How to Properly Start and Park an Automatic Transmission Vehicle?

[StElliot]

Press the brake pedal and start the car in N gear; shift from N gear to D gear; release the handbrake, lift your foot off the brake pedal to start moving. When parking, first press the brake pedal firmly and engage the handbrake; shift the gear to P position; gently lift your foot off the brake pedal and then turn off the engine.

[RhettLee]

I drive an automatic transmission car for my daily commute every morning, and the starting procedure is quite simple: After sitting down and fastening the seatbelt, press the brake pedal firmly, make sure the gear is in P position, then start the engine. Wait for the tachometer to stabilize, shift to D gear, release the parking brake, and slowly lift the brake pedal to let the car creep forward. At this point, gently pressing the accelerator will allow for a smooth start. When parking, first come to a complete stop, keep the brake pedal pressed, shift to N gear, engage the electronic parking brake, then shift to P gear, and finally turn off the engine and remove the key. Remember to always engage the parking brake before shifting to P gear when parking on a slope, otherwise the transmission gears may get stuck. For red lights lasting more than 30 seconds, I usually shift to N gear to reduce engine load.

[SanLily]

Last week, I just taught my daughter how to drive an automatic transmission car. The key to starting lies in brake control. First, ensure the right foot firmly presses the brake. After ignition, you must keep pressing the brake to shift gears. When shifting from P to D, make sure the gear is fully engaged. When releasing the brake, lift your foot gently as if stepping on an egg, and only start accelerating slowly after the car begins to move. The focus when parking is to come to a complete stop! You must wait until the speed drops to zero. It's best to shift to N gear, let the car settle naturally, then engage the handbrake and shift to P gear. Before turning off the engine, ensure all lights are off. A common mistake beginners make is rushing to shift to P gear immediately after stopping, which can cause a jolt in the transmission.

[KingstonLynn]

When picking up my grandson, I pay special attention to the safety of starting and stopping the car. In the morning, I warm up the car for half a minute before starting, and I always check the dashboard to ensure there are no warning lights before shifting gears. I never stomp on the accelerator when starting; I wait for the car to move on its own after releasing the brake before gently pressing the accelerator. When parking at the school gate, I always make sure the car is completely stopped before operating the gear shift, and I engage the handbrake before shifting to P for extra safety. Once, I saw a neighbor turn off the engine directly in D gear, which is particularly harmful to the transmission. Now, in hot weather, I make it a habit to straighten the steering wheel when parking, as keeping the tires from side pressure can extend their lifespan.