Is the impact significant when the car is pushed while in P gear?
4 Answers
One or two pushes won't have much impact. The function of the P gear is to lock the transmission gears when parking, where a locking block engages with the transmission gears to prevent wheel movement. Pushing the car might cause the locking block to disengage, but generally, one or two instances won't cause any issues. Here is some additional information: 1. P gear: Parking gear, used when the engine is off or the car is stationary. P (Parking) is used for parking purposes, employing a mechanical device to lock the rotating parts of the car, preventing it from moving. When the car needs to remain stationary for an extended period or before leaving the vehicle after parking, the handbrake should be engaged, and the gear lever should be moved to the "P" position. 2. Precautions: The P gear should only be used when the vehicle is completely stopped; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission may be damaged. Additionally, automatic transmission vehicles are equipped with a neutral start switch, ensuring the engine can only be started in "P" or "N" gear to prevent sudden forward movement if started accidentally in other gears.
Once when moving the car, a friend bumped into the rear of my car. At that time, the car was in P (Park) gear and shook noticeably. To be honest, this situation is quite damaging to the transmission, mainly because of the concern that the parking pawl might endure the impact forcefully. The P gear relies on a small hook inside the transmission to lock the gear for parking. External force pushing against it could cause the pawl to deform or even break teeth. Although a minor collision might not cause immediate problems, if you hear a clunking noise or notice that shifting gears becomes noticeably rough afterward, it's essential to check the transmission oil pan and valve body. A mechanic suggested that after being hit, you should first shift to N (Neutral) gear and engage the handbrake, then wait for the car to come to a complete stop before shifting to P gear. Developing this habit in daily parking can help protect the transmission.
Last time in the supermarket parking lot, the rear bumper got hit by a shopping cart, causing the car to roll forward half a meter. That's when I noticed the transmission would jerk when starting in D gear. The mechanic found slight deformation in the P gear locking mechanism after disassembly, saying such impacts are like hitting precision gears with a hammer. While most cars can withstand minor collisions a few times, frequent impacts will enlarge the locking pawl clearance, manifesting as slight vehicle sliding even in P gear. The worst part is collateral damage—replacing the entire parking mechanism requires transmission disassembly, with labor costs triple the part price. Now I always fully engage the handbrake before shifting to P gear on slopes, reducing stress on the buffer bracket.
Veteran drivers know that the P (Park) gear isn't a brake lever. Once at a car wash, the attendant pushed my car to reposition it, and I could hear the ratchet mechanism clicking inside. While manual transmissions use gear engagement to prevent impact, automatic transmissions rely on a small pawl locking into the gear teeth in P mode. Sudden pushing may cause the parking pin to deform or the parking pawl to break, with repair bills starting at five figures. Damage is easy to diagnose: a properly engaged P gear should hold the car completely still when brakes are released. If the vehicle rocks more than 5mm back and forth, get the transmission checked immediately. Develop the habit of using the parking brake to cushion impacts, especially when parking on slopes.
