[superairborne]

Hi Gents

Is it safe to slip the autobox on my Gen3 3.2DiD into neutral while the car is moving forward at speed? Or should this rather be avoided???? I've also noticed that one does not need to press the button on the gear selector to move the selector to neutral from drive.

Thanx for your responses in advance.

[4ePikanini]

it goes from "R" to drive as well without having to press the button.

I don't know if it's safe but I wouldn't do it. In any case "N" uses fuel to keep the engine idling while coasting. If it's in gear it uses no fuel whatsoever while coasting which is better for your wallet and better for getting the EGT down before stopping.

[RoelfleRoux]

Super,

The simple fact that an automatic car should not be towed, even if the engine can idle, is enough for me to avoid doing it. My first auto DiD (2003), I used to slip it into N as I slowly turned into my drive way. Then once with the window open I could hear a distinct clunk that didn't sound 100% healthy as I took it out of D. What I will do in standing traffic on a slight down hill, is to idle in N and then allow the car to free slowly forwards - one car length at a time.

The owner's manual actually suggests that you NOT use the little lever at all, except for when it is required to engage R. The reasoning is if you use it all the time, it will then not prevent accidental selection of R. Which ofcourse is the only function of that little lever.

Roelf

[RoelfleRoux]

May I add a question to this thread? PLEASE.
I'm sure Superairborne would also like to hear the answer from our clever members here.

I'll summarise my "switching off" routine and ask for comments on what is best practise. Although mine is petrol and doesn't require idling for a bit, I like to allow a few seconds of idling in any case.

I stop, stick the box in N, and then make sure the sunroof and windows are closed before killing the motor. I turn the key and slip the box into P all in one motion. Is this unhealthy?

At first (since 2003) I would shift into R and allow the car to "settle", then P, then kill the motor. Later I found that a quick fluid movement from N to P, through R, actually "misses" engaging R and there is no reaction from the box.

Then there was a period where I would kill the motor in N and only shift to P once the motor is not with us any more.

I have never picked up any problems with any of the three auto Pajeros I had, but would like advice on what is best practice.

Super, with your permission I hope to get a few informative replies here.

Roelf

[4ePajero]

Roelf,
I can't comment on the Mitsu box, but on my Touareg (Auto), I can't kill the engine unless it is in "P".
Safety feature, I suppose?

I don't think it really matters, but I may be corrected.

What I know is that it is not recommended to have the box in "N' whilst the vehicle is moving.

[RoelfleRoux]

Gerhard,
I can't get my key out unless it's in P. I'm quite glad mine can switch off and on in N. Very handy in the bush/Kruger Park. You stop to admire, then kill the motor because you can see Swambo is going to take more photies that is required. Handy to just start again an pull into D to get going. I really hate going through R the whole time and the reverse lights doing their disco thing as well.

Just another hint to superairborne:

Always make sure your Pajero is stationary and held by the handbrake before shifting to P. The Pajero doesn't like the P to hold against a hill. When you start and want to shift from P, it sticks and jerks as it comes out.

That is another reason why my car idles for a few secs before the "killing routine" starts - to make sure the hand brake is keeping the car perfectly still and safe first.

[4ePikanini]

I stop, handbrake up, wrrrrtttt through the selections to park, get out, get all the stuff, open the house door for SWAMBO and then I go back to reach in and kill the motor.

If I forget to put the handbrake up first and it brakes via park, I counter the sticky selection by pressing the brake pedal extra hard and holding before disengaging park.

[superairborne]

Thank you for all the replies. I was actually just wondering about this because the gearlever shifts from "D" to "N" and from "R" all the way through "N" to "D" without pressing the button. I would've guess it better not to allow the gearlever shift at all without pressing the button, except of course for tiptronic shifting.

[4ePajero]

Now that you have had your questions answered, I may tell the related joke/story.

Legend has it that this rather 'dof' character bought his first automatic vehicle, but brought it back with a broken transmission.
It was repaired under warranty, but the failure happened two more times in as many days.

The workshop manager could not understand this, and asked the 'tappet' to describe the sequence of what happened when the transmission failed.

"It was, like, the same every time, man!
I would put it in "Dice" and everything was 'A' for 'OK'!
When I got in a, like, hurry you know, I shifted to "Racing", and all hell broke loose man!"

[superairborne]

Good one, 4ePajero! hehehehe!