Automatics at traffic lights

InsideInsurance

What is the "correct" thing to do with an automatic at traffic lights? Particularly those without a traditional handbrake? I'm a recent convert to automatics so was wondering

I note that ROSPA advise you to leave it in Drive as putting it in anything else will cause more wear on the gear selector than leaving it in drive will cause to the torque converter (I am just quoting words without understanding them )

With my vehicle I dont have a traditional handbrake but instead a "hold" function (that leaves the brake lights on) which converts itself to the parking brake after a certain period (dont know how long) or if you turn the ignition off. Manually applying the parking brake is awkward but isn't intended to be done often due to the location of the button half way under the dash near the bonnet release leaver.

Certainly with the hold function on and the car in Drive it feels different to when you are in the same but Neutral (though hard to explain)

spacey2012

Leave it in D with your foot on the brake, don't forget to let the stick shifters get ready before you set off.

Ebe_Scrooge

Bu**ered if I know, but an interesting question ! When I drive my wife's auto ( which I hate, incidentally, and try to do as little as possible ! ), I tend to sit with my foot on the brake and left in Drive if I know it's only going to be very brief. More than about 15 seconds or so, I stick it in Neutral and handbrake on - the way I was taught to in a manual, oh-so-many years ago. To my mind, sitting in Drive with your foot on the brake has got to be causing a fair amount of wear somewhere in the transmission. I know autos work differently to a conventional manual, but still, there has to be a lot of wear taking place if the engine is effectively battling against the brakes ?

Iceweasel

This subject has been discussed at length on most car forums.

The general consensus of opinion is to leave it in drive and sit with your foot on the brake.

There is negligible wear on any transmission parts - certainly less than moving it to 'Park' and then back to 'Drive'.

There are all sorts of red herrings that can be raised - high-level brake lights bothering the driver behind, for example.

Rodney_Trotter

Neutral and handbrake if you are going to be there for any length of time sane as a manual. Handbrake will come off when you drive off, else D and foot brake.

prowla

The brake lights bothering the cars behind isn't a red herring; it's bad manners.

But if you put it in "Park" then when you change into gear it momentarily goes through reverse as you change to D, which flashes the reversing lights.

The handbrake (or "parking brake" as the yanks call it) may not automatically disengage when you put the car in gear; it depends upon the model.

vikingaero

On most straight gate autos you can shift from D to N and vice versa without fear of going into R or P because of the gearlever detent. On staggered gates it's normally OK too. This means that it's very easy to select N or D and use the handbrake, especially if it's a long wait at the lights - a courteous driver will do all they can to minimise inconvenience to others (brakelight dazzle).

jaybeetoo

To engage the stop/start on my automatic I have to leave it in drive with my foot on the brake so that is what I do.

fannyadams

AH!
that explains ALL the inconsiderate drivers who seem to sit at the lights with their brake lights on.
They MUST have automatics and HAVE to sit there with their foot on the brake and hence illuminating the entire front interior section of my car with their high level brake lights.
KNEW there was a reason.
Those Poor things... they have my sympathy..
Oh, and I'll STILL beat you off the lights in my manual car (into gear when other lights sequence through amber, handbrake off when we are at red & amber and I'm gone on green, I might even honk you if you're not quick enough! :rotfl:) and even quicker on my motorcycle!

InsideInsurance

prowla wrote: »

But if you put it in "Park" then when you change into gear it momentarily goes through reverse as you change to D, which flashes the reversing lights.

A question born out of ignorance rather than challenge.

Are you meaning it goes through reverse because of how you normally have to move the gear lever to get to Park or something about how the transmission works?

I only ask as the gear selector on our car is electronic rather than physical and Park is actually a button and not selected with the lever.

jaybeetoo

fannyadams wrote: »

AH!
that explains ALL the inconsiderate drivers who seem to sit at the lights with their brake lights on.
They MUST have automatics and HAVE to sit there with their foot on the brake and hence illuminating the entire front interior section of my car with their high level brake lights.
KNEW there was a reason.
Those Poor things... they have my sympathy..
Oh, and I'll STILL beat you off the lights in my manual car (into gear when other lights sequence through amber, handbrake off when we are at red & amber and I'm gone on green, I might even honk you if you're not quick enough! :rotfl:) and even quicker on my motorcycle!

Yeah but think of all the fuel I'm saving! :rotfl:

How long before stop/start appears on our motorbikes :eek: