What are the effects of shifting to P gear before the vehicle comes to a complete stop?
2 Answers
Shifting into P gear requires the vehicle to be completely stopped first; otherwise, it may damage the lock control inside the transmission and easily damage the shift switch within the transmission. The P gear is the parking gear, used when the car is parked for a long time, so it must never be shifted into P gear before the car's speed has completely stopped. The correct parking method involves the following specific steps: 1. Press the car's brake pedal. 2. Wait until the car comes to a complete stop on a safe road surface. 3. Shift the car's gear to P. 4. Pull up the car's handbrake. 5. Press the car's one-key start button to turn off the vehicle.
Back when I worked on cars, I often encountered this issue - shifting into Park before the vehicle had completely stopped. This can cause serious damage to the transmission. The Park gear is essentially a mechanical locking mechanism that secures the driveshaft to prevent rolling, but if you force it into Park while the car is still moving, the locking pawl can suffer severe impact damage. Over time, this leads to abnormal noises in the drivetrain, rough shifting, and in severe cases may require a complete transmission overhaul costing tens of thousands to repair. Moreover, this practice increases safety risks - if the car rolls on a slope, it could cause an accident. Always ensure the wheels have completely stopped before shifting gears. Developing this good habit extends your vehicle's lifespan and saves money and hassle. Don't rush for momentary convenience - wait until the car is fully stationary before operating.
