To Neutral or Not While Waiting at Traffic Light

[Guest Gideon]

For auto transmission vehicle, share your practice whether you put your gear in Neutral or Not while waiting for the traffic light to turn green in your favour.

What would be the best practice from professional driving and maintenance perspective?

Cheers!

As for me, just press the Brake to bring the car to a standstill at the traffic light and release it to move forward as the traffic light turns green....

[g8crasher]

There are a few schools of thought - some people claim it saves gas, less wear on the tranny etc.

I just leave it in D. Foot is off the accelerator pedal anyway means the engine is idling - which is the same as leaving it in neutral.

[Guest Luci Ride]

g8crasher wrote:

I just leave it in D. Foot is off the accelerator pedal anyway means the engine is idling - which is the same as leaving it in neutral.

Make that +1 , Exactly my same sentiments too plus constant shifting will aged you tranny faster when position fm D to P or N once too often like at traffic lights.

[Guest relagsingh]

Gideon wrote:

For auto transmission vehicle, share your practice whether you put your gear in Neutral or Not while waiting for the traffic light to turn green in your favour.

What would be the best practice from professional driving and maintenance perspective?

Cheers!

As for me, just press the Brake to bring the car to a standstill at the traffic light and release it to move forward as the traffic light turns green....

Read from some article eons ago saying that we should always leave it alone. ie in D. refrain from constant shifting for auto tranny.

[Guest bbwannabe]

+1 to leave in D, reduce wear on tranny.

well... the only 'down' side to leaving it in d is that the engine is engaged. some load there but it is nothing like it can't handle (think 6000rpm).

[Guest merc212]

Leave in D :becky:

This question has been asked many times but there is never a "correct" answer. According to the so called "Auto Trans Specialist" in S'pore (Khang Auto), you should leave in D mode while waiting at the lights. Check out their website FAQs.:whistle:

[Guest 9339]

Only one kind of ppl who put they Tran's to N at traffic light.......

TAXI DRIVER......

[Guest angela]

i dunno if it's just me, or if due to my hard driving i've worn down my engine mounts quite a bit.

i notice when at a full stop if i leave my car in D, there's noticiable vibrations, but when i shift to N, the vibrations reduces.

it could be i'm feeling the vibration through the brake pedals or the whole car, i can't be sure.

[Guest bbwannabe]

lol... just to add.

my w211, it is nearly perfectly vibration free when i keep my foot on the brake and the gear in D. vibrates a little in N instead. weird

[Guest Gideon]

Dear All,

Got an official reply from C&C:-

Thank you for your enquiry via our Mercedes-Benz website on 05 April

2010.

With regard to your enquiry, kindly be informed that it is not necessary

to engage the transmission gear to Neutral position at all times during

engine idling. Kindly be assured that it will not cause any unusual wear

and tear to the transmission gear.

On a separate note, for driving comfort when the car is waiting at a

slope, you may wish to use the Hold function so that the car would not

roll back when foot is removed from the brake pedal.

Thank you once again and happy motoring.

Yours Sincerely,

CYCLE & CARRIAGE INDUSTRIES PTE LTD

Matthew Tan

Customer Care

Customer Assistance Centre

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