shifting to P while driving

[gtix]

Hello,
i lent my 1993 520iA to my brother who shifted to 'P' while driving (at 10-15, not on the highway !) :rolleyes
he stopped quite hard, but i cant say if there was any mechanical noise.
i drove 50 miles since and i don't notice anything (noise or vibration). It seems OK.

however i am wondering if anything should be done or if i can let go assuming that nothing broke.....
from the fact that he stopped, i guess that there is no electronic in place that prevents the mechanical shift.

i also wonder what i did wrong to deserve such a brother, but it's not the point here.
thanks for any tip.
Jerry

[mbonder]

If you put the car in park and it still rolls you've got a broken parking gear. Not really a huge issue if your e-brakes still work effectively. If not, than I would fix one or the other. Or never park on an inclined surface...

Matt

[M Quick]

I don't think the park will engage if it rolls, but i can't really say as i haven't tested this hehe. But try it out, put the car in park in a downhill or where the car will roll freely if you let go of the brake, if it still works and shifts as it should otherwise I would think you got lucky.

[SniperC4007]

what is this "P" gear you speak of?

[gtix]

it is an automatic, P is Parking, which blocks the wheels.
good idea to do the test on a slope to check it.

[M Quick]

Just make sure you have the car standing still before you put it into Park, but i think you know that :) Just don't want any missunderstandings here hehe.


what is this "P" gear you speak of?

Automatic cars has these gears to choose from, and this is just an example of a 5speed auto on an e34 like the OP's:

P = Park
R = Reverse
N = Neutral
D = Drive
4 = 4th gear
3 = 3rd gear
2 = 2nd gear

[3axap]

I doubt you did any damage. Engaging Park while the car is moving will not allow the locking mechanism to actually latch within the transmission. You'll probably hear a clacking noise. I've done it once on accident myself. Just don't do it again and you'll be alright. There's a reason why the gear shift on the auto bimmers won't let you reach certain gears without having the handle button pressed in. Its cheap insurance ;)

[whiskychaser]

Putting it in P is the same as putting it in neutral as far as the clutches are concerned: There are not any running. So thats good news.
But according to OP, it 'stopped quite hard'. So it sounds like the parking pawl did engage. Hopefully it still does. If not, the tranny parking lock wheel or even the housing near the locking mechanism may have been damaged. Thats just a wild stab in the dark. Which is maybe what somebody's brother needs

[Lord DRIFT]

Automatic cars has these gears to choose from, and this is just an example of a 5speed auto on an e34 like the OP's:

P = Park
R = Reverse
N = Neutral
D = Drive
4 = 4th gear
3 = 3rd gear
2 = 2nd gear

Sarcasm much?

[SniperC4007]

Just make sure you have the car standing still before you put it into Park, but i think you know that :) Just don't want any missunderstandings here hehe.



Automatic cars has these gears to choose from, and this is just an example of a 5speed auto on an e34 like the OP's:

P = Park
R = Reverse
N = Neutral
D = Drive
4 = 4th gear
3 = 3rd gear
2 = 2nd gear

bahh, i hope you guys knew i was kidding...

[M Quick]

Sarcasm much?

No, i was actually serious, i can't take everything for granted that everyone knows everything, because there will always be someone who wants to learn something, it's always a first time for everything.



bahh, i hope you guys knew i was kidding...


Wow..
Then all i can say i'm getting tired of people taking everything literally, not everyone speaks english nor can communicate in a perfect way, though most can and is usually skilled enough to communicate and understand!

I know how much trouble it can be when people are playing dumb for no reason and for no help, only for the worse, nothing personally against you man, just saying that we should be mature enough to communicate without making it harder than it actually is.

[camaroguy]

For the record, Park will engage while you are moving. It's an added safety measure on an automatic if you lose your brakes for some reason. Usually they will "rachet" to a stop. If the car "stopped suddenly" as the OP described, then it wasn't moving fast enough to need the racheting mechanism.

Before you guys tell me I am nuts...I am in no way saying this is GOOD for the trans or should be used in any cases but emergencies. That said, the trans is likely fine...DON"T DO IT AGAIN!

[gtix]

thanks for the response camaroguy,
quite a relief.
Jerry

[Funk49]

Wow..
Then all i can say i'm getting tired of people taking everything literally.... Just don't bring up the topic of Religion and we'll all get out of this unscathed! :buttrock

[SniperC4007]

Sorry Miche,

I was playing dumb because manuals don't have "Park"

You're right, i shouldn't have thrown that wrench in the gear work.

[Hoolie]

Nah meng.. . I saw on Fresh Prince that "R" is for "Really fast" :D

[daleyswanson]

what is this "P" gear you speak of?

:laugh :laugh :laugh

[Elekta]

Is he in the hospital?

[whiskychaser]

For the record, Park will engage while you are moving. It's an added safety measure on an automatic if you lose your brakes for some reason. Usually they will "rachet" to a stop. If the car "stopped suddenly" as the OP described, then it wasn't moving fast enough to need the racheting mechanism.

Before you guys tell me I am nuts...I am in no way saying this is GOOD for the trans or should be used in any cases but emergencies. That said, the trans is likely fine...DON"T DO IT AGAIN!
Sorry to disagree, but there is no ratcheting mechanism. The parking lock is just a steel bar with a single tooth on it. It pivots at one end and is locked down at the other by a steel bush attached to a rod. The tooth engages with the parking lock wheel.
With any luck the tooth would not engage and you would just get a grating noise. IMHO the resulting braking effect would probably be less than if you stuck a foot out and dragged it on the ground. But if it did lock up, the pawl pin could be ripped out of its mounting in the casing or you could damage the parking lock wheel.

[camaroguy]

It's possible this works differently on different cars, but my impression has always been that since you can't slow down the car by simply shutting the engine off (torque converter is not a direct connection like a clutch) that park had been designed this way.

FWIW I have a couple of mechanic friends that used to do this with rental cars all the time....Yes, it does bring the car to a stop....NO it is not good for the car at all. Like I said, emergency stopping mechanism.

Edit: with newer cars its likely the computer wont engage park while moving above a certain speed...In any case...as stated before for OP, if the car came to a stop, and there wasn't any other strange noises his car is likely fine...