What is the difference between N gear and P gear?
1 Answers
N gear and P gear mainly differ in that when the car is shifted into N gear, the engine will not shut off, but the power is simply not transmitted to the drive wheels, preventing the car from moving. However, the wheels are not braked, posing a risk of rolling backward or moving. On the other hand, when shifted into P gear, the parking brake mechanism inside the transmission locks the output shaft, cutting off power to the car and providing a certain braking effect. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. P gear: When this gear is engaged, the wheels are mechanically locked, preventing any movement. The vehicle must be completely stopped before shifting into P gear; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission could be damaged. Additionally, automatic transmission cars generally have a start switch that allows the engine to start only when the gear is in "P" or "N" to prevent the car from suddenly lurching forward if started in other gears by mistake. 2. N gear: Neutral N is equivalent to the neutral gear in a manual transmission and can be used when starting or towing the car. When waiting at a traffic light or in traffic, the gear selector is often kept in D while the brake is pressed. If the stop is very brief, this is acceptable, but for longer stops, it is better to shift into N and engage the handbrake.
