Did I break something?

[Angelus Errare]

Earlyer I was driving home from school and for some reason I decided to shift my sunfire into Netural and coast (I've heard some people do it so I figured it didn't cause any harm) and when I'm about to shift back into drive, I hit a bump and shifted into reverse by accident. I quickly switch back to drive but the car cuts off..

Luckly, I was able to restart it(At first it didn't seem it wanted to, it took longer then it should have) and I listened to see if I could hear any differance. Everything seemed fine. I pulled into a parking lot, parked and then reversed, still couldn't feel or hear anything different. Parked again, turned the car off and restarted it after a few seconds. It started up quickly and I went the rest of the way home. I think I might have noticed a very slight loss in power, but I think it was probably just my imagination as everything else seemed fine.

Is my car ok? What should I check or look for? I've only had the car for about 3 months so I don't know a whole lot about cars(it's also my first).


1995 Sunfire
2200 2.2 OHV (I belive it's OHV)
3 speed automatic

I'm not a great speller, so please forgive the errors.

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF! As long as the transmission shift correctly I doubt that you did any harm. The transmission must be at a certain speed before it will actually engage reverse and therefore if the transmission is shifting alright then the car should be fine. If any damage had been done it would be to the transmission since the engine turns the same direction regardless of the gear the transmission is in.

[Angelus Errare]

Well, thats a huge relief, I know I wont try coasting again. Also, thanks for the welcome GTP Dad.

Atleast I learned something from all of this..

[Chapol]

Just a follow-on curiosity: thought I read some time ago that coasting wasn't good for modern transmissions; possibly it isn't legal either, at least in certain states. I used to do it often with manual transmissions cars.

[ctuagent117]

it is illegal in all 50 states to coast on neutral. you did no harm to anything, you just out a little more strain on the internals you'll be ok, the tranny won't even shift to reverse or to drive unless its at a certain speed. also dont buy a sporty car with an automatic, thats not cool.

[Angelus Errare]

Well, I wanted a manual, but I couldn't be picky. I needed a car badly for going to and from school and it was the best car (and the only sunfire) that I could find anywhere.

I'm glad no damage was done, but why did the car cut off?

[ctuagent117]

yea, i needed a car for school too, but i insisted i get the manual and i had to pass up aloootttt of offers. the ignition could shut likely shut off as a safety measure. it wouldnt of shut off because the engine was dying, engine only runs one direction. i doubt it stopped because it couldnt provide enough tourque or anything like that. youll be ok, and if something does happen get a manual lol/jk

[|WYG|SS]

my dad said if u want to coast again "when caosting then shut engine off then put it into any gear then leave foot on clutch for about 10 sec and let off then start car up again"

[ctuagent117]

Originally Posted by |WYG|SS

my dad said if u want to coast again "when caosting then shut engine off then put it into any gear then leave foot on clutch for about 10 sec and let off then start car up again"

lmao

[Angelus Errare]

To be honest, once the car is paid for, a manual is one of the first items on my upgrade list. And I couldn't wait, I just managed to get that one right before school had started up. I'm not about to walk 84 miles every other day to get to school.

[corning_d3]

coasting is illegal.....ooops.

[Angelus Errare]

Well, I didn't know that at the time. Now that I do, I dont plan on trying it again.

[corning_d3]

Ahh, i'll still do it.

[princess_sunfire]

Your car shut off because it is a saftey measure for most automatics when put into reverse. This is to make sure you dont tear the transmission out of the car. So don't worry about it at all. There are many other ppl that have done that aswell that is why that saftey measure is there. And in Canada coasting isn't illegal.

[|WYG|SS]

lol that would be cool to see some1 do that to their manual cause the thing is when u start it up again it will blow the exaust pipe out. :P