Putting your car in neutral offers advantages in certain scenarios and driving conditions. To maximize them, you must know its ins and outs, from what it does and how to do it to the answers to the most frequently asked questions about it. The following discussion is for new drivers or people who want to know their vehicles a little bit better.
What Does Putting a Car in Neutral Do?
Putting your car in neutral allows it to coast, which is when it rolls freely using only its built-up momentum. Coasting typically occurs when you drive with the clutch pedal pressed all the way down.
Neutral in a car is not a gear but a position that disengages the engine from the wheels, allowing it to move freely. In other words, the vehicle isn’t engaged in any gear when it’s shifted to “N.”
How to Put a Car in Neutral
How to put your car in neutral depends on whether you have your keys.
With a Key
The process to put a car in neutral varies depending on the vehicle’s transmission.
- For automatic vehicles, simply turn the gear stick to “N.”
- For manual transmission vehicles, press down on the clutch and move the shift stick to the central position. Additionally, you need to keep the brake pressed or the parking brake on once the vehicle is in neutral.
Without a Key
Most vehicles have a way to push down an internal release that allows you to shift the shifter from inside the car. However, if your ride doesn’t have that feature, you’ll have to follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Apply wheel chocks to prevent the car from rolling.
- Step 2: Engage the parking brake as another precaution.
- Step 3: Get underneath the car or jack it if possible.
- Step 4: Find the transmission. It’s usually near the engine.
- Step 5: Look for the transmission cable, which has a long metal rod at the end.
- Step 6: Search for the gear selector, which is a circular metal piece located at the end of the rod.
- Step 7: Detach the transmission cable from the gear selector by using needle-nosed pliers.
- Step 8: Shift the gear selector to neutral gear by pushing it back towards the rear of the vehicle. It should generate two clicking sounds.
When to Shift to Neutral
Shifting to neutral is a good idea in the following scenarios:
- When you’re stuck in traffic
- During a drive-thru car wash
- When your car is towed without a dolly
- When your car is stuck
- When the brakes fail
When You’re Stuck in Traffic
Staying in gear when your vehicle isn’t moving consumes transmission fluid that slowly wears down the transmission clutches and heats the brake pads.
Shifting to neutral when you’re stuck in stop-and-go traffic helps prevent damage to the transmission clutches and brake pads. Not to mention, you save a bit of fuel in the process.
During a Drive-Thru Car Wash
Drive-thru car wash services have a system that requires cars to be in the neutral position to ensure they smoothly move through the cleaning cycles and prevent accidents.
When Your Car is Being Towed Without a Dolly
Using a dolly when towing a car ensures the wheels roll along with the car towing it. However, if a dolly isn’t available, it’s best to keep your car in neutral to keep the engine on and prevent damage to the transmission.
When Your Car Is Stuck
When your ride gets stuck or stalls, pushing it could get it moving again, and that’s easier to do while it’s in neutral. Make sure there’s someone behind the wheel when you push your stalled vehicle to steer it.
When the Brake Fails
Shifting the car to neutral during a brake malfunction makes it easier to steer into the roadside. It’s also safer than turning off your engine to stop your ride, as doing so locks up the steering wheel.
Car in Neutral FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cars in the neutral position:
Do Brakes Work in Neutral?
Yes, your brakes will still work in neutral. The same goes for steering, as the wheels will still move even when the vehicle’s in neutral.
Why Won’t My Car Move in Neutral?
When a car doesn’t move while it’s in neutral, it could indicate a worn-out transmission or a 4-wheel drive control that was accidentally shifted into neutral. Consulting a mechanic will help you identify the exact cause.
Does Shifting Into Neutral Save Gas
Shifting into neutral saves a bit of gas, but it’s not enough to justify shifting into when in idle situations. Most fuel-injected cars don’t deliver fuel when you depress the accelerator. However, they still burn a small amount of fuel when idling in neutral.
Final Thoughts
Shifting to neutral is beneficial in certain scenarios, such as being stuck in traffic and going to an automatic car wash service. This is because being neutral disengages the engine from the wheels, allowing the vehicle to coast and save fuel.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
