Handling an automatic transmission car is a breeze. Even people with basic driving skills can do it. However, you should avoid a few things at any cost while steering the wheel of an automatic vehicle. Here’s a list of 7 mistakes that can damage a vehicle badly and put the owner on the hook for some huge repair bills.
Sliding the vehicle down a slope in the neutral mode
This habit won’t let you accelerate the car except for slowing it down. It cuts the oil supply, so the transmission does not get the proper lubrication for smooth operation. It results in significant wear and damage. Discard this habit because the repair costs don’t worth the negligible fuel savings.
Revving the engine before switching to the gear
It gives the transmission a massive shock that leads to more friction between the internal components, causing damage to engine parts.
Shifting gears when the car is rolling.
It makes your transmission components to change direction rapidly, wearing out the gearbox at an astounding pace. Use your brakes instead to stop the vehicle. Some people shift into the Park without pushing the brakes, which is also bad for the gearbox.
Keeping in neutral at the red light.
Many people do this to save fuel and protect the drive-line from unnecessary wear. In fact, the loss is minimal if you push the brakes by keeping the gearbox in Drive mode. The actual damage takes place when you switch into and out of the neutral mode.
Switching into the parking mode before completely stopping the carShifting to the Park mode will cause a locking pin to be inserted into a gear attached to the output shaft of the gearbox. The wheels are also connected to the same shaft. So, when you lock it and keep the vehicle rolling at the same time, there’s a risk of breaking the locking pin.Driving hard without warming up the engine.
It’s a blunder, especially in the winter season. The oil thickens and moves slowly when the weather is cold. Give the fuel a minute to run into the transmission and all of its parts. If you shift into gear and start driving at high speed from the beginning, it will lead to severe internal damage.
Keeping the fuel tank low.
An automatic transmission car
largely depends on fluid pressure to run properly. Fuel also helps a vehicle’s engine and other elements to stay cool and lubricated. So, these will wear out a lot faster if you continuously keep the tank low on fluid.
In conclusion, every driver is not an expert on car mechanism. Avoiding these practices is not harder than changing some habits. They will extend the life of your car, keep you safe on the road and save you a lot of money from the repairs and maintenance.