What's the point of Neutral on an Automatic gearbox?

[rudebhoy]

At the risk of appearing stupid -

Picked up the new car yesterday, it's the first automatic I've had. Like my last few cars it has an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function. If I select Drive but take my foot off the accelerator, it sits there quite happily, so there doesn't appear to be any need to slip it into Neutral like I would do with a manual gearbox?

Am I missing something here?

 

[PJ87]

At the risk of appearing stupid -

Picked up the new car yesterday, it's the first automatic I've had. Like my last few cars it has an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function. If I select Drive but take my foot off the accelerator, it sits there quite happily, so there doesn't appear to be any need to slip it into Neutral like I would do with a manual gearbox?

Am I missing something here?

Isn't it something to do with having the ability to push the car in neutral

Auto car was get you to select it to be able to drag your car through

Means the wheels move freely I believe rather than have to turn the engine

Something like that

 

[GreiginFife]

Without a neutral it would mean the car starting in gear and that’s never a good idea. It also allows you to “roll” the car if needed.

Agreed that the actual uses are limited with hold brakes and “park” functions (which are mainly just neutral with handbrake on).

I’d say the main reason you’d need it is if you broke down and needed to push the car.

 

[rudebhoy]

Without a neutral it would mean the car starting in gear and that’s never a good idea. It also allows you to “roll” the car if needed.

Agreed that the actual uses are limited with hold brakes and “park” functions (which are mainly just neutral with handbrake on).

I’d say the main reason you’d need it is if you broke down and needed to push the car.

Surely you start the engine when the car is in P (Park)?

 

[rudebhoy]

Isn't it something to do with having the ability to push the car in neutral

Auto car was get you to select it to be able to drag your car through

Means the wheels move freely I believe rather than have to turn the engine

Something like that

That makes sense

 

[GreiginFife]

Surely you start the engine when the car is in P (Park)?

Yes, which is just neutral state with handbrake on. The gearbox doesn’t have a “park” state.

 

[Orikoru]

I was told it's just for when you get towed pretty much. Two years driving an automatic and I've not used neutral yet.

 

[clubchamp98]

I thought it was if the car ever needs to be towed.
When the car is in P it has a small hook that slots into a gear cog this is what stops the car rolling.

 

[Mandofred]

Yes, which is just neutral state with handbrake on. The gearbox doesn’t have a “park” state.

Just copied this from the internet.....

Your automatic transmission has a device known as a parking pawl. This device locks the transmissions output shaft, preventing it from moving when your shifter is in Park.

 

[GreiginFife]

Just copied this from the internet.....

Your automatic transmission has a device known as a parking pawl. This device locks the transmissions output shaft, preventing it from moving when your shifter is in Park.

I stand corrected. I know that in both of mine it’s just a neutral state with “parking brake” on. I can remove the parking brake and the car would roll.

This is handy if the car faults before starting.

 

[williamalex1]

My neighbour somehow managed to stall her Merc, it jammed and wouldn't start when the gear stick was in Park position, it only started when it was put in neutral.

 

[bobmac]

Surely you start the engine when the car is in P (Park)?

Can I just say something?

 

[fundy]

I stand corrected. I know that in both of mine it’s just a neutral state with “parking brake” on. I can remove the parking brake and the car would roll.

This is handy if the car faults before starting.

Greig 1 Google 1

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I was told it's just for when you get towed pretty much. Two years driving an automatic and I've not used neutral yet.

6 yrs of automatic and not used it either .

It seems as though unless we break down we will never have to

 

[Deleted member 31467]

It's designed to allow you to go through a carwash

 

[rudebhoy]

Can I just say something?

Fire away.

 

[jim8flog]

When I am stopped (handbrake on) with the car in neutral (e.g. at traffic lights) there is no necessity to put my foot on the footbrake to put it in to drive.

 

[Maninblack4612]

It's designed to allow you to go through a carwash

That's when I use it

 

[jim8flog]

If I select Drive but take my foot off the accelerator, it sits there quite happily, so there doesn't appear to be any need to slip it into Neutral like I would do with a manual gearbox?

If I select neutral with the parking brake on the revs drop quite noticeably on my car and depending on the situation goes in to eco mode ie the engine turns off.