioner plunger from retracting when the engine is off - but this often fails, and brings with it its own problems.

If the crankshaft turns in reverse when the engine is off, there is a danger of the chain slipping a tooth or more. So that when you start the engine the next time, its out of timing and can result in valve/piston damage.

As the chain ages it will stretch, making it more and more reliant on the tensioner to apply proper tension - which makes it more susceptible to this slip when there is no oil pressure i.e. engine not running.

If you leave the car in gear on a hill and it moves on the handbrake, even a bit, with the gear set in the opposite direction of travel then the chain will be turned in reverse and the above can happen.

Many times i have heard of TSI engines having chain failures - and it's after they park and startup next morning - and guess what, they left it in gear.
This can happen even if just parked on a driveway with a slight incline - never leave it parked in any gear to be sure.

I always leave my car in 2nd gear when parked (always have done) whether on a hill or not.

skippy wrote:I always leave my car in 2nd gear when parked (always have done) whether on a hill or not.

Any particular reason why not 1st?

Zanic L3 wrote:

skippy wrote:I always leave my car in 2nd gear when parked (always have done) whether on a hill or not.

Any particular reason why not 1st?

Habit I guess, always has been 2nd gear, although at my local dealership, their site is set on a bit of a hill and there is a sign saying something like 'Customers should apply handbrake fully and leave in 1st gear'!

When I leave my car for any length of time (ie at an Airport), I tend to only partially engage the handbrake and leave in 2nd gear, to prevent the handbrake from binding on.