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5 Driving Habits That Can Damage Your Automatic Transmission

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Your car's automatic transmission is a complex piece of machinery that requires proper care and maintenance to function smoothly. While it's generally more convenient and easier to drive than a manual transmission, there are certain driving habits that can cause damage to your automatic transmission and lead to costly repairs.

5 Driving Habits to Avoid with an Automatic Transmission

  1. Coasting in Neutral: This is one of the most common bad habits that can damage your transmission. When you coast in neutral, the transmission is not engaged and the gears are not lubricated, which can cause them to wear out prematurely. Additionally, if you coast in neutral down a hill, you can lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident.
  2. Putting the Car in Neutral When You Come to a Stop: This is another bad habit that can damage your transmission. When you put the car in neutral at a stop, the transmission is still engaged and the gears are still spinning, which can cause them to wear out prematurely. Additionally, if you put the car in neutral at a stop and then forget to put it back in gear when you start driving again, you can damage the transmission.
  3. Launching the Car Too Quickly: When you launch the car too quickly, you put a lot of stress on the transmission. This can cause the gears to slip and wear out prematurely. To avoid this, accelerate smoothly and gradually.
  4. Switching from Reverse to Drive While the Vehicle is Moving: This is a very dangerous habit that can damage your transmission and cause an accident. When you switch from reverse to drive while the vehicle is moving, the gears can clash and cause damage to the transmission. Additionally, you can lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident.
  5. Putting the Vehicle in Park While it's Still Moving: This is another dangerous habit that can damage your transmission. When you put the vehicle in park while it's still moving, the gears can clash and cause damage to the transmission. Additionally, you can lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident.

Conclusion

By avoiding these five bad driving habits, you can help extend the life of your automatic transmission and keep your car running smoothly. If you have any questions about how to properly operate your automatic transmission, be sure to consult your owner's manual or a qualified mechanic.