Automatic gearbox,traffic lights etc

[lennyvonlenny]

I keep looking for a definitive answer to the question as follows .....

Should I put my automatic gearbox into neutral when waiting at traffic lights or leave it in drive unless actually parking ? 

2015 Yaris 1329 cc vvt-i CVT 

 

[flash22]

Best practice - handbrake on, into neutral if stopped for 20-30 seconds (Auto and CVT) the hybrid is slightly different

[Cyker]

That's what I was taught - "If a pause becomes a wait, use neutral and handbrake"

That applies to manuals and most normal automatics where neutral disconnects the drivetrain from the wheels.

Annoyingly that doesn't work on hybrids, as the car will complain a lot if you leave it in neutral for too long, so I just use the brake hold (Which is basically the car holding the footbrake for me) or put it into Park if I can see I'm going to be waiting several minutes and there's already someone behind me.

[lennyvonlenny]

10 hours ago, Cyker said:

That's what I was taught - "If a pause becomes a wait, use neutral and handbrake"

That applies to manuals and most normal automatics where neutral disconnects the drivetrain from the wheels.

Annoyingly that doesn't work on hybrids, as the car will complain a lot if you leave it in neutral for too long, so I just use the brake hold (Which is basically the car holding the footbrake for me) or put it into Park if I can see I'm going to be waiting several minutes and there's already someone behind me.

"If a pause becomes a wait use neutral and handbrake" love it! I'm using the car as a training vehicle I'm training to become an adi so this is very useful 😀😀😀

[Bper]

Yes agree with what's been said above always apply handbrake and use neutral if a pause becomes a wait which seems to be more often these days.👍

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Moved to the Yaris forum.

[Russ Taylor]

I can’t see the point of N for general driving. 
P if likely a long hold. That puts handbrake on.

D and handbrake if short and some risk.

D, handbrake and Hold if not so short.

[TonyHSD]

Imo only if your stop last within a minute best way is to keep the car in D with foot on the brake in any automatic transmission. All auto transmission are designed with this in mind and no extra heat or wear is added to the overall process. If the law applies different techniques and procedures then please  follow to remain within. 
Very few people out there do that in N and with parking brake on these days, it’s more like everyone is in sport mode, launch control ON, revs at 3500 rpm and ready to shoot out ahead, the faster , the better. Those without launch control are pumping the accelerator to produce the infamous pops and bangs and you know the rest of the story. 😉👍

[Cyker]

I just noticed this video on YouTube and thought of this thread!

Turns out the handbrake thing isn't required - As long as you keep the car stationary and in control you can do whatever you like!

That explains why I see a significant number of learners with their brake lights on for minutes at a time when waiting in traffic...!

Also some good advice and info on different types of automatics!

[MikeSh]

2 hours ago, Cyker said:

Also some good advice and info on different types of automatics!

But fundamentally ... wrong. CVTs don't always have a torque converter. In fact none of those I've owned have had one - always some mechanical system.

Given that the only issue with waiting in drive with foot on brake is possible overheating of a torque converter, and that this has been a thing in the USA for many decades, it's really not something of concern to most Europeans - given our fairly mild climate (pending developments). Car makers are aware.

[Mojo1010]

Foot on the brake, no need handbrake or neutral. 

[YarisHybrid2016]

Many laws never kept up with technology.

Nearly all vehicles auto-select neutral when stationary and the footbrake is pressed.

The handbrake requirement is because of horse and cart!

 

[Guest]

12 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

Foot on the brake, no need handbrake or neutral. 

Which is the perfect solution in blinding someone behind, at night, if stopped at a traffic light etc..

This practice seems to have been imported from across the pond, along with thinking it's cool to drive with one hand on the steering wheel at 12 of the clock and steering with the flat of the hand if making a sharp turn. Perfect vehicle control!

 

[Mojo1010]

2 hours ago, olonas said:

Which is the perfect solution in blinding someone behind, at night, if stopped at a traffic light etc..

This practice seems to have been imported from across the pond, along with thinking it's cool to drive with one hand on the steering wheel at 12 of the clock and steering with the flat of the hand if making a sharp turn. Perfect vehicle control!

 

If you feel strongly about it, perhaps petition the govt to change the law. 

[Yugguy1970]

I still go into Park if I know it will be a while.

That said, our cars now have the radar cruise which will hold the car stationary behind the car in front.

When the car in front moves you press the accelerator and it resumes auto cruise.

Moving the gear from D to P would turn this off every time.

[flash22]

Over reliance on driver aids TBH with auto everything or sheer laziness, you wouldn't drive a manual with the clutch a 1/4 released when stopped

Mike - 90% of CVT's I have come across have to have a torque converter the push belts to get extremely hot as do the clutches - MMT you drive like a manual

As i said above, Hybrid eCVT's are different, and they have their own driving style, as the above video shows (Gen4 yaris)

[jthspace]

2 hours ago, olonas said:

Which is the perfect solution in blinding someone behind, at night, if stopped at a traffic light etc.

 

Interestingly, I only discovered today that using "Hold" when stopped at traffic lights etc leaves the brake lights on. Only realised as a shiny coach was behind me and I saw the reflection of the rear of the Yaris in his paintwork / glass.  I thought I was being kind to traffic stopped behind me but apparently not.  I will endeavour to use the parking brake instead whenever practicable.

[Ralph H]

5 hours ago, olonas said:

Which is the perfect solution in blinding someone behind, at night, if stopped at a traffic light etc..

I no longer get blinded by brake lights since I had my cataract removed 

[YarisHybrid2016]

I've never found it an issue except behind certain older Mercedes cars.

Early LED high-level brake lights used to blind like hell (and certain MY E-class tail lights) but otherwise I just don't look directly into them.

I find indicators to be far more problematic when sat in traffic.

[jthspace]

In my MX5's, most car brake lights are at my eye level 😂, most exhausts almost are as well!

[bathtub tom]

5 minutes ago, jthspace said:

In my MX5's, most car brake lights are at my eye level 😂, most exhausts almost are as well!

Not worth giving up smoking, was it?

[jthspace]

1 minute ago, bathtub tom said:

Not worth giving up smoking, was it?

Probably not but what I saved on tobacco tax bought me open air driving, so swings and roundabouts!