Does Putting the Car in Park Have Any Impact?
3 Answers
Putting the car in park has no impact, but leaving the car in park without turning off the engine for extended periods can affect both the engine and the battery. The disadvantages of not putting the car in park when parked are as follows: Doors Cannot Be Closed: Since the car is not in park, the doors cannot be remotely locked. If you don't notice when locking the car, the doors will remain open. Continuous Battery Drain: If the keyless ignition system is not turned off while in park, the car's electrical system will not shut down, equivalent to having the ignition switch in the ACC position. The car stereo and cigarette lighter will remain powered. If a dashcam is plugged into the cigarette lighter, it will continue recording. The car stereo will also keep working, and even if manually turned off, its cooling fan will continue to run.
I've been driving for over ten years, and shifting into Park (P) is the standard operation for parking an automatic transmission car. When parking on flat ground, simply shifting into P is fine and won't harm the car—it mainly locks the transmission to prevent the vehicle from rolling. However, extra caution is needed when parking on slopes. If you only shift into P without engaging the parking brake, the car's entire weight rests on the transmission's locking mechanism, which over time could wear out or damage that small component. Once, I forgot to pull the handbrake on a steep slope, and the transmission made a clicking noise—costing me hundreds in repairs later. I recommend making it a habit every time you park: first stop completely by pressing the brake, then engage the parking brake, and finally shift into P. The same applies when starting—ensure the car isn't moving before shifting gears. Using P correctly doesn't harm the car; in fact, it protects the transmission and extends its lifespan. The key is avoiding improper operations, like shifting into P while the car is still moving, which can shock the transmission and cause damage. In short, P is a great helper—used right, it ensures safety and peace of mind.
As someone who loves tinkering with cars, I often study how transmissions work. When you shift into P (Park), there's an internal locking mechanism that engages the output shaft to keep the vehicle stationary. In daily parking situations, this operation has basically no negative impact on the car—it's designed for safety. However, when parking on a slope, relying solely on P isn't enough because gravity can subject the locking pin to excessive pressure, potentially causing deformation or breakage. I've seen cases where owners parked on hills without using the handbrake, resulting in damaged transmission locks and costly repairs. My recommendation is to combine it with the handbrake: engage the handbrake first when parking, then shift to P; before starting, ensure the car is completely stationary. This distributes pressure and protects the transmission. In the long run, proper P usage reduces wear and prevents accidental rolling. Remember never to shift into P while the car is moving—the sudden impact could damage internal gears. Actually, P is a standard feature in automatic transmission vehicles, and when used correctly, it benefits overall vehicle health without harm.
