If a vehicle is moving at low speeds (~25 mph) and the shifter is bumped into neutral is this bad for an a/t? Should the vehicle come to a stop before putting it back in drive?

I've had people bump mine into N before, and I've always wondered if it's damaging to put it back in drive while moving...

Thanks

 

I guess nobody knows?

 

pretty sure that it does no harm to your engine/tranny

 

It is perfectly safe, just give it a second to shift into gear before you get back on the gas

 

No harm at all. Just avoid shifting into R when you're still moving forward, etc..

What are you doing that you would bump the shifter?

 

My friend did that...on the freeway! He said it went into gear. His truck seemed to be OK.

 

'Bumping' the gearshift lever into neutral while moving should not damage an auto transmission. And you can put it back into drive without any problem. But, if you let the engine either rev up too high, or drop to an idle, there will be a 'bump' when the engine adjusts to match vehicle speed.

 

You definately don't want to put it into either R or P while driving, but it is perfectly fine to shift it into N and D while driving. Also, don't shift into 1 while going 80 mph, your pistons will try to escape from the engine block (and may succeed).

 

I just re-read my post and it sounds like I'm saying it's fine to put it into reverse. I meant that my friend was an idiot.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. After owning one car with auto tranny problems I guess I am just a bit paranoid.

I'm not usualy doing anything.