Should You Shift to N Gear Before P Gear When Parking an Automatic Transmission Car?
2 Answers
Shifting to N gear before P gear when parking an automatic transmission car is a relatively correct and safe parking operation. However, directly shifting to P gear can also achieve the purpose of parking. Parking procedure by shifting to N gear first, then P gear: When parking an automatic transmission car by shifting to N gear first, the car's engine no longer provides power, stopping the car's tendency to move forward; then, the electronic handbrake provides the force to overcome ground friction for the car's wheels; finally, shifting to P gear completes the automatic transmission parking. Parking procedure by directly shifting to P gear: The prerequisite for directly shifting to P gear to park is: ensuring the car has come to a complete stop. The P gear of an automatic transmission has two locking devices: the parking pawl and parking gear. When the car is completely stopped, the parking pawl automatically engages with the parking gear, directly locking the car's transmission and completing the automatic transmission parking. If the car is not completely stopped before shifting to P gear, the gears of the parking pawl device will collide, making a "clicking" sound, which will apply certain pressure to the car's transmission, brake pads, and brake calipers, thereby reducing their service life and damaging the car's parking function.
I remember struggling with this issue when driving before. It's convenient to shift directly into P gear when parking, but doing this long-term isn't friendly to the transmission because the P gear has a locking mechanism. Parking on a slope and shifting directly into P makes it bear the weight of the car, which can lead to wear over time. My habit is: after the car comes to a complete stop, first press the brake firmly, shift to N gear to disengage the transmission from power, then pull up the handbrake or electronic parking brake to stabilize the car, gently shift into P gear to lock it, and finally turn off the engine. This way, you won't hear that clunking sound when starting up on a steep slope next time, protecting the drivetrain components. As someone who's been driving for over a decade, I recommend developing this sequence. While it's not absolutely necessary, it can extend your car's lifespan and avoid repair hassles.
