gearboxes

[paulz]

We've just bought a newer car with an automatic gearbox. Nosey 11 year old wants to know the in & outs of how it works. She's got the gist of it, but stumped me when she asked what the difference is between P [parked] and N [neutral] any ideas? [but brief & simple please!] thanks

[woofgang]

In neutral, the gear mechanism is disengaged and therefore, with the parking brake off, you can push the car, in parked, the gear mechanism is engaged and you cannot push the car......I think

[gmc2002]

You can only remove the key in P on my BMW

[Ewood27]

Woofgang is correct. In my auto Vectra the handbrake is pretty useless, so when I park I just put it in "P" and leave the handbrake off. There's then a hydraulic lock in the drive system, which means that if the car tries to move it creates pressure in a hydraulic pipe that won't let it through - rather like parking a manual car in gear (but not exactly the same!). I can only start the engine with the selector in "N" or "P" and can only remove the key with it in "P"

[number8]

This should be posted as another Q, so sorry for hi-jacking your Q, but whilst we are on the subject, on an auto box, what are the numbers for? (1, 2 & 3 I think). I thought the whole point of an auto box was to put it in drive and go (I've never had an auto box, so forgive my ignorance).

[paulz]

Scubaboy - no probs, apparently if you're either going up or down hills you can lock it in that gear [1.2 or 3] to get the maximum braking

[number8]

Muchos gracias

[misk111]

It doesn't actually lock it into that gear. it just makes it the highest gear it will go up to - that's on my omega anyway. it may be different on other cars...

[Janetex]

Also, Paulz, when on an incline, always engage the handbrake BEFORE putting it into Park.

[RATTER15]

If you place a auto in P it locks the gearbox, N will allow the vehicle to move, if you put a auto in drive it will select the best gear to drive, but should you want to use engine braking you can select a lower gear manually, you cannot prevent the car changing down a gear but you can prevent it from changing up by this method.