Should You Shift to Neutral at Red Lights with an Automatic Transmission?

[OKaylee]

It is recommended to shift to neutral when waiting at a red light in an automatic transmission car. If the wait is longer, you can also engage the handbrake. Here are the details: 1. When waiting at a red light, shifting to N (neutral) for a short time is fine, but leaving it in N for extended periods can damage the car, especially the transmission. Keeping the car in D (drive) while braking at a red light is similar to pressing both the accelerator and brake simultaneously in a manual transmission car. 2. In this situation, fuel consumption increases, and over time, the torque converter remains under stress, accelerating wear on components like the torque converter. It's important to note that inspections for parts like the torque converter are not typically covered under regular maintenance, so maintaining good driving habits is advised to avoid difficult repairs.