What are the parking steps for an automatic transmission car?
3 Answers
Parking steps for an automatic transmission car: First, press the foot brake, shift to N gear, then engage the handbrake. Now you can turn off the engine, then press the foot brake again, and finally shift to P gear and remove the key. Generally, there are two parking methods for automatic transmission cars. The difference between these two parking steps lies in whether to shift to the parking gear first or engage the handbrake first, which actually involves different points of force application. The former applies force to the locking mechanism of the parking gear, and the transmission also bears corresponding force. Since the transmission is designed with a parking gear, it proves that it can withstand this force. The latter applies force to the handbrake, and the transmission basically bears no force, with the force being transferred to the handbrake. If parking on flat ground, neither parking method will damage the transmission of your car. It mainly depends on personal parking habits.
When parking an automatic transmission car, I first press the brake pedal to bring the car to a complete stop, then shift into neutral and engage the handbrake. At this point, you can feel the car body slightly settle, indicating the handbrake has taken hold. Then, I release the foot brake to let the car stabilize completely before pressing the brake again to shift into P (Park). Finally, I turn off the engine and remove the key. This procedure is even more crucial when parking on a slope, especially for cars with dual-clutch transmissions, as shifting directly into P can cause the locking mechanism to jam. Once, a friend took a shortcut by shifting directly into P and getting out, resulting in a loud clunk from the transmission upon restarting and costing thousands in repairs. Remember to straighten the steering wheel before turning off the engine to reduce stress on the tires. Consistently following this sequence can extend the transmission's lifespan by several years—even mechanics commend me for my car knowledge.
The worst fear when parking is damaging the transmission. Here's my routine: After coming to a complete stop by pressing the brake, don't rush to turn off the engine. First, shift to N (Neutral), engage the handbrake, release the brake, and wait for two seconds to let the handbrake fully take the load. The car will slightly wobble and then come to a complete stop. Finally, press the brake, shift to P (Park), and turn off the engine. Pay special attention when parking on slopes like in shopping mall underground garages. If you turn off the engine directly while still in D (Drive) and then engage the handbrake, the entire weight of the car will rest on the transmission gears, leading to accumulated metal fatigue. Once during winter, I forgot the proper sequence when parking on a snowy slope, and the next day, the gear shifts became noticeably stiffer. Automatic transmissions are much more complex than manual ones, so hearing that crisp 'click' sound when perfectly engaging P (Park) after each parking gives me great peace of mind.
