Been noticing that sometimes, not all the time, that the car will not hold in first gear. Like its slipping, it will grab then let go over and over and I'm sure the car would go down the hill if I just left it there. So I have been having to use thee-brake all the time now. I was thinking maybe low compression? Or maybe a bad clutch?

 

A Rotary Engine does not have the same type of 'static compression' like in a piston engine.

It is normal that the wheels may turn the engine when off on a steep hill. Always, always use your hand-brake, and turn your front wheels towards the kerb in the direction you will roll.


If it was a bad clutch, you would notice slippage on the highway in 5th or 6th gear. Accelerate hard from 3,000 rpms. If the revs come up, and the road speed doesn't, the clutch is slipping.

 

I don't get why people don't use the ebrake every time.

 

hey, thanks for the reply. Yeah when someone told me it might be compression I got really worried so I'm glad to hear that it is normal. I will always use my hand brake now jedi

 

I don't use anything but the handbrake. If my car ever gets towed I'd rather the thing be in neutral then first gear.

 

not using the ebrake is like only using engine braking to slow down... why the hell is there a brake there if you not gonna use it.

 

they invent the break for a reason ...use it even when u think its useless.....or else you will be wasting your money :D

 

+++1

 

I'm gathering from what was written before, that this "slip and grab" phenomena that SoloMazda8 described and some of you have experienced, occurs while going down hill. If it happens just at low speed, it might have something to do with the fact that fuel flow is shut off when you lift off the gas pedal and remains shut off until the engine approaches idle speed at which time it is restored. When fuel flow is restored, it reduces the engine drag and makes it feel as though the clutch is slipping because all of a sudden the car speeds up. When the fuel flow is cut, engine drag is increased and that feels like the clutch suddenly grabs and the car slows down.

Does any of this accurately describe what you are experiencing

 

^No. I believe what the OP is referring to is when he parks the car on an incline after putting the car in 1st gear the car tends to roll down the hill. On a piston engine with good compression that wouldn't happen, but rotary engines don't seal as well when the engine is off. The "slip and grab" phenomenon is because there are certain positions in the engines rotation that require more force to turn it, so it slows down almost to a stop, then lets go, then slows down again, etc.

 

Perhaps I did misunderstand the original thread entry. If parking on an incline is the topic, then SoloMadza8 has already received a pot-full of good advice to which I'll add:

In addition to setting the parking brake, use the curb as a wheel block on the front wheels. When parking down hill, once the car is parallel to the curb, turn the wheels as far to the right as they will go. Then let the car roll forward slowly until the right front wheel makes contact with the curb and stops the car's forward motion. When parking up hill, turn the front wheels as far to the left as possible. Let the car roll backwards slowly until the right front wheel contacts the curb and stops the car's rearward motion. With curb contact, should things let go, the car will not have the opportunity to move and will therefore not have any momentum.

For those in right hand drive countries, reverse the process since your curbs will be on the opposite side from left hand drive countries.

 

So is it an e-brake (emergency) or parking brake?

 

Neither, it's a handbrake!

 

I like parking brake but hand brake is good. i would NOT call it an emergency brake.

Some idiot came into my work the othe day and said, "a few days ago I had to make an emergency stop so i stomped on the e brake and ever since then my service brakes light wont go off. What would cause that"

 

e brake is anything but and emergency brake, you'd be skidding into traffic with the wheels locking.

I never understood how some people can park their car "just" in gear without the side brakes, how I call it:p

Always use them side brakes!

 

Because then they could be like your wife who forgets its on.

Then drive around and destroy the brake system.

I remember reading some members have already done this! No spouse needed.

 

How can you even move the car without stalling it with the handbrake on? I've forgotten to let it go once or twice and realized it when I stalled instantly. "hmm, I'm revving the engine and letting the clutch out and smoke is billowing everywhere but I'm not moving....."

Well OK, there was no clutch smoke when I did it, but you get my point.

 

Umm...

Not rx8 related, but I HAVE had to use the EMERGENCY BRAKE in my truck before to stop it, and while it's primary use is for a parking brake, there is a situation where it WILL become an EMERGENCY BRAKE when it's the only thing you've got left... In my particular instance, the front brake line broke off at the banjo bolt when I was in traffic on a city street going about 35mph. I hit the brake, and all the sudden the pedal went straight to the floor. I had to modulate the EMERGENCY BRAKE to get the truck stopped without locking up the rear tires, or hitting anyone...

So yeah, it is most definatly an EMERGENCY BRAKE when there is an actual and true emergency. All other times, it's just a parking brake...

That being said, I rarely use a parking brake unless I'm parked on a steep incline. I never use it in the winter, as I really hate it when the e-brake freezes up and I have to drive the first little bit of time with the e-brake riding, until it warms up enough to let go. Very not cool.

 

There is another occasion where the handbrake can be used as an e brake, coming down an icy hill. We had an occasion several years back in my old 1st. Gen RX-7 where a wet, wet snow fell and then the temperature dropped during rush hour.

Before you know what was up ahead it was too late to bail on driving down that stretch. Essentially the cars went down one by one like kids on a toboggan hill. The strategy was move as slow as possible until down. I found out right off that all the brake pedal did, even with a slight application, was lock up the font wheels and completely remove directional control.

So, it was a long trip down with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the hand brake.

The 8 is my first ABS vehicle, so I am not sure how it reacts in conditions this extreme. Luckily they are rare occurances.

Troy

 

Be sure to turn the wheel into the curb. The E-brake can loose its grip as the brake parts cool down.... I learned that lesson the day I chased my old RX-7 down a steep driveway.

 

frontier You had no other choice
twelch I do the same kind of thing on my quad on very steep hills.
I was more refering to idiots who use it to stop just because someone cuts them off and all they do is completely loose control.