I'm so retarded .... Did I brake my Pro5
 

Ok guys I think I broke my Pro5....

I was cruising at 80 Km/h yesterday and was close to a traffic light with a red light being on. Then, by mistake I put the gear to D2 instead of to N to assist braking. I heard a wining noise and realized my mistake. I immediately put it back to D.

Could I have broken the transmission?

I tested D2 and it seemed to run normal?

I have a feeling that the car vibrates more than it did before this stupidity.

How to check whether or not the transmission is working the way it is supposed to.

Thanks,

Protege5_TO.

Re: I'm so retarded .... Did I brake my Pro5
 

Eh? Is D2 like 2nd gear on the automatics? Why would you be putting your car into Neutral to assist brakeing? The whining noise wasn't your engine revving? I'm sorry, I'm just really confused.

If you have an auto, do NOT put it in neutral while you're in motion, it's not good for the tranny. Also, just let your car shift itself.

I don't own a Auto, but you are fine I would think...

If I understand what you did correctly, you simply slipped the slush box into D2, which I assume is Overdrive disabled (only uses the first 3 gears in D2??) at around 40+ mph...Not a problem, the sound you heard was probably just the engine winding back up. You were coasting in 4th gear most likely, and basically downshifted to 3rd...You are fine...

You're fine...:cool:

I believe that shifting into neutral will actually take power away from your ABS, so this practice is not advisable.

If you want to use the engine to drop some speed, you could flip the overdrive off, but a set of brake pads is a lot cheaper that a new tranny.

btw, welcome to the Board...:D

you should be more worried about your neutral drop and your tranny falling out from slamming your car into neutral and then into "drive" while still in motion.

4rubBeR is right. brake pads are cheaper to replace than a new transmission.

I was under the impression that the auto-shift trannies wouldnt let you shift in any way that would damage it. I know mine will automatically downshift if I'm braking and forget to take it out of manual mode, or if the revs get too high.

If you think you did do any damage, take it to the dealer. Just don't tell them the entire story, "I don't know what could have happened, honestly."

shifitng into neutral will NOT aid in braking. well, unless you want to break your transmission. hitting up D2 (i am assuming here that you have the regular auto tranny and not the sport shift, but correct me if i am wrong) while doing 80km/h is about 50mph in second gear. you probably were close to redline, but not quite there yet. you are fine if this was the case. whatever you do from now on, don't shift into neutral for braking. just keep it in D. your transmission will thank you for it.

just use the brake pedal to slow down, thats what i do, and it works great.

Not that I do this, but if he puts it into neutral and then comes to a complete stop before reengaging the tranny is that bad for it too?

Oh, and in general, these transmissions will actually not downshift into a dangerously low gear. Well, at least it won't go down to 2 or 1, I don't know what would happen if you'd try to go from O/D to 3 when you shouldn't, but you'd have to be going pretty fast ;)

Appreciate your thoughts guys.

Is it really so bad to shift to N from D at 60 km/h (or 80), slightly press the brake then come to a full stop?
Is it really so bad for the tranny?

Doesn't the engine auto down-shift to third, second and disengage itself automatically in this case?

I know it will auto downshift automatically just by pressing the brake while on D. But, sometimes if I in a hurry I can not stop before the white line at traffic light unless I brake hard (on D) or I shifted to N (no rough braking).

I used to drive a standard - used to shift from 4 to 3 and second and then N just before a full stop.

The other reason why I keep doing this shifting from D to N before a full stop is that I do not fell or hear any engine wining unlike shifting from D to D2 at 60 or 80 km/h which is basically the same as shifting from 4th to second on a standard tranny.

If "D to N" is really bad - I guess I have to change my driving habits from now on.


Thanks,

Protege5_TO.

page 5-10 of the manual says:

"*Shifting into P,N, or R while the car vehicle is moving can damage your transaxle.

*Shifting into a driving gear or reverse when the engine is running faster than idle can damage the transaxle."

then on the next column it says:

"Shifting into N while driving: Shifting into N while driving is dangerous. Engine braking cannot be applied when decelerating which could lead to an accident or serious injury. Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle."

so i would recommend against such actions.

Brake pads are much cheaper than a new auto transaxle...

Tranny
 

Well as to my knowledge you almost 100 percent did not damage your tranny, the computer that controls the shifting will not let you go into a lower gear that will hurt your engine..such as if you tried to put it in first when you are going too fast. What you heard was the whinning of the engine while under engine breaking. Like when you downshift in your manual. Also you have no need to even shift into neutral while at a stop light or in motion. In terms of hitting the O/D off button as mention earlier it will also not hurt your tranny infact as i recall 3rd will take you up to around 160 kilometers an hour and i am yet to drive an auto P5 that exceeds that by very much. It was designed to be used when passing at highway speeds, etc. climing hills w/o gear hunting etc etc. Anyway all in all you should be fine. Just take it easy on the P5 and it be great to you.

Re: Tranny
 

And even in older, non-computer controlled transmission cars, you STILL can't shift into too-low a gear.

If you get to drive a beater sometime (an automatic beater) try it. If you are in D, shift it all the way down to 1st while cruising at say, 40 MPH - then slowly brake. The transmission will not shift into first until you slow down enough for it to engage.

And, just for the record, I have manual shifted eery automatic car I have ever owned, and never had any tranny trouble. This includes going into neutral while moving, and back to D again. Never had a problem. I'm not advising it, just stating my own observations.

~HH