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when you park a vehicle with a manual transmission on a hill you should ?

When You Park a Vehicle with a Manual Transmission on a Hill: The Right Procedure

Parking a manual transmission vehicle on a hill can be a bit tricky, especially for drivers who are not accustomed to the process. Doing it correctly can prevent your vehicle from rolling away and potentially causing property damage. Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you park your manual transmission vehicle safely on a hill without any incident.

**1. Position Yourself Appropriately**

First and foremost, ensure that you park the vehicle with the wheels oriented correctly. If your vehicle is parked facing downhill, turn the wheels to the left so that they are parallel to the curb. This measure allows the vehicle, in the unlikely event it rolls, to move towards the curb, which can prevent it from sliding off the side of the road.

**2. Order of Actions for Uphill Parking**

If you are parking facing uphill, shift the car into reverse (R or Rev) before turning off the engine and immediately engage the parking brake. The purpose of this step is to lock the transmission, which helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards.

**3. For Downhill Pitches**

When parking downhill, you need to perform a slightly different set of actions. You should shift into 1st gear, then turn the steering wheel so that it presses against the curb. This is your primary defense against rolling. Only after you have performed all these actions, you can turn off the engine. Engage the parking brake as the last step.

**4. Utilize the Parking Brake**

Always remember, after you’ve properly set the gears and the wheel orientation, the next critical step is securing your vehicle by firmly applying the parking brake (handbrake). The parking brake should always be engaged last after the vehicle is in the proper gear and stationary. The importance of using the handbrake cannot be understated as it provides an additional safety measure to prevent the car from rolling away when parked on an incline.

**5. Final Check**

Before walking away from your vehicle and turning the keys over, make sure the engine is off and all the lights are turned off to conserve fuel and prevent battery drain. Also, confirm that the vehicle is in the correct gear, the wheels are positioned properly, and the parking brake is firmly engaged. This additional measure can provide you peace of mind that your vehicle is safely parked.

**6. Preventing Common Mistakes: Gears and Emergency Brake**

It is crucial to prevent certain mistakes that could result in your car rolling away on a hill. Make sure that you never keep the car in neutral (N) when on an incline. After securing the transmission, correctly engaging the emergency brake is vital — do not make the mistake of skipping this step, as the transmission gears alone may not hold the car still.

In conclusion, parking a manual transmission vehicle on a hill requires careful observation of the environment and understanding of how to effectively and safely engage the transmission, the wheel steering, and the handbrake. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure your vehicle remains in place until you’re ready to drive again. Always consider environmental factors such as the angle of the hill, the weather, and the terrain, as these can influence the ease or difficulty of parking. Safe driving and parking practices on hills are a critical aspect of vehicle control and driver safety.