auto owners only! - stationary in 'D'

**lborob17** · 17th January 2006, 11:55

For auto owners only - think we all have the same box.

What happens when you are stationary with the gearbox in 'D'??

With mine I feel nothing.

It is supposed to go into neutral so I guess you should feel a little sensation of it changing into neutral then when you take your foot of the brake you should feel another little clunk as it goes back into drive?

Does your display change as well (e.g. from 'D' or '1' to N)??

It would be interesting to hear what other people's cars do!

cheers
Rich

**Doug-SRidirect** · 17th January 2006, 12:31

It silently shifts into neutral a couple of seconds after coming to a complete stop (with foot held on brakes). As soon as the brake is released, drive is taken up (again silently) but you can just about feel the engagement of the transmission at this point. The dash display does not change from either "D" or "1" throughout this magic.
Doug

**nellsey** · 17th January 2006, 12:43

Mine just seems to stay in drive when stationary.

Some of the newer auto boxes are being designed to slip in and out of drive to conserve fuel.
Was talking about this with a Honda chap and he said it actually saved 19% in fuel consumption by doing this.
I admit, I was looking at the new civic and you can have this type of auto box in the 1.8, which does make it about 4mpg better than the manual.

**Triple Trouble** · 17th January 2006, 13:40

Mine slams from D to N, then shifts back into D, feeling like someone has just hit you from behind. Then it repeats this a couple of times then settles down. Annoying thing is that it does this 50% of the time. The rest of the time it's OK.

**MJED** · 17th January 2006, 13:51

My display stays as 'D' and I don't notice anyother change.

**Doug-SRidirect** · 17th January 2006, 14:03

Mine definitely goes into neutral, but you can bearly feel it disengage or engage.
Hence (when stationary with foot on brake) moving the lever from "D" to "N" and back makes no difference to engine note, revs or fuel consumption readout on the digital display.
If the auto neutral wasn't working there would be a definite change in engine revs/note when "D" is engaged
Doug

**lborob17** · 17th January 2006, 16:15

I see what you mean Doug - ie when in 'D' and stationary its in neutral - so by moving the lever to 'N' you get no difference.

If im driving along in 'D' and ease off as if coming to a gradual holt my box normally goes in to neutral. I see this because as as soon as you get below about 20mph the revs suddenly drop off to tick over (about 500rpm) and the car feels as if you are coasting.

Il have a play round on my way home tonight

**Doug-SRidirect** · 17th January 2006, 16:28

Yes, but don't break it!!!!!

**Graeme** · 17th January 2006, 17:25

mine stays in D and feels like it does nothing. 2.2 petrol

**Green Growler** · 17th January 2006, 19:24

Originally Posted by Doug-SRidirect

Mine definitely goes into neutral, but you can bearly feel it disengage or engage.
Hence (when stationary with foot on brake) moving the lever from "D" to "N" and back makes no difference to engine note, revs or fuel consumption readout on the digital display.

Yep, same here, mine works as it should and you really only notice it when you are looking for it.

This is nothing new though, auto box's have done this for years. I had a Ford Grandad once, it would be 15 plus years old now, and it was supposed to engage neutral when stationary and your foot is on the brake. (never really felt it then either)
The handbook on them told you to leave your foot on the brake and NOT to apply the hand brake, unless you physically took it out of gear.
As far as I know, this is not to do with fuel consumption, though I have no doubt that it may well be a positive side effect, but it used to be due to wear and tear, and heat build up, in the torque converter.
It is designed to extend the life of the torque converter in today's ever increasing stationary traffic queues.