What is the reason for an automatic transmission car still rolling after shifting to P gear?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission car still rolling after shifting to P gear 58 car driver did not step on the brake or pull up the handbrake. The introduction of the automatic transmission P gear and precautions for driving an automatic transmission car are as follows: Introduction to the automatic transmission P gear: The automatic transmission P gear is the parking gear. Precautions for driving an automatic transmission car: Do not push into P gear while driving. After driving, you must turn off the engine and shift into P gear to pull out the key. Do not shift into N gear to coast while driving. When starting the vehicle in P or N gear, remove the gear lever from P gear while stepping on the brake, turn on the power and step on the brake to shift to N gear, and after ignition, shift to D gear to move forward directly.
I've been driving for over a decade and often get asked about P-gear rollaway issues. Honestly, it mainly comes down to parking habits. If you only engage P-gear on a slope without pulling the handbrake, the vehicle's own weight can cause slight movement because the P-gear locking mechanism isn't invincible. There's a small pawl inside the transmission that locks onto the gear to stop the car, but if that component wears out or ages, it's like a rusty old door lock that won't hold. Additionally, uneven ground can complicate things—for example, parking on a slight incline with uneven pressure distribution on the P-gear can lead to rollaway. More seriously, some modified or poorly maintained vehicles, with contaminated transmission fluid or internal damage, can render P-gear ineffective. I once witnessed a repair case where the owner consistently forgot to engage the handbrake when parking, resulting in a totaled transmission—a costly replacement. Safety first: always pull the handbrake tightly when parking on slopes, and make it a habit even on flat surfaces. Regularly inspect the transmission and braking system—don't wait for a major failure to regret it. In short, P-gear isn't foolproof; it's more of an auxiliary tool that relies on your proper operation.
