This needs to be brought back to the attention of the public...

I had no idea you could do this!!!

We need a "safety and learning" write up on how to shift correctly in an auto. to avoid blowing up the trans of course...

 

Lots of good information here. I just had my tranny rebuilt. They told me everything looks good but the VTEC solenoid is leaking and it costs about $250 to replace including labor. I had another guy looking at it and he said it looks fine, so now, i don't know what the hell to think. I always drive in D4 but i switch to neutral when coming to a red light or going downhill. I think i'm saving gas and giving my brakes a rest. Would this cause any damage to the tranny? I have a 98 LX automatic with 147k miles. Thanks for your feedback.

 

You could always think about replacing the o-ring on the vtec and see what happens to the leak.

Not an auto trans expert, I would be worried about the "downhill" part.....shifting back into D4 when the car is at speed? I know you are not on the gas but the fact the clutch plates "all of the sudden" have to catch up to the engine and the speed......again I'm no expert on trans issues.

 

You actually save a tiny bit more fuel if you leave it in gear and take your foot completely off the gas pedal. If the momentum of the car spins the engine more than about 1600rpm, and the throttle is completely closed, the ECU shuts off fuel injection completely.

 

Is it okay to put it in neutral at red lights to ease up on the brakes?

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

OK to put in neutral when you're stopped at a red light (save a very tiny amount of fuel). The other warning is about coasting downhill. When the engine is idling, transmission in NEUTRAL, but the car is coasting at high(??) speed. Sudden shock to the transmission when you shift into DRIVE. And 1998 transmissions weren't the most rubust anyway.