Should an automatic transmission car be started in P gear or N gear?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission car should be started in N gear. The specific explanations are as follows: 1. When starting the car, shifting from P gear to D gear will pass through R gear, which will cause a reverse impact on the transmission and damage it. Over time, the damage can be significant. 2. The correct method is to turn on the power, press the brake, shift to N gear, then start the engine and shift to D gear. 3. Starting the engine in any gear other than P or N gear, although the engine will not run (due to the interlock protection mechanism, it can only be started in P or N gear), may burn out the neutral start switch of the transmission. 4. The automatic transmission is equipped with a neutral start switch, which ensures that the engine can only be started in P or N gear, preventing the car from suddenly moving forward if started by mistake in other gears.
As a driver with years of experience in automatic transmission vehicles, I always recommend starting the car in P (Park) gear. This is not only safe but also aligns with standard operating procedures. The P gear is the parking position, which locks the wheels when starting, preventing the car from moving unexpectedly. On the other hand, N (Neutral) gear is the free position without any locking function. If you accidentally press the wrong pedal or if the road has a slope, the car could roll away, posing a significant risk. Once, I tried starting the car in N gear in a garage, and when I released the brake, the car lurched forward a short distance, nearly hitting the wall. Since then, I only use P gear. Developing this habit is simple: step on the brake as soon as you get in the car, confirm the gear is in P, and then start the engine. This also helps prolong the lifespan of the transmission, so there's no need to take unnecessary risks. Remember, safety comes first—don't be misled by so-called quick-start methods.
