Avoiding transmission trouble: The right way to use the ‘P’ position

Using an automatic transmission is much simpler than a manual one, but some situations can surprise us. One such situation is leaving the vehicle in the P position, which can later prevent it from moving.

The P position, which stands for parking, is a setting of the automatic transmission lever that locks the gearbox. It is only used after the journey is completed and the engine turns off.

User manuals and various guides emphasize that leaving the car in P on an incline should be preceded by engaging the parking brake. Otherwise, the large forces acting on it can damage the element that locks the gearbox.

This is partially true, although cases of locking mechanism damage in automatic transmissions are extremely rare and mainly result from extreme situations.

In everyday use, this is almost impossible, as it can occur only in exceptionally extreme conditions.

So, what can happen? In practice, an overloaded lock can cause the transmission lever to jam. After starting the engine, moving it from P to R or another position might be difficult but not impossible, and it may require more force.

It's worse when the car is equipped with an electronic lever, which is just a manipulator that gives commands to the controller.

In the case of an electronic selector and a significant road incline, the gearbox may not come out of P. The car will not move, and he specifies that you must help it by "discharging" the stresses by gently pulling the car towards the incline or lifting the driven axle.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of cars nowadays already have electronic levers. You must be especially careful when pushing or pulling the vehicle because pushing too hard in the opposite direction can cause stress or destroy the transmission.

Drivers with automatic transmissions often forego using the parking brake. On flat surfaces, this is not an issue, but on inclines, it is a mistake.

After stopping the vehicle, with your foot on the brake pedal, you should engage the handbrake, move the automatic lever to the N position, take your foot off the brake, and allow the parking brake to engage. Only after all this can you switch the transmission to the P position.

Using the P position is crucial when the car is stationary. Engaging parking while the vehicle is still slightly rolling can lead to failure, such as damage to the locking mechanism. This is more likely than in cases of parking on an incline.