Shifting into Neutral

[MooseNelson]

Hi, thanks for this forum.

I just bought a nice SE 1999, and I have been driving a 5 speed until now. I absolutely detest automatic transmissions, but seem to have some success by shifting up into neutral when coming to a stop.

I'm here in VA and with all these stop lights, I get much better braking fi I shift to neutral instead of fighting against the drive.

In general I think I save on gas and save thge breaks.

My only concern, though, is all this shifting back into "drive" when the light turns green, waiting for the 2 second delay before the clutch catches might wear down the trans.

I just got a trans service, so the fluid is new, but wondering if this neutral shifting might be a big NO NO.

For now, though, i find it's better to shift into neutral and coast when I can, and especially when waiting at a light. When drive is engaged, i can just feel the clutch rubbing continiously on those brakes.

This is why automatic trans' are for grannies only!

[hughw]

Originally Posted by MooseNelson

Hi, thanks for this forum.

I just bought a nice SE 1999, and I have been driving a 5 speed until now. I absolutely detest automatic transmissions, but seem to have some success by shifting up into neutral when coming to a stop.

I'm here in VA and with all these stop lights, I get much better braking fi I shift to neutral instead of fighting against the drive.

In general I think I save on gas and save thge breaks.

My only concern, though, is all this shifting back into "drive" when the light turns green, waiting for the 2 second delay before the clutch catches might wear down the trans.

I just got a trans service, so the fluid is new, but wondering if this neutral shifting might be a big NO NO.

For now, though, i find it's better to shift into neutral and coast when I can, and especially when waiting at a light. When drive is engaged, i can just feel the clutch rubbing continiously on those brakes.

This is why automatic trans' are for grannies only!

I'm a little confused with your thinking concerning driving an automatic......Thats what an automatic does...runs automaticly....
Whats this shifting to neutral at stop lights?....you just leave it in Drive and when its time to go...press the accel...I don't think you save any wear and tear by shifting to neutral at stops ......

[Willyum]

Not a very intelligent sounding entry, Moose. If you don't like automatic transmissions why did you buy one? Shifting in and out of neutral is harder on the system, is made to be left in gear.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by MooseNelson

Hi, thanks for this forum.

I just bought a nice SE 1999, and I have been driving a 5 speed until now. I absolutely detest automatic transmissions, but seem to have some success by shifting up into neutral when coming to a stop.

I'm here in VA and with all these stop lights, I get much better braking fi I shift to neutral instead of fighting against the drive.

In general I think I save on gas and save thge breaks.

My only concern, though, is all this shifting back into "drive" when the light turns green, waiting for the 2 second delay before the clutch catches might wear down the trans.

I just got a trans service, so the fluid is new, but wondering if this neutral shifting might be a big NO NO.

For now, though, i find it's better to shift into neutral and coast when I can, and especially when waiting at a light. When drive is engaged, i can just feel the clutch rubbing continiously on those brakes.

This is why automatic trans' are for grannies only!

Leve it it Drive. You put more wear and tear on your tranny going from D to N. If you're concerned about your brakes let up on the gas a little sooner. How fast is your engine idling? Does it pull your car a lot without your foot on the gas?

I could see a reason to put in N if the engine was dying and you had to keep you foot on the gas to keep it runing.

It's an AUTOMATIC transmission. I do know that manual trannies were sold in Tauruses so if that's what you want you may be able to find one with a manual trannie.

Dan

[MooseNelson]

Yeah I understand it's Automatic, push and go, brake and stop, but honestly, I almost promised myself that i would give up replacing the tranny just to do the neutral thing.

Honestly, there is a big difference between braking in neutral and braking in Drive, not necessarily a tranni problem, just it takes time for the trans to disingage at high rpms. I guess I could give more time between gas and break, but in general, I find it much more of a "drive" to shift into neutral when I need to slow down or stop.

By the way, what would happen if I revved the engine and put it in drive, have people ever tried peeling out with an automatic trans?

I bought the car cuz it was the price, and my granni (honest) had the deciding vote on what I bought.

I enjoy the car, though it seems like there is a lot of stress on the trans when you break anyway, a lot of rubbing, etc, seems less than that initial "into drive" lurch when stopped.

How much is a transmission replacement job anyway?

1999 Ford Taurus SE Blue with driver power seat, and power sunroof.

-Mace