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I have a 91 6-speed when I park the car should I put it in 1st gear , reverse or neutral I have been told several things and as always I believe here I will get the correct answer.
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GS Diva
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I usually put mine in 1st gear although I don't know why!
Elaine
Elaine
Ken
Gone but not forgotten
Reverse is the safest bet for all manual transmissions. 
_ken
_ken
twiget
Well-known member
Ken said:Reverse is the safest bet for all manual transmissions.
_ken
Why is that?
Normaly I leave my GS in neutral with the parking brake engaged. On a hill I'll put her in 1st with the parking brake.
Jason
maxrevs85
Well-known member
Hmmm...I didnt think you could lock the steering column with out it in reverse. Ken, since yours isnt stock, that probably excludeds you.
Ken
Gone but not forgotten
Yeah, that excludes me...
..my transmission doesn't lock.
You want to leave the transmission in first or reverse when you park a car with a stick shift, the idea being, putting it in gear uses the compression of the engine to help prevent the car from moving. If the wheels have to make the cylinders compress their air in order to move, your car will have a harder time rolling. You want to use the gear with the highest ratio, and first gear or reverse always have the highest ratios (close enough to use either gear).
Even if you're in first or reverse, don't rely on engine compression to keep the car from moving-you should always use the parking brake, too. (And it won't hurt turning the wheels toward the curb if you're on a hill.)
_ken
..my transmission doesn't lock.
You want to leave the transmission in first or reverse when you park a car with a stick shift, the idea being, putting it in gear uses the compression of the engine to help prevent the car from moving. If the wheels have to make the cylinders compress their air in order to move, your car will have a harder time rolling. You want to use the gear with the highest ratio, and first gear or reverse always have the highest ratios (close enough to use either gear).
Even if you're in first or reverse, don't rely on engine compression to keep the car from moving-you should always use the parking brake, too. (And it won't hurt turning the wheels toward the curb if you're on a hill.)
_ken
4LT GS RoadsterDitto that . . .
twiget
Well-known member
Re: Yeah, that excludes me...
I thought so, I was just curious if you knew something special about reverse that made it more safe than 1st.
Jason
Ken said:..my transmission doesn't lock.
You want to leave the transmission in first or reverse when you park a car with a stick shift, the idea being, putting it in gear uses the compression of the engine to help prevent the car from moving. If the wheels have to make the cylinders compress their air in order to move, your car will have a harder time rolling. You want to use the gear with the highest ratio, and first gear or reverse always have the highest ratios (close enough to use either gear).
Even if you're in first or reverse, don't rely on engine compression to keep the car from moving-you should always use the parking brake, too. (And it won't hurt turning the wheels toward the curb if you're on a hill.)
_ken
I thought so, I was just curious if you knew something special about reverse that made it more safe than 1st.
Jason
JohnnyC
Well-known member
I usually just flip mine down to 4th, it is an easy move down after I remove the key, just all in one motion. I "knew" reverse is the best due to the fact it is the highest gear ratio. I feel any gear is safer than neutral. Plus, the parking break of course.
John
John
I know the 4+3 cars (at least in '87) required you to put the car in reverse to get the key out of the ignition... any reason why GM did that?
maxrevs85
Well-known member
They did that to prevent the column from being locked while driving. Thats Why I questioned the fact that GS Diva was able to park in first and be able to remove the keys. My 85 has to be in reverse.
maxrevs85 said:
I think it might be the GSDiva has a 96 6 Speed LT4 version, not a 4+3.
maxrevs85
Well-known member
I dont want to beat this to death, but I guess I'm alittle confused with how the column locks. I realize she doesnt have a 4+3....yours is pretty much the same as the GS other than the obvious. Do you have a lever you have to push to lock the column and get the key out?:confused
Nope, I can remove the key reguardless of trans position.
I'd bet the way yours operates is specific to the earlier manual C4's.
I'd bet the way yours operates is specific to the earlier manual C4's.
maxrevs85
Well-known member
NEVER MIND . Either your taking me for some kind of idiot or just you dont know .
Ken
Gone but not forgotten
Dave, they changed the steering lock design sometime in the early nineties I believe, where you no longer have to have the car in a specific gear to remove the key. I learned this in '96 when I participated as an "Instructor" at one of the Dream and Drive events they used to put on. They told me if anyone got out-of-hand to shut the engine off and pull the key, and of course I questioned how that was possible since my '87 had to be in reverse to remove the key. It was then explained to me that the shifter could be left in any gear.
_ken
_ken
I'm just saying in the 96 LT4's you can remove the key from any gear, or neutral, it doesn't matter. 
Ken
Gone but not forgotten
6 Shooter said:
Correct!
_ken
maxrevs85
Well-known member
Ok ,so if I'm driving down the road in a 90's Vette ,in any gear and turn the freakin key off, it wont lock the dadburned steering column, right? So how the hell do you lock the piece of s**t!! 
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vigman
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In some year vettes
Early 70-92?
You had to have the tranny in reverse to get the key out of the lock and then the column lock would activate.. and your tranny selector would be froze in reverse ( via cable )
Some people have had the tranny cable lockout removed, then ONLY the steering column is locked via a pin.
What am I missing here?
Vig!
Early 70-92?
You had to have the tranny in reverse to get the key out of the lock and then the column lock would activate.. and your tranny selector would be froze in reverse ( via cable )
Some people have had the tranny cable lockout removed, then ONLY the steering column is locked via a pin.
What am I missing here?
Vig!
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