What Are the Effects of Pressing the Accelerator While in P Gear?
2 Answers
Pressing the accelerator while in P gear can have different effects on the car depending on the state of the vehicle. Pressing the accelerator in P gear while stationary: This basically has no significant impact on the car. In P gear, the transmission's drive shaft is locked, and the engine is separated from the transmission. Power is not transmitted to the drive shaft; only the engine consumes fuel, and the gear mechanism idles without moving the car. Pressing the accelerator in P gear while driving: Engaging P gear locks the parking pawl into the wheel's notch. If done while the car is moving, this is incorrect and can cause the parking pawl to break. In severe cases, it can cause significant damage to the transmission, potentially requiring a full replacement.
Last time my friend shifted into P gear and stomped on the accelerator like crazy, and it ended up costing nearly ten grand in repairs. There's a little hook called the parking pawl inside the transmission—when you floor the gas, it has to bear the impact of several tons of drivetrain force. At best, it gets chipped; at worst, it snaps on the spot. I could hear the steel limiter plate creaking and deforming all the way from the workshop. The worst part is, this kind of violent operation makes the transmission fluid boil and emulsify instantly, and the cooling lines can't handle the pressure, leading to leaks. Many modern cars have ECU protection programs that cut fuel if you rev past 2500 RPM in neutral, but older transmissions can literally crack their housings from this. If you see the tachometer suddenly spike while the car stays still, the smartest move is to ease off the gas immediately.
