28/12/2025
TOP 10 mistakes you do in your automatic car:🚘🚗
Automatic Transmission
An automatic transmission vehicle is a very sensitive machine. It is not like a manual vehicle. Inside the gearbox, there is a highly complex hydraulic system. However, in today’s society, many people do not really know how to drive automatic vehicles properly. Because of small mistakes made by drivers, they can end up losing hundreds of thousands in repair costs.
Today, let’s look at 10 deadly mistakes that can destroy an automatic gearbox. From today onwards, never make these mistakes again.
📌Mistake No. 01
Shifting to ‘P’ (Park) before the vehicle fully stops
Imagine you are about to park your vehicle. If you shift the gear to ‘P’ before the wheels have completely stopped, the small metal component inside the gearbox called the Parking Pawl can break.
It’s like inserting a metal rod into the wheel of a moving bicycle.
When you put a vehicle into Park, the reason it doesn’t roll forward or backward is because of this small metal pawl. Inside an automatic transmission, there is a parking gear with teeth. The parking pawl fits into those teeth and locks the rotation.
If you drive an automatic vehicle, you may have already felt this mechanically at some point.
📌Mistake No. 02
The “Golden Method” of stopping an automatic vehicle correctly
When stopping a vehicle, slow down gradually and apply the brake smoothly until the car completely stops.
Do not directly shift to ‘P’ and pull the handbrake—this method is wrong and harmful to the gearbox.
Correct Method:
1. Keep your foot on the brake and shift to ‘N’ (Neutral).
This temporarily disconnects the engine from the wheels.
2. Pull the handbrake firmly.
3. Release the foot brake.
This is very important. Now the full weight of the vehicle rests on the braking system, not the gearbox.
4. Press the brake again and shift to ‘P’.
Now the parking pawl locks gently and safely.
When starting again, follow the steps in reverse:
Press the brake fully and start the engine
Shift from P → N
Release the handbrake
Shift to D and drive away
By following this method, you avoid shocks and unnecessary stress inside the gearbox.
> Driving is an art—but stopping and restarting correctly is also an art. The path through ‘N’ protects the life of your gearbox.
📌Mistake No. 03
Driving downhill in ‘N’ (Neutral)
Many people believe driving downhill in Neutral saves fuel, but in reality, this can destroy your gearbox.
In an automatic transmission, oil pressure is generated based on engine speed. When you shift to Neutral, the engine idles, but the vehicle may still be moving fast downhill. The internal gears rotate rapidly without sufficient lubrication and cooling.
You also lose engine braking, forcing you to rely entirely on the brakes. This can cause brake overheating and brake fade, which is extremely dangerous.
📌Mistake No. 04
Shifting to ‘N’ while waiting at traffic lights
Some drivers think shifting to Neutral at red lights is good, but if the stop is less than a minute, it’s better to stay in ‘D’ with the brake pressed.
Every time you shift from N to D, the internal clutch plates engage. Repeating this 20–30 times a day causes unnecessary clutch wear and pressure fluctuations inside the transmission.
Only shift to N + handbrake if you will be stopped for 2–3 minutes or more.
📌Mistake No. 05
Shifting between ‘D’ and ‘R’ before the vehicle fully stops
This is a very common but extremely damaging habit.
When a vehicle is moving forward, internal gears rotate in one direction. Shifting to Reverse without stopping forces them to stop instantly and rotate in the opposite direction.
This creates massive internal shock, known as Directional Shift Stress.
It’s like someone suddenly pulling a moving swing backward—the stress can break the structure.
Always stop completely and wait a second before changing direction.
📌Mistake No. 06
Revving the engine in ‘N’ and then shifting to ‘D’
This is called a Neutral Drop, and it’s one of the worst things you can do to an automatic transmission.
High engine RPM instantly transfers massive force to gears and clutch plates, potentially destroying seals, valves, and internal components.
If you need quick acceleration, do it correctly—never rev in Neutral and shift to Drive.
📌Mistake No. 07
Incorrect towing
Many people think towing in Neutral is safe—but it’s not.
In an automatic transmission, lubrication only happens when the engine-driven oil pump is working. When the engine is off and the vehicle is towed, gears rotate without lubrication, causing extreme heat and metal-to-metal contact.
This can permanently destroy the gearbox.
The safest method is a flatbed tow truck, where all four wheels are off the ground.
📌Mistake No. 08
Not checking transmission fluid
Transmission fluid is not just a lubricant. It performs three critical functions:
1. Transmits engine power
2. Lubricates internal components
3. Cools the transmission
Old or low fluid causes jerking, slipping, overheating, and internal damage.
Healthy fluid is pink or red. Dark brown or burnt-smelling fluid means immediate replacement is needed.
📌Mistake No. 09
Driving hard before warming up
Cold transmission fluid is thick—like honey kept in a fridge.
If you drive aggressively immediately after starting, oil doesn’t flow properly, causing metal-to-metal contact and seal damage.
After starting the vehicle, wait 30 seconds to 1 minute until RPM settles before driving.
Just like a human body needs warm-up, so does your vehicle.
📌Mistake No. 10
Overloading or excessive towing
Automatic transmissions are designed for specific weight limits.
Excessive load causes extreme heat inside the torque converter, sometimes exceeding 100–120°C. This damages seals, causes fluid leaks, slipping, and eventually total gearbox failure.
Final Advice
If you love your automatic vehicle, don’t play with the gear lever. A few seconds of patience is always cheaper than thousands spent on repairs. 🚗💨
