Odd problem - rolling down hill

[Franco Cozzo]

Hey guys, found something rather odd today with my Focus.

Parked it up a steep driveway, put the handbrake up 4 clicks, but it wouldn't hold, slowly rolling down the hill, so I put it in first gear and released the clutch, but it would still slowly roll down?

I tested out first gear by itself, in any of my other cars, put it in first on any grade of hill and it wouldn't move, in the Focus it will actually roll down a hill in first.

It slowly rolls, has some resistance, then it rolls quickly, then slowly rolls again and you can feel resistance, then rolls quickly again and again, the engine turns over I guess.

I thought being diesel and having a very high compression ratio, it would be near on impossible for it to roll in gear? Let alone with the hand brake up too?

Anyone else with manual diesels found this?

[smally289]

Doesn't sound right to me, the handbrake should hold it. Be very careful allowing the engine to turn over like that, especially if it is turning backwards.

[DZFord]

Yep, definitely need your handbrake adjusted. Not enough pad to rear rotor contact there!

[Franco Cozzo]

I'll look into getting it adjusted.

Same with my Fez, does the same thing in gear too.

On this particular driveway, very steep upwards slope.

I thought first gear would be able to hold it on any grade no worries?

[casabonka]

I have to rip my handbrake out of the floor on a steep hill and put it in 1st/reverse for it to stay... certainly need the handbrake adjusted!

[Samurai_Chris]

Hhm, still doing it even in gear?

[Franco Cozzo]

Yep, rolls backwards in 1st gear.

[RadioactiveX]

I know in cars when you are parked pointing down the hill, put it to reverse. But when you are parked pointing up the hill, you put the gear in 1st. That's as what is stated in the Drivers License Handbook

[snopony]

hehe had an xb do that once to me... facing uphill, in first, handbrake on. She wanted to check out the neighbours front lawn on the other side of the road i guess. best part was the *nearly parallel * park on her own.

[kevino]

Yes Damo my TDCI did the same thing six weeks ago. Parked the car at work put the brake on went into the building looked out and it had rolled 20 feet away stopping on the flat ground but blocking entrance and exit to the car park. I raced out and moved it and now park where if it did roll again its 2 foot backwards into a kerb.

[LyleXR8]

Cylinders aren't air tight, air slips past the rings and you have very little time when both inlet and exhaust valves are closed,

[Franco Cozzo]

Yeah the hand brake on these things is pox, and even if you leave it in 1st or reverse it will roll back if the hill is steep enough.

[RadioactiveX]

Best to bring with you a block of wood or brix for parking