Driving question

[nobby24]

I have a CR-V automatic and you stop at traffic lights, now what do you do, leave it in 'D' and apply the foot brake or do you shift into 'N' and apply the foot brake till the lights change? Is it harmful to sit with the brake on and the gearbox in 'N'?

:confused:

[nobby24]

Oops, I meant is it harmful to sit with the brake on and the gearbox in 'D'?

:rolleyes:

[rdorman]

Leave it in drive

[Black Pearl]

Interesting, I have never heard that question before. I agree with rdorman, leave it in Drive.

I don't know this for a fact, but I would think that shifting into Neutral at every traffic light over the lifetime of the car of the car would have an adverse effect on the transmission. Going from neutral to a gear creates a sudden torque impact on the transmission parts. Remaining in Drive leaves those parts under a constant small load. By the way keep your foot off the accellerator when sitting at light (unless you live in Pittsburgh, in which case on hills, right before the light turns green you step on the gas slightly before you leave off the brake so that you won't drift backwards into the guy behind you).

[dlarsoncrv]

Leave it in drive


X2!!.......

[lizzurd]

Leaving it in drive eliminates the chance that when the light turns green you nail the gas and forget you are in neutral....i have seen it happen a few times....may have done it once or twice myself.

[tsmithvt]

Oops, I meant is it harmful to sit with the brake on and the gearbox in 'D'?

:rolleyes:

I'm going to guess that you are either a new driver or you have previously only driven manual transmissions. If you did not already realize it, your AUTOMATIC transmission is equipped with a torque converter between it and the crankshaft of the engine. It takes the place of a clutch and is a fancy fluid coupling. The torque converter allows you to stop your car without stalling the engine. The entire drive line is designed to be stopped with the transmission in "DRIVE". The vehicle will tend to creep if you don't keep your foot on the brake, however. This is because of the fluid resistance in the converter. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

The only time it might be worth it to place the transmission in "Neutral" or "PARK" is if you intend to be sitting still for a relatively long period, with the engine idling. Then the preference should be "PARK" so that you can take your foot off the brake.:)

[2RedV's]

Oops, I meant is it harmful to sit with the brake on and the gearbox in 'D'?

:rolleyes:Won't harm a thing.

[nobby24]

Thanks for the replies chaps, auto boxes are obviously a clever piece of kit!

[Black Pearl]

Thanks for the replies chaps, auto boxes are obviously a clever piece of kit!

You guys really know how to use the language! Oh, thats right, you invented it! I thoroughly enjoyed your reply, thanks!

[Davecr-v]

I have heard leaving a car in netral uses more fuel than in other settings I would leave it in D on a hill sometimes you can let off the brake and the car will just sit but shifting around will add extra wear and tear on your tranny. I do like putting the car in N and sitting off the brake on flat ground i.e. Stuck at a long red light or on a highway thats stopped, I like being able to drop the lever down 1 and go rather than put it in park than shift through the whole transmission.