Thanks for this valuable advice! I will start using it at once. I haven't been in the habit since my manual transmission days.
Hard to shift to reverse when first started in the morning
Is anybody else experiencing this? Whenever I start the car in the morning, shifting to reverse is a little harder than after the car has been running for a while. It’s stiff, I press the button on the shifter and pulling it back is a little hard, it works fine, and after I’ve been driving, shifting to reverse becomes easy. It almost makes me feel like there could be something wrong with the transmission.
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I do the same method as @ATXV18&Ascent19 , E-brake, Neutral, ease off the brake a little, back onto the brake, then move the car into Park.
I do not go through as many steps as others on this thread. I just keep my foot on the brake until I have set the e-brake. I don't account for the car being in park, neutral or drive before I do any of it. I have been in all three positions before setting the e-brake but 90% of the time I am in park before I pull the switch with my foot on the brake, and my results are always the same. I have parked my Outback and Ascent this way since I have had it them, for the first two years of my Outback's life I was parking it on a sloped driveway with no issues at all with this method.
I still drive a manual every day and have to think about it when I drive the wife’s Ascent. I get it. I’ll forget and leave it in drive after I shut the car off.Thank you! I have not used a parking brake since my manual transmission days. I will certainly give this a try.
Yeah, my partner doesn't always use it either. It's a heavy car and if you don't engage the parking brake, it's a lot of weight to put on the parking pawl, especially if you're on any kind of a hill.Thanks for this valuable advice! I will start using it at once. I haven't been in the habit since my manual transmission days.
Brake-->Park-->Parking Brake. Only takes 2 seconds.
Note tangent threads merged...
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I believe that the E-brake is electrically activated, not by a cable.
This is correct. There is a small motor on the rear calipers that compresses the rear pad when the e-brake is activated.I believe that the E-brake is electrically activated, not by a cable.
That's still a use it or lose it situation. I like to know my e-brakes work and regularly test it on deserted street.I believe that the E-brake is electrically activated, not by a cable.
The ascent does that for you. It’ll periodically set the brake when you park if you haven’t done so yourself.That's still a use it or lose it situation. I like to know my e-brakes work and regularly test it on deserted street.
I was refering to bringing the Ascent up to 30 mph on a deserted street and pulling the e-brake to bring it to a stop.The ascent does that for you. It’ll periodically set the brake when you park if you haven’t done so yourself.
I would switch this to a dirt road so you don't ruin your tires. Pro tip for those who don't know how to engage the e-brake while moving, you hold the switch up till it engages.I was refering to bringing the Ascent up to 30 mph on a deserted street and pulling the e-brake to bring it to a stop.
Parking on an incline is literally the worst feeling on an automatic transmission. I put the ebrake on, but even then it's not great. 
I have to say that this is the most annoying thing about our Ascent (2023, Limited), which we experience daily, because the car is always parked on an incline on the driveway or the road. Changing gears is as smooth as butter when the surface is even.
I always use the parking break when I park. I tried a trick of engaging the parking break before I shift to park, which sometimes helps, but not always.
I always use the parking break when I park. I tried a trick of engaging the parking break before I shift to park, which sometimes helps, but not always.
Try neutral first, engage ebrake, then park.I always use the parking break when I park. I tried a trick of engaging the parking break before I shift to park, which sometimes helps, but not always.
I'm with some of the others here. Here's what I do when I park:
1. Come to stop
2. Shift to neutral
3. Apply the parking brake
4. Release brake pedal and allow the car to "rest" on the parking brake
5. Shift to park
I've never had a rough shift when this process is done. Seems like a lot, but it really isn't.
1. Come to stop
2. Shift to neutral
3. Apply the parking brake
4. Release brake pedal and allow the car to "rest" on the parking brake
5. Shift to park
I've never had a rough shift when this process is done. Seems like a lot, but it really isn't.
This is slightly different from what I was doing. I'll try this and let everyone know how it goes.I'm with some of the others here. Here's what I do when I park:
1. Come to stop
2. Shift to neutral
3. Apply the parking brake
4. Release brake pedal and allow the car to "rest" on the parking brake
5. Shift to park
I've never had a rough shift when this process is done. Seems like a lot, but it really isn't.
21 - 37 of 37 Posts
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