Do I Still Need to Shift to Neutral with Auto Hold?
3 Answers
With a dual-clutch transmission and auto hold engaged, you cannot shift to neutral because doing so will deactivate the auto hold function. Here are recommendations for shifting gears in different scenarios: 1. When the vehicle fails to start; when using a tow rope or needing to be towed by another vehicle, the gear selector should be placed in N (Neutral) and never in P (Park) for forced towing. This is because shifting to P locks the transmission output shaft to the transmission housing with a mechanical lock pin. Forced towing in P can easily damage transmission and drivetrain components. 2. For brief stops; when the car is briefly stopped on a flat surface, such as waiting at a red light as mentioned earlier, you should generally shift to N first, engage the parking brake to let it function, then shift to P, and finally release the brake.
Over the years of driving automatic transmission cars, I've found the auto-hold function incredibly convenient. At red lights or when waiting, just press the brake to activate it, and the car stays firmly stopped without needing to shift to neutral. The gear can remain in D the whole time, as the system automatically locks the brakes. Shifting to neutral actually causes more trouble - especially if you forget to shift back, it can lead to rough starts or even safety hazards. Keeping it in D for short stops is completely fine; modern car designs have accounted for this, with well-coordinated transmission and engine performance. Only in situations like prolonged highway traffic jams or when turning off the engine is it worth shifting to N or P. Auto-hold is all about convenience and reducing steps, making driving easier and safer.
As an automotive enthusiast, I've delved into the working principles of auto hold. Essentially, it's an electronic system that controls braking force to secure the vehicle in Drive (D) gear without needing to shift to Neutral. Frequent gear shifting increases wear on automatic transmissions and consumes more fuel, which isn't worth the trade-off. The system coordinates the brakes and drivetrain through an electronic control unit, making brief stops in D gear harmless to the vehicle. For daily use, simply engage auto hold in D gear; only consider shifting to Neutral (N) gear to ease transmission strain during prolonged stationary waits, such as exceeding several minutes. But don't worry about shifting to Neutral being mandatory—this feature is designed to simplify operations and enhance comfort.
