Is the sound caused by shifting into P gear before the car stops completely serious?
2 Answers
Shifting into P gear before the car stops completely can cause relatively serious impacts. Reasons for the impact: The mechanical impact sound from the automatic transmission and brake gear will subject the locking function of the transmission to considerable pressure. At this time, the gears of the transmission have not yet stopped working, and directly shifting into the parking gear can easily damage the gears. Therefore, before shifting into P gear, it is necessary to ensure that the car has come to a complete stop. P gear: It is the most common gear in automatic transmission models, usually located at the front position of the gear shift console, in front of the R gear. Its purpose is to lock the axle when the car is stationary on a slope. All gear operations related to P gear require the cooperation of the brake pedal and the button on the gear shift lever or the depression of the shift handle.
I did the same thing when I was a new driver—eagerly shifting into P before the car had completely stopped, and that loud 'click' sound gave me a cold sweat. Later, an experienced driver told me that noise was the locking mechanism in the transmission taking the impact. Transmissions are designed to operate only when the car is completely stationary. Forcing it into P while still moving causes internal gear collisions, leading to wear or deformation. Doing it once might not cause immediate damage, but making it a habit can increase transmission failure rates over time, and repairs can be costly. My advice is to wait until the car is fully stopped, engage the parking brake, and then shift into P—it saves a lot of hassle.
