Automatic gearbox

Anchundan

Anchundan

Anchundan

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Joined
26 Feb 2004
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China (Qinhuangdao)
I'm kind of embarrassed to ask this question! When pulling up to (red) traffic lights in an automatic, and brake to a stop, are you supposed to put the car into neutral? Because as soon as you let go of the brake, even before you press the accelerator, the car starts to move forwards. Therefore if still in 'Drive' with the brake pressed, is the car straining?

Or is it clever enough to realise that you are not moving and the brake is pressed, that it automatically puts it into neutral?
 
If I stop for more than 5secs then its neutral and handbrake. I do it more to stop the disc's from getting warped from the heat of the pads.

Also I try and creep upto the car infront to try and keep moving rather than rushing up and waiting.
 
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AlfCheesey said:
I'm kind of embarrassed to ask this question! When pulling up to (red) traffic lights in an automatic, and brake to a stop, are you supposed to put the car into neutral? Because as soon as you let go of the brake, even before you press the accelerator, the car starts to move forwards. Therefore if still in 'Drive' with the brake pressed, is the car straining?

Or is it clever enough to realise that you are not moving and the brake is pressed, that it automatically puts it into neutral?
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Unless you are going to be stopped for a few minutes or more .... i.e. a level crossing, I wouldn't bother. Modern auto's are designed to be held on the foot brake.
 
yep i hold them on the foot brake as well. takes too long to put it in neutral and handbrake on, then brake again just to put to drive then accelerate. either drive, reverse or park for me.

If your discs are getting hot enough for warping to be an issue on the roads your doing something wrong.
 
Usel said:
If I stop for more than 5secs then its neutral and handbrake. I do it more to stop the disc's from getting warped from the heat of the pads.

Also I try and creep upto the car infront to try and keep moving rather than rushing up and waiting.
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You're worried about overheating the disks under normal driving?

Assuming the OP is talking about a torque converter auto then leave it in drive unless it is looking like you are going to be stationary for more than 5 minutes or so. It puts more wear on the gearbox going in and out of neutral than it does leaving them churning the torque converter over.
 
Usel said:
If I stop for more than 5secs then its neutral and handbrake. I do it more to stop the disc's from getting warped from the heat of the pads.

Also I try and creep upto the car infront to try and keep moving rather than rushing up and waiting.
Click to expand...

:eek:

And how long do you wait before turning the engine off, 10 seconds?
 
I always wondered this when I had my Auto. I always put mine in neutral as I figured leaving it in drive was like having a normal clutch on the bitting point all the time whenever you stopped at lights causing more/faster wear?
 
My car computer shows a small drop in fuel consumption when putting into neutral compared with leaving in drive.

I still never bother though.
 
I'm suprised no one has mentioned burning the retina's off the driver behind, as you sit there with your foot on the pedal..

I know that it does no damage to the box if you leave it in drive, but handbrake, neutral for me most the time. for several reasons
1. fuel consumption is higher, engine straining against a stall
2. less stress on my foot when waiting
3 the first point in my post ,I hate it when I have to look at others brake lights when I know they've stopped, so I try not to do the same to the person behind.


bullit
 
bullit in head said:
I'm suprised no one has mentioned burning the retina's off the driver behind, as you sit there with your foot on the pedal..
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Annoys me a lot when 90% odd of drivers sit on the foot brake, why not use the handbrake :confused: (can understand this with autos being a bit different).
 
Duke said:
Annoys me a lot when 90% odd of drivers sit on the foot brake, why not use the handbrake :confused: (can understand this with autos being a bit different).
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I find it more of a faff to use the handbrake at lights that change quickly. Much easier to just rest your foot on the brake.

Problem.png


problem? :)
 
I leave it in drive too. Don't have to keep the foot on the brake either, brakes stay on automatically, I just hit the accelerator when I want to go again and the brakes come off.
 
Using the hand-brake is all fine and dandy if you have one, a lot of modern autos actually have electronic parking brakes though ...which are really just meant for 'parking' or stopping for long periods, they aren't quite so easy to just pull on and off as hand-brakes.

The Audi A4 manual uses an electronic brake too, it's a bit of a faff to use this like an ordinary hand-brake as you have to press the brake peddle to get it to disengage.

Then there are cars that use a foot operated mechanical park brake, this again ...not practical to use except for parking for a while.

Personally I haven't ever really had any problems with people's brake lights bothering me.
 
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