Most drivers know how irritating it can be to have a car blocking in front of you in a secluded parking lot. Sometimes, it’s not even your own fault: Maybe there was an accident and the repair shop didn’t have enough hands to fix your car. Or, perhaps the parking lot is next to a private driveway and the car in front of you is blocking your way to work.
But what happens when you’re caught in this situation and it’s actually your own fault? The infuriating thing about this is that you know you shouldn’t have been driving in the first place, but there’s really nothing you can do about it now. Not even if you’re the one who hit the back of the car in front of you – which is probably the case. So you’ll just have to deal with the pain and the traffic jam, right?
Wrong. If you park in the right place, you won’t have this problem. This is because the right place tends to have plenty of room, and it forces the other drivers to park somewhere else. So, in these cases, you can adjust the parking brake to make it harder for your car to be towed away. This article will teach you how to do just that.
Table of Contents
Procedure
You’ll need a few things to accomplish this task. To begin with, you’ll need a wrench or a pair of pliers. Then, you’ll need to detach the hand brake cable, the one that connects the wheel and the brake. After that, you’ll need to pull, or push, the control valve rod that connects the brake system to the master cylinder. Then, you can reconnect the hand brake cable and, finally, test the brake system by pressing the pedal and observing whether the car stops or rolls away. If it stops without too much effort, you’re done! Otherwise, you’ll need to repeat the procedure.
How Does It Work?
The parking brake, which is also known as the hand brake or emergency brake, is a mechanical device that helps you stop your car in case of an accident or other mishap. It acts like a large spring that’s attached to the wheel and held in place by a rod that connects the brake system to the master cylinder. So, when you press the brake pedal, the brake pads begin to apply pressure against the tires and slow down your car. In addition, the hand brake prevents the car from rolling away in case you or a pedestrian are hit by a car or another vehicle while trying to stop it. In this case, the hand brake would help protect you from injury and also keep the vehicle from further damage.
But, if you were to leave the parking brake applied when you go for a drive, it would act like a regular brake and stop your car when you press the pedal. So, you must constantly be careful when using this safety feature because even a small mistake can cause major damage to your vehicle. Also, if you’re not careful when disconnecting the hand brake, you’ll lose all the pressure and the car will keep moving. So take the time to properly remove the hand brake before putting the car in gear. Remember: If it’s cold, your hands will be less steady and the task could be made more difficult.
Tips
Even though this procedure isn’t too complicated, there are a few tips that can make it easier. First of all, make sure that the car is parked in the right place. If you park in your usual spot, you know that you’ll eventually have this problem. So, instead, park far away from the entrance and, if possible, in a spot that provides you with a good view of the road ahead. This way, you’ll know for sure that you won’t be blocking the driveway of a home or business owner who doesn’t want you to park there. It’s also a good idea to call the hotel management or office building security and ask them to keep an eye out for tow trucks that might be coming to haul away your vehicle. In some cases, the hotel management will also allow you to park for free during the night if you call them in advance. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to avoid traffic jams as well as parking tickets by finding a new location when you’ve had enough of being blocked in.
Also, make sure that you’ve disconnected the battery and the ignition key prior to starting the car. This way, you can be sure that the transmission is not already in gear when the engine starts knocking. Also, if the battery is dead and it’s still cold outside, you’ll need to warm up the engine before attempting this procedure. Another important point to make is that if the car in front of you is blocking the entire road, you’ll need to move somewhere else. Sometimes, the police will pull up alongside the car in front of you and ask you to move over. In these cases, it’s up to you whether you cooperate or not. However, you’ll need to park somewhere else and avoid coming back to the scene until the tow truck arrives to tow away your vehicle. This is to prevent additional tickets and fines from getting issued due to the police having to find a new location to park.
As previously stated, this procedure isn’t difficult, but, since it can be dangerous, you must be careful not to make any mistakes. Even a small mistake can cause major damage to your car. If this happens, you’ll need to start all over again and pay for all the repairs because you won’t have access to your car’s warranty any more. So take the time to learn how to do this procedure correctly the first time around. This way, you’ll avoid any unnecessary stress and frustration later on down the road. Also, make sure that you’ve had your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic prior to driving it. The mechanic will be able to tell you whether or not the car is in good condition and if any additional work needs to be done. This will help you identify potential problems before you drive off in the car and have an accident. It’s also a good idea to purchase a parking tag if you feel you’ll be going in and out of lots a lot. This will save you from having to find a space every time you go to park and help you remember the location if you’ve had enough of searching for spaces. In some cases, the lots with parking cameras allow you to park for free, so it’s worth looking into.
So that’s it. A few simple steps and you’ll be able to easily adjust the parking brake on your car. Follow these instructions carefully the first time you try it and you’ll be able to stop your car in case of an accident or other mishap. In most cases, this will help prevent car damage and injuries to those around you as well as keep your car from being towed away. Also, make sure to park in a legal space when possible and call the hotel management or office security if you’re ever blocked in.