Mistakes to avoid when driving an automatic car

Shift to N while the vehicle is moving

This habit is noted in many drivers with the thought of saving gas/oil because when in N mode (also known as mo mode), the engine operates at the lowest rpm. However, the gear lever in N mode is only for cars parked in one place, at this time the gearbox oil is not pumped for lubrication. If the car is moving and the gear is shifted to N, the parts inside the gearbox will still operate without lubricating oil, which will lead to wear and damage in the long run.

In terms of car damage, the gearbox is the second most expensive part after the engine. Therefore, drivers with the above habits should change because the cost of repairing the gearbox is not commensurate with the insignificant fuel savings.

Prime the throttle before moving the vehicle.

Many people have the habit of revving the engine with a sudden increase in rpm before shifting into D (automatic gear shifting mode), even revving the engine with the idea of ​​warming up the engine or blowing away the layer of soot that has built up on the exhaust pipe at the back. However, this is a fatal mistake that can lead to gearbox failure.

Stepping on the gas in place creates a big "shock" to the gearbox, leading to more friction between the internal parts, potentially damaging gearbox parts such as belts, gears... And when the gearbox has to be lowered for repair, the cost will not be cheap.

Use both feet

Using both feet to drive is a basic mistake that many drivers often make when driving an automatic car.

Automatic cars do not have a clutch pedal, but only an accelerator and a brake pedal, both of which are located on the driver's right foot. However, when driving, some people tend to use both feet, the right foot to accelerate and the left foot to brake. This is a very dangerous habit because the driver can confuse the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, especially in emergency situations or when losing concentration, leading to not being able to handle the situation in time or pressing both the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time.

This action causes the vehicle to become uncontrollable and may result in an accident.

In automatic cars, the accelerator and brake pedals are placed on one side, so the driver using both feet to control the car will make the sitting position uncomfortable and difficult to handle in unexpected situations. In fact, many serious accidents have occurred due to this confusion. To avoid mistakenly pressing the accelerator and brake pedals, when learning how to drive an automatic car, pay attention to using only the right foot to control the car and place the left foot to the side, away from the accelerator and brake pedals.

Do not use the handbrake when parking.

The handbrake on an automatic car locks the wheels in place to ensure that the car does not roll, especially when parking on a slope. In an automatic car, P is used when parking. However, shifting into P without engaging the handbrake can cause wear on the gears in the transmission, especially when parking on a slope. This is because shifting into P is not enough to hold the car still and the transmission will have to work too hard, causing wear on the gears over time.

Therefore, to protect the automatic transmission, when stopping the car, the driver should apply the handbrake first, then shift to P.

Drive as soon as you start it

Shifting gears and driving at high speed right after starting the car is a bad habit that will cause serious damage to the engine and gearbox.

When starting the car, you should let it idle for a certain period of time, so that the lubricating oil can circulate throughout the parts in the engine compartment as well as the gearbox, especially in winter. This will help the car run more smoothly and ensure the durability of important parts of the car, including the gearbox.

Put many items under the car floor

Many people often put water bottles, bags or similar items on the floor of the car. This habit is potentially risky because those objects can roll into the position of the accelerator pedal, brake pedal, causing entanglement or even jamming the accelerator or brake pedal.