What is the procedure for turning off an automatic transmission car?

[McJessica]

Automatic transmission car shutdown procedure is: 1. After stopping the vehicle, depress the brake pedal and shift the gear into P position; 2. Check the instrument panel to confirm the correct gear position, then pull up the handbrake, release the brake pedal, and press the one-touch start button to turn off the vehicle. An automatic transmission car does not require the driver to manually shift gears; the vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. The correct method for starting an automatic transmission car is: 1. Connect the power, then start the car; 2. After ignition, depress the brake, shift to D gear, release the handbrake, and gently press the accelerator to start; 3. After starting, accelerate appropriately according to road conditions.

[DonovanLee]

I've been driving automatic transmission cars for nearly a decade and have developed a fixed shutdown routine. First, bring the vehicle to a complete stop while firmly pressing the brake pedal. At this point, don't rush to shift into P (Park) – first engage N (Neutral) to relieve pressure on the transmission, then firmly apply the parking brake to ensure the vehicle won't move. Release the foot brake and feel the car come to complete rest before pressing the brake again to shift into P. Finally, turn the key to shut off the engine. Remember to turn off the AC and radio before shutdown, otherwise the battery will bear excessive load during next startup. Once I got lazy and shifted directly to P on a steep slope, resulting in a clicking sound from the transmission – the mechanic said this could deform the parking pawl mechanism. Now I've formed the habit of spending those extra five seconds each time, which can save me major repair costs.

[StChristopher]

When I first learned to drive an automatic transmission, I often messed up the sequence, but now I'm much more proficient. The basic steps are: come to a complete stop and press the brake—shift to N—engage the electronic parking brake—release the foot brake—wait until the car is completely stationary—shift to P—turn off the engine. Beginners often make the mistake of rushing to turn off the engine, especially in cars with auto start-stop; you must disable the start-stop function first before proceeding. I remember one time after a tiring day at work, I pressed the engine-off button before the car had fully stopped, and the transmission got stuck in R gear, unable to move. Now, I always take a final glance at the dashboard: confirm the gear is in P, the RPM is at zero, and the electronic parking brake's red light is on. This ensures no strange noises during a cold start the next day and provides excellent protection for the transmission.

[DiLaila]

When driving an automatic, remember that your foot is faster than your hand: Press the brake pedal firmly with your right foot to come to a complete stop, shift the gear lever to N with your left hand, pull up the handbrake with your right hand, release the foot brake and observe the car body stabilize, then press the brake again and shift to P, finally turn off the ignition. Be extra careful when parking on a slope—make sure you hear the clicking sound when pulling the handbrake for safety. I learned this the hard way when driving a friend's car—I directly shifted to P, causing the locking mechanism to deform under stress, costing 800 yuan to replace the part. Now, I make an extra move by closing all the windows before turning off the engine, which prevents rainwater from entering and reduces electrical load during the next startup. Oh, and for turbocharged cars, let it idle for half a minute before shutting off to protect the turbo blades.

[DiLouis]

I think the correct shutdown procedure is like the finale of a ballroom dance: after coming to a complete stop, first give the transmission a breather by shifting to N, tighten the handbrake as a safety rope, release the foot brake to check if it's securely parked, and finally let the gear return to P before shutting off. Cars with auto-hold are even simpler—just trigger the hold by pressing the brake firmly and then turn off the engine directly. I used to not know these details and often turned off the engine abruptly in D after a hard stop, which ended up jamming the gear lever and requiring rescue. Now I also check if the front wheels are straight to avoid straining the steering system. In summer, turning off the AC before shutting down is especially important—otherwise, the compressor will start with the next ignition, wasting power and damaging the machine.

[DelSteven]

Stopping an automatic transmission car is like landing a plane—smoothness is key. My routine is: after coming to a complete stop, keep the foot brake pressed—shift to Neutral to cut off power—engage the handbrake and test it—release the foot brake and wait for the car to settle—press the brake and shift to Park—turn off the engine and remove the key. When parking on a slope, I always turn the steering wheel half a turn toward the curb to prevent rolling if the handbrake fails. Once, in a mall parking garage, I forgot to turn the wheel, and the car rolled half a meter, scraping a pillar. Now, before turning off the engine, I make an extra move: turn off all light switches, especially for modified daytime running lights, to avoid draining the battery. For cars with large touchscreen systems, wait until the system fully shuts down before leaving, or it may freeze.