i have often noticed when a driver gets out of their car, it moves a couple of inches before coming to a halt

i am wondering what this is all about?

it looks like the small movement you get when, in a manual car, you turn the engine off with it still in gear and allow it to roll to take up the slack

could anyone explain this?

thanks
James (UK)

 

Are you refering to a particular model? Is the vehicle on an incline? Is the engine running? Is it auto trans or manual? Sounds like skack in the drive train aft of the transmision

 

i've since found out that it is people turning the engine off, leaving the car in park and not applying the E brake. the movement is a little slack being taken up. so yes on autos, normally on a slight hill

i have only seen this on american cars. maybe because of the prevalence of autos. or the ease/habit of applying the handbrake on european cars

 

As much as I hate to mention it. I believe with auto mautic transmissions, a lot of people do not use the parking brake. They rely on the park position or in the case of a manual trans, they leave it in gear.
If this occures on any piece of equipment and a slight grade is involved, a little lost montion will occur. The problemis probably the operators and not the vehicles.

 

not just american cars its more of the wear n tear on the car. rear differentials after racking up some miles will do that the slop that builds up my buddies truck dose that. its got about 15 degrees of movemevnt in the rearend

 

on manuel cars too...its because a car will not start in gear...so that you dont get in and try to take of with the emergency brake still on.with it in neutral and the emergency brake on u could just get in and start it up and take off and flat spot your tires