Should the automatic transmission P be pulled up or down?
2 Answers
Pressing down the automatic parking activates the automatic parking function, but it can only be used when the doors are closed and the seatbelt is fastened. Below is an introduction to the P gear: 1. Introduction to the P gear: The "P" in the P gear comes from the first letter of the English word "park," so in the gear positions of an automatic transmission car, the P gear is the symbol for the parking gear. The P gear evolved from the N gear. In addition to placing the transmission in neutral mode, it also has a pawl inside the transmission that locks the gear on the output shaft, forming a mechanical lock to secure the drive axle and keep the vehicle stationary or slightly moving. Although the P gear appears very frequently in automatic transmission models, it is not one of the three standard gears of an automatic transmission car. Some models use the N gear with an additional auxiliary braking device for parking, but their basic working principles are almost the same as the P gear. The difference between the P gear and the N gear is that the P gear has a parking lock mechanism while the N gear does not, but both have the nature of neutral. 2. Purpose of the P gear: The P gear is a special neutral gear that mechanically locks the output shaft of the transmission to secure the vehicle. Its function is to act as a brake after parking, preventing the vehicle from moving. For safety reasons, car manufacturers place the P gear in the first position of the gear shift console and set internal mechanisms to enforce that the car key can only be removed when the shift lever is moved to the P gear. Therefore, the P gear is specifically designed for long-term parking in automatic transmission cars.
Regarding the direction of moving the gear lever from P (Park) in automatic transmission cars, I've been driving automatics for several years now. I remember when I first got my license, I was also confused and kept pushing the lever around, even tried lifting it up thinking it would unlock, but it didn't budge and gave me quite a scare. Later, I learned the smart way: the direction isn't fixed—it varies by car design. For example, my old Toyota requires pressing the button downward and then pushing sideways to shift from P to R or D, while my friend's BMW needs a gentle upward pull on the lever to unlock it. So don't overthink the specific direction; the key lies in the steps—you must firmly press the brake first, then press the unlock button on the gear lever (or push directly if there's no button), and finally nudge the lever to change gears. New drivers often forget to press the brake and end up forcing the lever, which can wear out the transmission or cause sudden vehicle movement—both very dangerous. Before driving, I recommend familiarizing yourself with your car's specifics; checking the owner's manual is the most reliable approach. Safety first ensures you can truly enjoy the joy of driving.
