Transmission safety feature

[AZTOY]

Cool Transmission safety feature:

Everyday, on the way home from work, I shift into neutral (automatic) to coast down a 3 mile hill coming out of the mountains. The other day, I accidentally shifted it into reverse, instead of drive, at the bottom of the hill (going 60mph). The 4runner just shut off. No grinding, lurching or lock up. The engine just shut off and rolled like it was in neutral, even though it was still in reverse.

I pulled over, put it in park and it started and drove with no issues since. Maybe this is a common safety feature, but since this is the first time in 20+ years I have been stupid enough to do that, it is new to me.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

If you do that in my area and a trooper has its window open and can tell your in neutral coasting down Rt81 he will pull you over and give you a ticket. Ask me how I know. In my area it's illegal to coast down a hill in neutral.

I hope you didn't coast 3 miles with engine stalled. The engine running provides lubrication to all the bearings and planetary's.

 

[D Farms]

If you do that in my area and a trooper has its window open and can tell your in neutral coasting down Rt81 he will pull you over and give you a ticket. Ask me how I know. In my area it's illegal to coast down a hill in neutral.

I hope you didn't coast 3 miles with engine stalled. The engine running provides lubrication to all the bearings and planetary's.

sounds like some bullshit law to make money to me. also how could the officer even tell if you were in neutral.

also if you want to be more efficient it is actually better to stay in gear, the momentum of the truck will run the engine and use less gas than when idling, it wont work as well as a manual will though.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

By not hearing it go by.

 

[TheDurk]

By not hearing it go by.

He'd probably think it was one of those hybrid '97 4Runners.

 

[soundmanlpte]

Good to know. Though when you do that. You can just push the shifter up without pushing in the button. That way there's no risk of hitting reverse. I'm sure you already knew that. And it looks like it doesn't matter anyways.

 

[Robb235]

I too question how the trooper could tell whether or not you're in neutral. If you're just coasting in gear, there shouldn't be exhaust noise, and same thing in neutral.

But regardless, as someone already mentioned, it's better to just leave it in gear.

 

[AZTOY]

If you do that in my area and a trooper has its window open and can tell your in neutral coasting down Rt81 he will pull you over and give you a ticket. Ask me how I know. In my area it's illegal to coast down a hill in neutral.

I hope you didn't coast 3 miles with engine stalled. The engine running provides lubrication to all the bearings and planetary's.

No I didn't coast with engine off. I put in reverse at bottom hill and pulled over immediately.

It may be more efficient to leave in gear, but neutral is more fun!

 

[nevada]

mostly unrelated, but a good story..

years ago when I worked a small tire shop, we had a customer that would drive by in his 454 powered chevy dually. he would pop it in neutral, rev the engine a few times, them drive away. slow speeds 5-15 mph. well, one day he missed neutral, and hit reverse. he goosed it a couple times, absolutely ripping the tires loose. made for a good smoke show, and scared the guy(kid actually) shitless. he never did that again. hahaha

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I too question how the trooper could tell whether or not you're in neutral. If you're just coasting in gear, there shouldn't be exhaust noise, and same thing in neutral.

But regardless, as someone already mentioned, it's better to just leave it in gear.

It was in the late 80's and my neighbor got the ticket going south on 81 here in PA between the Towercity exit and the Ravine exit. It didn't help when he got pulled over that it was still in neutral. There is a difference between a engine at idle and one off the gas at 65mph.

 

[mountainbiker42]

A few years ago I had an automatic 99 Tacoma. I had surgery on my right arm so I could not shift the truck without reaching over with my left hand. I was engine braking down a hill with my EX girlfriend in the truck and at the bottom of the hill I asked her to put the truck back into drive (it was in 2). Well she managaed to click it all the way into reverse and yes, the engine does die. Thankfully. She didn't stick around.

 

[hearno]

If you do that in my area and a trooper has its window open and can tell your in neutral coasting down Rt81 he will pull you over and give you a ticket. Ask me how I know. In my area it's illegal to coast down a hill in neutral.

I hope you didn't coast 3 miles with engine stalled. The engine running provides lubrication to all the bearings and planetary's.

LOL... VA has it too. https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-811

 

[JayRolla]

If you do that in my area and a trooper has its window open and can tell your in neutral coasting down Rt81 he will pull you over and give you a ticket. Ask me how I know. In my area it's illegal to coast down a hill in neutral.

I hope you didn't coast 3 miles with engine stalled. The engine running provides lubrication to all the bearings and planetary's.

Impossible to tell, I call big BS and would fight in court everytime.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Impossible to tell, I call big BS and would fight in court everytime.

Read my post. Jeff messed up and still had his Córdoba in neutral when the PA State Trooper walked up to the car.

Either way. Is on the operator of the vehicle to do or my do this. I don't recommend it. And think coasting in neutral is not legal in most states. I'm done commenting on this subject.

 

[threadlessclimber]

I think what it is, is that when you are in neutral you don't have full control of the vehicle and as the driver you are to be in control at all times. I remember my dad saying something about it when he taught me how to drive.

 

[nissanh]

Don't press the button when going between neutral and drive. I do this when I am at a stop light.

 

[Myrunr2010]

LOL... VA has it too. https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-811

I do this all the time when im in the mountains! can't believe its not legal.