Can an automatic transmission car be turned off in N gear?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission car can be turned off in N gear when parking on a slope. If you shift to P gear before turning off the engine on a slope, it is easy for the car to roll backward. However, parking on flat ground is different. After the vehicle comes to a complete stop with the brakes applied, first shift to N gear, then engage the handbrake, release the foot brake before turning off the engine, and finally shift to P gear after turning off the engine. Automatic transmission means the driver does not need to manually shift gears; the vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. Generally, there are six gear positions on an automatic transmission car, from top to bottom: P gear, R gear, N gear, D gear, S gear, and L gear.
As a veteran driver with thirty years of experience, I've tried turning off the engine in N gear. Technically, it's possible, but I absolutely don't recommend it. N gear is neutral, which only disconnects the power output without locking the transmission gears. On slopes or flat ground, if the handbrake fails, the car might roll and cause an accident. Once, I was lazy and did this—when I returned from shopping, I found my car had slid half a meter and nearly hit my neighbor's car. For daily parking and turning off the engine, always using P gear is the safest, as it locks the transmission to prevent any movement. Develop good habits: start the engine in P gear when getting in, and turn it off in P gear when getting out. This habit can extend your car's lifespan and avoid repair troubles. By the way, if you're stopping for a very short time at a red light, briefly turning off the engine in N gear to save some fuel is acceptable, but make sure to keep your foot on the brake.
