D1 or Neutral at traffic lights?

F

fatbaldboy

Member
I'm completely new to automatic transmission (other than a 20 minute drive in a Citroen Berlingo about 10 years ago).

Is there a preference (or better 'a science') as to whether or not to go into neutral when momentarily stopped at traffic lights etc?

Pretty sure I read in the manual you should pop it into neutral - that seems counter intuitive to me with regard wear and tear. But I'm not an engineer. Or particularly clever.

(For those wondering, the 35i is a better drive than the Berlingo)
 
Many, many years ago for fully automatic boxes they were best left in drive as repeated re-engagement of the clutch packs wore them out. Newer boxes less so but probably good advice.

But this I suspect is a twin clutch box. I vaguely recall reading that shifting into neutral was a good idea as it stopped any danger of it thinking it was about to pull away and holding the clutch at the biting point.
 
It is twin clutch.

Interesting about it possibly holding at biting point - I could see that having an effect on wear and tear.
 
Haven't driven a manual box for 20 years. Pain in the ar$e and the left leg.

For at least 250,000 miles with auto, used only right foot to go & stop.

Automatic, you see.
 
Most modern DCT and auto boxes automatically disengage the clutches and/or shift into neutral on level ground when the brake is applied..

The only real exception is not to balance the car on an incline as then the clutches will engage and that will result in rapid wear if done habitually or for long periods..
 
Are you talking about the DCT or a slush box?
In regard to DCT it does not matter but its best to avoid constant crawling at tickover, you can end up overheating the clutch pack doing this as its slipping a lot of the time...
With a slush box it doesn't really matter, putting it in N might let the oil cool a bit if you are there a while I guess, maybe not...
 
Stay in D and lord it over all the peasants around you who still have to do their own gear changes with their actual hands. I mean come on changing gear yourself is just one step away from the horse and cart! :P :D :lol:

Seriously though - the first time I was in a traffic jam after going auto I realised just how great they are. :thumbsup:
 
As said - a DCT coz is doing the clutch release for you anyway - it is effectively out of gear as you come to a stop.

Going to neutral does nothing at all.
 
If the DCT is in neutral at a stop light, why does the car want to creep ahead on a level or even slightly uphill. This has always bothered me because the Dct has no torque converter, (slushbox). I think there is some clutch drag, or mine is out of adjustment.
So am I the only one who needs to hold the car with the brake at a light or shift into neutral?
 
The only car I’ve ever had with a twin clutch box behaved in exactly the same way as the old style box in my E85. It’d creep forwards on idle so you need to keep your foot on the brake.
 
zxy said:
If the DCT is in neutral at a stop light, why does the car want to creep ahead on a level or even slightly uphill. This has always bothered me because the Dct has no torque converter, (slushbox). I think there is some clutch drag, or mine is out of adjustment.
So am I the only one who needs to hold the car with the brake at a light or shift into neutral?
Click to expand...

The can bus signal from the brake switch indicates to the TCU that it’s at standstill..this is cross verified by the DCS system..as long as both of those exist the TCU commands a de facto neutral state :thumbsup:
 
zxy said:
If the DCT is in neutral at a stop light, why does the car want to creep ahead on a level or even slightly uphill. This has always bothered me because the Dct has no torque converter, (slushbox). I think there is some clutch drag, or mine is out of adjustment.
So am I the only one who needs to hold the car with the brake at a light or shift into neutral?
Click to expand...

With your foot on the brake the gearbox will be in neutral, take your foot off and the clutch will engage and you will creep forward,
 
I dont particularly like sitting there holding the brake pedal, so ill pop it in N, put the handbrake on and chill for a minute.
But yeah, for minimum effort daily drivers, autos are great. Crawling motorway traffic or multiple sets of traffic lights is such a pain in a manual car with a heavy clutch, but a breeze in a slushbox auto.
 
I'll check the manual (ironic) again later - see if I can find the 'put it in neutral' text...that I might have imagined.

Doesn't seem like a consensus here.

I need to take the z in for an old recall - I'll try and remember to ask an engineer there what their thoughts are on D v N.
 
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