The Student Room Group
Reply 1
Not sure about the automatic.
For handbrake excessive wear, I simply said make sure that the handbrake gives a good amount of resistance when being pulled back. The handbrake should not need to be pulled very far at all before you can feel alot of tension.
Reply 2
dinkymints
On a test, would you use the handbrake on an auto everywhere you would on a manual?


Yes - use it exactly as you would with a manual for the test (once you've passed, you can be lazy and just use the footbrake or hold it on hills with some revs!). The only thing I would wonder about is, when you are stationary and using the handbrake, would they expect you to put the car into neutral (which is totally unnecessary) or would they be fine if you left in in drive with the handbrake on?
Reply 3
Sync
Yes - use it exactly as you would with a manual for the test (once you've passed, you can be lazy and just use the footbrake or hold it on hills with some revs!). The only thing I would wonder about is, when you are stationary and using the handbrake, would they expect you to put the car into neutral (which is totally unnecessary) or would they be fine if you left in in drive with the handbrake on?


Yeah, that's another thing I was unsure about... although someone told me to put it in neutral as it might help the handbrake...
Reply 4
I thought automatics couldnt roll back?
Yes keep the handbrake on at junctions. The idea behind it is that if someone crashes into the back of you, you dont panic, lift your feet off the pedals and jolt forward into the car in front - this would definitely happen in an automatic if you released the footbrake!

Also you would want to put in neutral if you were expecting to stop for more than a few seconds. You should never have it in drive with the handbrake on, as this does produce excessive wear on the brakes because the wheels are trying to move forward.

If you are stopping for a second or so, you should be fine with just the footbrake, as you would be in a manual.

I don't drive and never have driven an automatic by the way. But I do know how they work.
Reply 6
I thought automatics had torque convertors/centrifugal clutch which meant that when the engine revs were at idle or the car was stationary the transmission was not enagaged. Hence why the engine does not stall.

Ask your instructor is probs your best plan, or google is your friend. You have to realise that most people on here drive manuals and/or learnt in manuals so cannot advise with any degree of certainty what you will be judged on in tests. What has your instructor taught you?

Graham

Edit: sorry mate, just realised you said drive with handbrake, and not drive with footbrake in which case you are probably right...although i still think that they have clutchs of a sort?
Reply 7
1hundredreasons
Also you would want to put in neutral if you were expecting to stop for more than a few seconds.


From a safety point of view, perhaps. But from a mechanical point of view, leaving the car in neutral doesn't do any harm to the engine or transmission. However, you don't want to leave it in drive and stop it moving with the footbrake, as if the discs are hot, they can warp.
Reply 8
gbduo

Ask your instructor is probs your best plan, or google is your friend. You have to realise that most people on here drive manuals and/or learnt in manuals so cannot advise with any degree of certainty what you will be judged on in tests. What has your instructor taught you?


I didn't have an instructor anymore (see first post) - and I do realise that but was a bit desperate by then (and I had tried Google.) But anyway, I passed! Woooo! Thanks all :smile:
Reply 9
Ghost
I thought automatics couldnt roll back?


Nope, they cant!! Using the parking brake is not a good idea when driving imo. Firstly, my car will roll forward and make an awful screeching noise if you are pointed downhill. Its best just to use the foot brake - and besides, you are wearing it out every time!!

An automatic has no clutch, but a torque converter, this means that at low speed the car can rev at any speed and still provide forward force to the wheels (hence the car not rolling back). At higher speeds, the toque converter locks - providing direct force from the engine to the wheels without any energy loss.

I prefer to use "park" in traffic at a standstill rather than neutral and the handbrake. In park, the wheels are effectively locked to the car (but can still move about 20cm back and forward).
Reply 10
danesh
Nope, they cant!!


mine does, like a normal car.
Reply 11
Just a point, if you passed in an Auto, you only have an Auto licence, right?
Reply 12
Minardi
Just a point, if you passed in an Auto, you only have an Auto licence, right?


Yeah, unfortunately. I'd been learning in a manual but my instructor told me after the cancellation date that I wouldn't be ready for my test, so I went ahead and took it in the auto (which I'll be driving for the forseeable future anyway) - I live in the middle of nowhere and just need to be able to DRIVE!
Reply 13
Well done for passing :smile:
no my instructor said you dont need to put your handbrake on in an automatic as i am learning in one and have only ever put the handbrake on once when waiting at traffic lights for ages and kept it in drive, so usually i just use my footbrake when waiting at junctions