Should You Press the Brake or Shift to Neutral at a Red Light with an Automatic Transmission?
2 Answers
Here is relevant information about whether to press the brake or shift to neutral at a red light with an automatic transmission: 1. If the wait exceeds 20 seconds, keeping your foot on the brake for a long time is highly impractical. The car wants to move forward, but the brake forces it to stop. During this prolonged standoff, the brake pads and transmission will heat up and overheat, causing damage. Therefore, it is better to use neutral instead of the foot brake. 2. When the vehicle needs to be towed due to damage, shift into neutral and lift the drive wheels off the ground to prevent damage to the transmission. For example, in front-wheel-drive vehicles, the front wheels should be lifted off the ground, while the rear wheels can remain on the ground when in neutral. 3. Additionally, whether it's a manual or automatic transmission, coasting in neutral downhill is strictly prohibited. During neutral coasting, if an emergency requires sudden braking, the drivetrain and engine are not properly prepared. Without engine assistance, the vehicle may lose balance and become uncontrollable!
When waiting at a red light with an automatic transmission, I'm used to stepping on the brake for short periods. For stops exceeding 20 seconds, I shift to neutral and engage the electronic parking brake. In urban areas with brief red lights, shifting gears is too bothersome, so direct brake pedal control feels more convenient. For prolonged waits, shifting to neutral reduces transmission wear, especially in older models equipped with torque converters, as staying in Drive (D) continuously outputs torque, causing fluid temperature to rise. However, remember to apply the handbrake or activate the electronic parking brake when in neutral to prevent rolling and rear-end collisions. Most modern cars now come with auto start-stop functionality; when triggered, the engine automatically shuts off, and the transmission enters standby mode, saving fuel and reducing wear issues.
