Hello

 

I've got a new car arriving tomorrow (2023 Fiesta Titanium X Turbo MHEV 125 EcoBoost). I've only driven manuals before and I'm wondering what the correct usage of each of the P R N D L. There's lots of conflicting info online (especially for what to use when stopped at traffic lights).

 

Is the following correct for my car:

P - Use in conjunction with handbrake when parked and exiting the vehicle (i.e. at home, work, supermarket, etc)

R - Use when reversing

N - Use in conjunction with handbrake when stopped at traffic lights, crossroads, etc. Also use at carwash, or when being towed.

D - Use when driving or stopped for short time (i.e. at give-way sign, or when pulling over to let another vehicle through)

L - Low gear. Use when towing heavy load or going up very steep hill.

 

Any guidance is much appreciated.

"P" is for Park - Engage Park when switching off engine, then handbrake

"R" is for reversing

"N" is neutral gear like a manual, not for normal use, mainly for pushing during breakdown or during servicing if you need to run the engine for a while

"D" is DRIVE - You use this ALL the time whilst driving

"L" holds the "L"ow gears for going up or downhills

To start the car you will need to put your foot on the brake, start the engine, keep your foot on the brake whilst you select "D" or "R", then take the handbrake off, take your foot off the brake and press the throttle GENTLY! Autos do take off rather quickly, so be careful at first.

DO NOT use neutral during driving, just stop as normal and keep your foot on the brake pedal, then pull off again, you will find the engine stops, don't worry, just take your foot off the brake, when you are ready to go and it will start again and pull away

DO NOT use you left foot at all, forget about your left foot and just switch your right foot between the brake and throttle like you do in a manual.

NO CLUTCH, NO LEFT FOOT REQUIRED

The vehicle will "creep" in "D" or "R" or "L" when you take the foot off the brake pedal so you have to learn to feather the brakes to crawl at the speed you want

If you ever need to move the car during breakdown, without starting engine just swap the start process round:

Keep foot off brake

Turn on ignition but don't start engine

Put foot back on brake

engage neutral "N"

remove handbrake

push car

There is always debate about using D or N at traffic lights.

The official guidance is to hold the brake pedal in D, blinding the driver behind you.

Long term manual drivers often use N at traffic lights instead.  But isn't required or advised when teaching auto.

Thanks DaveT70 for your fantastically informative answer, and TomsFocus for your info about official guidance which I had never heard of.

 

If keeping it in D all the time, is it ok to keep it in D and use the handbrake for example at a train crossing, or is it advised to used the foot brake instead?

 

Do either of these cause any strain on components?

Edited October 24, 20241 yr by AlexRB1986
Clarity

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

There is always debate about using D or N at traffic lights.

Lol, certainly is. I initially learned in (and still prefer) a manual but have driven many autos since, including having tuition in them. Even instructors don't agree!

In my early days, all autos tended to be torque converter "slush boxes" (apart from the very rare DAF cvt) so holding the footbrake seemed more acceptable (apart from dazzling the driver behind).

Now with dual-clutch being more prevelant, when you are holding it in D with the footbrake are you not, in essence, slipping the clutch and possibly increasing wear? 

Counter argument to that is that many DCTs seem a bit slow off the mark and holding it against the brake "winds it up" for a quicker getaway.

I'm still in the N school myself if stopping for a long wait at lights, level crossings etc, but I get strange looks from (inevitably younger) salespeople on test drives "you don't need to do that nowadays", etc.😀

Of course, if stop/start is active, that's another factor.

25 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Now with dual-clutch being more prevelant, when you are holding it in D with the footbrake are you not, in essence, slipping the clutch and possibly increasing wear? 

Counter argument to that is that many DCTs seem a bit slow off the mark and holding it against the brake "winds it up" for a quicker getaway.

On my Focus when sitting in traffic or at lights if the engine has stopped I will just leave it in D as there is no strain on the DCT but if the engine is running I will shift back to neutral.

2 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Now with dual-clutch being more prevelant, when you are holding it in D with the footbrake are you not, in essence, slipping the clutch and possibly increasing wear? 

Most modern DCTs completely disengage the clutch when at a full stop with foot on the brake.  Though you could argue there's extra strain being put through the actuator to do that.

Also on some cars, Autohold will kick in at a full stop so no need for handbrake, but I assume the Mk8 still doesn't have Autohold as that's generally fitted along with EPB.

57 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Most modern DCTs completely disengage the clutch when at a full stop with foot on the brake.  Though you could argue there's extra strain being put through the actuator to do that.

Lol, you forget I don't do modern! Yes thats probably true these days, which is why I get comments on test drives.😀 Don't think that was necessarily the case when I first drove a DSG though.

1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

assume the Mk8 still doesn't have Autohold as that's generally fitted along with EPB.

Yes, just Hill Start Assist. 

17 hours ago, AlexRB1986 said:

Thanks DaveT70 for your fantastically informative answer, and TomsFocus for your info about official guidance which I had never heard of.

 

If keeping it in D all the time, is it ok to keep it in D and use the handbrake for example at a train crossing, or is it advised to used the foot brake instead?

 

Do either of these cause any strain on components?

It's recommended to go into Park "P" and put the handbrake on in situations like that.

If you're only stopping for a short while just leave it in "D" and keep your foot on the brake

I've driven autos for many years now of all types including CVT.   I can see the reasons for not using neutral for lengthier stops in a car with the start/stop feature.   As I (thankfully) haven't got start/stop on my car I still use neutral for this type of stop as in 'drive',  as Tom says, surely the clutch(es) is/are released as holding the clutch down on a manual would be hence wear on the thrust bearing.

One  very important point I don't think has been mentioned, The car must be at a complete standstill before shifting into 'P'.  I imagine  nasty damage if you don't.

I guess it could vary from which auto to which auto, but I can only confirm the undermentioned

I know on the Getrag Powershift 6DCT450 when the speedo is at zero and your foot is on the brake pedal all drive connection is automatically removed within the trans - hence I never took my Mondeo Mk4.5 Titanium X Sport out of D when I was stationary in traffic etc (and of course drove the guy behind crazy with my brake lights on!!)

The same applies to the 8 speed Getrag ZF torque converter transmissions fitted to likes of BMW and Jaguar, speedo at zero, foot on the brake - all drive connection is removed.

Deviating slightly, by far the best auto or semi auto etc. I have driven as far as driveabity is concerned has to be a  ZF CVT fitted to a Rover 45.  Totally smooth, no hesitation at all on pick up and economical.  Unforunately, the transmission failed twice and had to be  replaced. Fortunately, for me, it was a company car so it cost me nothing.

By far the worst for drivability was a company car Vauxhall 'Easytronic' which I guess could be called a semi-auto.  Very jerky (in the three years I had the car I never could drive it smoothly - I took it back to the dealer and they just said that's the way it is) and frighteningly long delay pick up at roundabouts etc.  I managed to master the technique of fooling it by holding down the brake when pulling away to get it to engage but it was never good.

9 hours ago, Magenta said:

fitted to a Rover 45.  Totally smooth, no hesitation at all on pick up and economical.  Unforunately, the transmission failed twice and had to be  replaced.

Ah yes !!!

I remember reading about them in the news about how not to run a company 🤣

14 hours ago, unofix said:

Ah yes !!!

I remember reading about them in the news about how not to run a company 🤣

Including not buying German components .  I suspect that ZF were supplying substandard transmission units (aided and abetted by BMW)- on the cheap probably.