Putting the car in Drive, while still backing up

[hellrider]

When I'm backing out of my driveway, I sometimes put the car in Drive, while I'm still slowly backing up. I know I should probably be at a complete stop before going to Drive, but can this have caused any damage? I noticed a light shows up on my dash (slip light?) when I have done this in the past. No noticeable noises, just wanted to see if there is a built in safety feature that can prevent any damage from occuring. I have done it about 4 times in the past year.

I know I am stupid

 

[jhawk]

That's pretty normal. The 1v engine puts out a ton of torque down low, when you're idling in reverse or giving it a little bit of gas - moving directly into drive causes the tires to spin. I usually just hit the gas a bit harder. If you want to keep the light from turning on, just turn Trac Off. Your user manual has instructions on this.

 

[jhawk]

Also, to permanently turn off your Traction Control - instead of pushing your button every time you start the car. Turn the car to the 'on' position. Put your trip meter in 'Trip B'. Then turn it off - hold the TRAC OFF button and the trip selector button while starting the car. Hold both buttons for exactly 10 seconds - while holding these buttons, turn the car off then back on. Voila.

 

[whiskywizard]

You're shortening the tranny's lifespan, but not by too very much.

Automatic transmissions are sometime thought to be hydraulic drives. They aren't really. In fact, they are still sets of gears, like a manual gearbox, but instead of those gears sliding along shafts, in and out of contact with one another, Automatics comprise sets of sun and ring gears that rotate all the time. Their direction, relationship and output all change depending on a set of bands, kind of like drum brakes, that seize and release the various shafts.

What you're doing is stopping one of those shafts with this "brake-like" band while it is still turning. As you can imagine, holding a stopped shaft is easier than stopping a moving one, and that's where the added wear occurs for you.

Ask yourself if you are really saving any significant amount of time by changing direction "on a roll".

 

[jhawk]

Well you're no fun!

 

[Johnny Utah]

i did this last week when exiting my garage at work, the exit is a steep incline and i rolled back a little bit when i moved my foot from brake to gas. I thought my truck was going to explode.

 

[whiskywizard]

Well you're no fun!

Not the first time I've heard that, and likely not the last. :

 

[jhawk]

i did this last week when exiting my garage at work, the exit is a steep incline and i rolled back a little bit when i moved my foot from brake to gas. I thought my truck was going to explode.

That's probably the hill assist feature - the brakes sound like they're going to break something.