So anyway, I go to school tonight. I back into a spot on maybe a 1 inch incline. I go to my 2 1/2 hour class, only to come out to a tow truck and my car not in the same spot where I left it. I approach the tow truck driver, and ask him why my car was moved. He said that my call had rolled and hit another car across the way in the rear. So he had to come and move my car. There was no damage(thank god) to the other car. My 8 however got a 1/2 inch black mark on the front bumper, no dents or anything. The thing is my emergency brake was engaged. How did my car move with the emergency brake on? The other day when I pulled into my driveway(with again maybe an inch incline), when I pulled the emergency brake the car rolled backward a foot or two until I pulled the brake lever even higher. I thought it was nothing and went about my business. Anyway, back to school. The tow truck guy charged me 75 bucks for that. What do you think I should do? Has anyone else had this problem? Mazda has to compensate me for this right? Is it bad to leave the car engaged in a gear while parked on an incline. I heard that it was? I have an appointment Sat. for an oil change, maybe Ill drop it off friday and have them fix the problem. Well sorry to burden everyone else with my problems, but i had to vent. Other then that I love my car!

 

there is nothing you can do about it, and mazda won't cover it either. it seems as if the rx8 parking brake isn't very good at holding the car. sorry bro, but you're S.O.L. just a lesson learned...NEVER park you car without putting it in gear.

 

My e-brake feels pretty strong -- I never have to engage it very far in order to hold the car fast on a slight incline.

Like Dan-o says: on a steeper incline ALWAYS put the car in gear -- always in the opposite direction of the incline.

It sounds to me like the e-brake was either out of adjustment or the cable was too slack or something. At any rate your e-brake obviously wasn't engaging the rear calipers.

Probably the best that Mazda would be willing to do for you would be to adjust/fix the e-brake so that it operates properly.

 

when you cut your car off, make sure it is in gear, just put it in first gear and you shouldn't have the problem of it rolling like that.

 

The incline is not like you guys may think. The incline was so minut that you cant even call it an incline. I had never ever parked my other sticks with it in gear and they werent brand new. I have parked on some big hills as well. Well anyway Im gonna call Mazda first thing in the morning and bitch and complain like never before. Ill get something out of this. Ill let you know what they do for me.

Thanx for the info

-Rich

 

It's happen to me too....Mazda refuses to cover it and blames it on me...my ebrake is screwed up and i can drive perfectly with it oin, and they say nothing is wrong...

 

cause there isn't anything wrong, it's just weak. i guess the spring tension on the rear caliper just isn't strong enough. you ever notice on a really cold day, when you release the e-brake, you hear a clunking sound??? yea, just shows you that the e-brake is weak. mechanically, it's working the way it should, just weak. i feel like i'm repeating the same thing, just worded differently. mazda isn't going to do anything about it. unless they have enough complaints to actually turn it into a re-call and give everyone stronger/new rear calipers. JUST STICK IT IN GEAR. that what you're supposed to do anyway, weren't you taught that when learning to drive manual???????

 

Why wouldn't you put it in gear? 1st or reverse depending on which side is on the downside of the incline. Its not a chore and its cheap insurance.

 

When you pull up the lever do not push the button down, it makes a difference. Try putting your break on holding down the button, and drive. Then try it without the button. You can usually notice a difference.

 

Mazda sounds like a bunch of ******** in plain english. I have never had any other problems with other car companies. From all the stories on here, from bad technicians, to mazda refusing some issues. If I was Mazda, I would want to keep my customers coming back and would do anything in my power to keep them. Mazda better get their **** together if they plan on competing with other companies.

 

....i don't think so. that button is just so you can release it. "i like you man, but you're crazy" - frank the tank.

 

woa...calm down hoss. Mazda isn't doing anything wrong. you're just not understanding. work for a car manufacturer/dealer....then you'd understand. can't just see everything from a consumers stand point, gotta look at the end too.

 

First off dont yell. Im not your kids, wife, or gf. I figured I wouldnt have to put it in gear. I never had to in my other cars. Please don't talk to me like im some kind of retard. The 8 has had many other problems that I dont see you flaming anyone else for it, so dont flame me.

Lata

 

lots of people who are having this problem probably at some point drove the car with the E-brake on by accident, ruining the tension, in addition

we know why Morgan couldn't get it up...she didn't pull hard enough

the guy who started the thread maybe he couldn't get it up either

really on mine it is sticking straight up almost...I pull on it really hard and trying to get it down is usually difficult

 

Funny. the parking break on my rx7 was real bad. One time, i came out to my car and it was half a block away, up against another car. No damage though. The RX8 parking break is weak too. Always put it in gear.

 

damn...you can hear me through this forum? i didn't even know i was yelling. who said i was talking to you like you were some retard? that reply wasn't even meant for you, it was for morgan (hence it was posted right after morgan's post.) you don't see me flaming anyone else, cause 1.) i don't flame 2.) i'm sure you didn't check all my posts using the search. i'm sorry that your car was damaged and understand you needed to vent. this is a forum, last time i checked, which gives me the right to post my opinions. i was just giving you a heads up, not flaming. writing in caps doesn't mean i'm yelling either. its a highlight, italics, bold print, something to catch your eye.

well atleast i know you'll be putting your car in gear whenever you park from now on. my job here is done. another day, another person helped...all in a days work of being a superhero.

LatER

 

So it's OK to yell at them? You have issues.


Wait - you're the one wanting to blame Mazda for you not doing what you were supposed to! OK, so you didn't "know" , that doesn't make you right and them wrong. I think it's even in the owner's manual.

You screwed up. It's not Mazda's fault. Get a grip, take responsibility, and stop trying to blame-shift.

 

Alright, I see where everyone is coming from. My only argument is if I knew that the 8 needed to be in gear when parked, do you honestly believe I wouldn't follow Mazda's advice to keep my car out of any trouble? Sorry if I was a dick to some of you. I have calmed down alot and realized there is damage in what happen and I should be happy. My car is fine, the mark came out and the other car had no damage. The only question I have for Mazda tomorrow, is what is the purpose of the parking brake, for show? Isn't it "supposed" to keep the car in it's place? Maybe I am confused? Well anyway tomorrow is another day, and I will be back to post my progress with Mazda tomorrow. Thanx for the info guys.

Sorry again,

Rich

 

ok if you are going to the dealer...of course have them check it out...but also make sure they tighten the tension of the cable...I can tell you how to do it manually but since you are going in forget it

 

I find it interesting that it's called a parking brake, yet, it's not warrantied if your car rolls. This kind of makes it a mute point to say MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS IN GEAR. It's not a parking brake then is it. Just my.02.

 

haha...yea i know. kind of like a french fry...it's not french?? :D

 

When I got my 8, about 13000 miles ago, I thought that the parking brake was way too loose. So I had it tightened up at the first service, and have had no problems since. It'll hold just fine if it's adjusted right. But Paterno's right - you should always leave the car in gear. No sense in taking a chance.

 

Fill out an incident report on www.nhtsa.gov

With enough complaints Mazda can be forced to address the parking brake issue with a recall. Yes you should have placed the car in gear, but transmissions have been known to jump out of gear too.

Make the report...

 

This story is not unique, there have been a couple of instances where users commented on their rx-8 rolling after parking. It seems you need to yank harder the e-brake to engage it properly.

Things to note in the future:

- Put the car in 1st gear when parked
- Don't be limped wristed and pull on the e-brake harder than you normally do.
- Somebody trade trunk lids with me
- That is all....

 

Yeah, I've learned that even if your ebrake is strong enough to normally hold it on a hill, it's still a good idea to just throw the car in gear as a precaution. I had a Nissan Sentra as my first car and I'll never forget the day the lawn guy from across the street came to the door to ask if that was my car blocking the road. Man, was I embarassed. Turns out my ebrake was set too, it was just a bit loose and I hadn't set it high enough. Never parked the car without putting it in gear since.