Is it harmful to the car if it stalls in D gear?
2 Answers
Stalling in D gear does not affect the car. Here is some relevant information about car stalling: Causes of stalling: The main reasons for car stalling include damage to electronic components in the cooling system (thermostat, cooling fan), poor radiator performance, and insufficient coolant. What to do after stalling: Pull over to the side of the road, but do not turn off the engine immediately. Since the coolant temperature is already very high and its cooling capacity has reached its limit, immediately turning off the engine would stop the circulation of the boiling coolant. Instead, let the engine idle for a while, as the continuously circulating coolant can still help mitigate the impact of high temperatures on the engine.
That time I met a car owner during a repair job. His car had severe gear shifting jerks, and upon opening the transmission, we found the clutch plates were unevenly worn. Checking the dashcam revealed he often stalled the engine in D gear, causing the locking mechanism to be pitted from impacts. The transmission fluid had excessive metal shavings, and the repair cost him over ten grand. Actually, when the engine stalls, power is still being transmitted, and a sudden power cut is like slamming the brakes on high-speed gears, potentially deforming the gear clearance. The parking pawl suffers even worse, as the twisted force angle can grind grooves into it. It's recommended to develop a three-step parking habit: firmly press the brake and shift to N, engage the handbrake and release the foot brake, and only shift to P and turn off the engine after the car is completely stationary. This way, your transmission can stay healthy even after ten years of use.
