Automatics: Who's had a brand new one?

Mr_Toad

TrickyWicky wrote: »

This is what I'm talking about people. What is the difference? New cars off the forecourt don't make the same noise as older ones which moan and groan. Change the discs and pads and you get the high pitched squeel too. So how to the manufacturers do it?

I've driven autos for decades and none of them have ever done it. My current car is now 14 years old and doesn't do it. I've had it from new and it's never done it.

iolanthe07

I have had automatics since 1989, nearly all of them new, and have never come across this problem.

only_mee

Stop creeping forward, and apply the brakes harder, later, that should fix it.

B00st

Weird_Nev wrote: »

It's just the pads groaning against the discs as said. That's what happens when friction material meets metal plate.

I'll wager that brand new cars don't do it because they haven't yet had a chance to put a proper layer of friction material onto the discs - they're still bare metal. Once you've used them and put them through several proper heat cycles, you end up with a thin coating of the friction material on the disc face, which improves braking performance but will make them groan a bit.

Just don't let the car creep forwards on the brakes. Once you've stopped, put it into neutral and put the handbrake on.

If the auto is a DSG type box then they will go into neutral automatically if the car is held on the foot brake.

Torque converter autos should be left in drive unless it is clear that the traffic won't be moving for quite some considerable time. Constantly moving them from drive to neutral and back isn't good for them.

djcat

I had five automatics, three of them in the US (where 99% seems to be like that). Advice I got was "don't put it out of D when stopped". Automatics are no manuals, they were made to handle all sorts of driving conditions, including red lights and traffic jams. If you damage the gearbox, that certainly is more expensive than a set of new brake pads.

Only get it out of D if you need to change gears e.g. reverse or going down a steep hill and you want the engine braking.

I don't mind manuals, but I really like my automatics.