Does Moving a Car in Park Damage the Transmission?
Moving a car in park can damage the transmission if the parking pawl is not engaged properly. The parking pawl is a small metal arm that locks the transmission in place when the car is in park. If the pawl is not engaged, the transmission can slip out of park and cause the car to move unexpectedly.
The damage to the transmission will depend on the severity of the impact. If the car is moved a short distance, the transmission may only suffer minor damage. However, if the car is moved a long distance, the transmission could be severely damaged and require replacement.
Symptoms of Transmission Damage
There are several symptoms that can indicate that the transmission has been damaged due to moving the car in park. These symptoms include:
- Difficulty shifting gears
- Slipping gears
- Grinding noises when shifting gears
- Leaking transmission fluid
- Burning smell
How to Avoid Damaging the Transmission
There are several things that you can do to avoid damaging the transmission when moving the car in park. These include:
- Make sure that the parking pawl is engaged properly before moving the car.
- Do not move the car a long distance in park.
- If you need to move the car a long distance, put the car in neutral and use the parking brake.
Conclusion
Moving a car in park can damage the transmission if the parking pawl is not engaged properly. The damage to the transmission will depend on the severity of the impact. To avoid damaging the transmission, make sure that the parking pawl is engaged properly, do not move the car a long distance in park, and if you need to move the car a long distance, put the car in neutral and use the parking brake.
