NEVER do THIS to your Automatic Transmission Car

A Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician shares 7 Things you should never do to an automatic transmission.

Folks save your expensive transmission. Never do this to your automatic transmission!

In this video I will go over 7 things you should. never do to an automatic transmission.

First Protect the parking pawl! The parking pawl is a small metal part inside the transmission that locks it when you're in park. Slamming your car into park before coming to a complete stop or letting the weight of the car rest on it is a sure way of risking damage to the parking pawl.

Second the transmission fluid! There's no such thing as a lifetime transmission fluid. If manufacturers were so dead set on the fluid really being lifetime they would warranty it for life.
For Toyota\Lexus car\suv transmission fluid replacement instructions:
For Toyota\Lexus trucks sealed transmission fluid replacement instructions:

Third Warm up your transmission before take off. Wait WHAT? Most people warm up their engine but in reality modern engines don't need much warming up. It's your transmission that needs a little bit of warm up to get going well.

Fourth Don't use your transmission as a brake! Downshifting intentionally to slow down the car puts extra load on the transmission. Most people do this to save their brakes which cost a fraction of what the transmission costs.

Fifth In snow driving if you get stuck, Don't just rev up the engine and let the wheels spin. This puts a tremendous load on your transmission.

Sixth Protect your Shifter! Accidents happen where we spill things over the shifter, But don't just leave it be. Clean the shifter and dry it up inside to prevent further issues.

Last but not least Don't put your car in neutral in short stops like traffic lights.

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The Car Care Nut
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0:00 Intro
0:33 No. 1 Parking Pawl?
2:06 No. 2 Transmission Maintenance?
3:14 No. 3 Warm up?
5:41 No. 4 Don't Brake!
7:37 No. 5 Snowy Chicago?
9:22 No. 6 The Shifter?
11:46 No. 7 Neutral?

[gokartbuyer]

Great tips only a few tweaks.
1. You don’t have to go from drive to neutral. Just brake as normal, apply the parking brake then shift into park. You pass by neutral on your way to park anyway.
2. Yes I completely agree with changing your fluid at normal intervals! However don’t be afraid to change your fluid after 100k if you’re unsure of the service history. Analyze your fluid and transmission performance first. If it’s just a bit dark and old it’s normal. If you have bits floating or are having shifting issues, new fluid can make things worse.
3. Glad someone mentions this! I recommend warming up your engine for the appropriate time given the climate then driving easy until the transmission is fully warmed up.
4. Engine braking is a normal part of transmission usage. Just don’t do it aggressively as it will be harder on the mounts and axles and clutches (much like launching or aggressive driving)
5. Totally agree don’t spin tires excessively in snow it will strain the differential . Also don’t rock in between gears trying to get out of snow or ice. It send a shock through the drivetrain and is hard on all the components.
6. I completely agree, don’t be slobs people!
7. I completely disagree. Shifting into neutral is perfectly fine and will not hurt the transmission. Yes engaging and disengagement causes minimal wear. However the transmission shifts gears when you leave the light anyway and shifts back down to first when approaching a light so the wear you’d get from shifting into neutral is minimal wear but heat is the real enemy of your transmission. As he was saying, the torque converter is a source of friction. If you’re sitting with your foot on the brake in drive, you are constantly shearing the fluid in the torque converter and generating heat. Shifting into neutral allows fluid to circulate and prevents your transmission from trying to move an immovable object. You can use park but, it’s simpler the just pop into neutral then pull back down into drive. Keeping your transmission cool is key to prolonged life!
8. BONUS! Before changing between reverse into drive you need to make sure you stop moving! It sounds obvious but I see it happen all the time in parking lots especially. This is essentially trying to spin the transmission backwards in a given gear which is extremely detrimental.

Before anyone starts criticizing my advice, please note that I’m an actual mechanic who’s worked for Mazda and Mercedes’, has an OAD in automotive technology, and I have obtained an ASE in Automatic Transmissions. Just as an FYI

[corystevenson]

Shifting to drive from reverse without coming to a complete stop is another one. I always appreciate your tech advice. Thank you for your efforts!

[adamf]

I always drive lightly during the first few minutes -- no hard acceleration. I thought I was doing it for the engine, but I guess I was doing it for the transmission all along.

[donh]

You missed an important one. Shifting from reverse to drive or drive to reverse while the vehicle is still moving.

[slatsgrobneck]

Many thanks for calling out the bs on "lifetime fluid" in a transmission!!!! It is getting harder and harder to do a simple drain and fill on an automatic transmission as all manufacturers seem to have adopted the practice.
Much appreciated!

[Raelven]

At 62 years of age, I just got my first automatic transmission car.

I learned on a stick shift (1972 Datsun 240Z) and every one of the numerous (12 that I can remember) cars of my own were manual transmission.

There is some learning curve with the automatic, and this channel is going to save my butt and my bank account.

PS
I don't like auto shift, I feel like I am a less focused driver with less control of the car. One of my life regrets is listening to those who said "You're too old to drive a stick." BS. Never too old to clutch!

[kimdavis]

You are a lifesaver my brother! I cannot afford a new car payment now and these kind of valuable tips to prolong our ride is much appreciated deep from my heart.

[calebhohneke]

Big tip for winter driving:

ALWAYS carry either a bag of kitty liter or sand in the back of your trunk. This has gotten me out of a bind several times when my cars got stuck in the snow. Once you realize you're stuck, open up that bag of liter or sand and dump a good amount it in front AND behind your wheels. If it's FWD, do it to the front wheels....If it's RWD, do it to the rears. 9 times outta 10, that will get you unstuck without any hassle and you and your car will drive on being happy :)

[ricardolarrain]

My nephew works at a Toyota dealership as a mechanic. He pushes the stupid idea of lifetime transmission fluid. I'm a physician and even i know better. Thank you.

[imautoob]

Intuition has led me to use the neutral>>parking brake>>park sequence for a long time, glad to hear I'm not just being eccentric 😄 thanks for the tips!

[davidanderson]

Dad taught me the parking pawl technique when I was 16(1966). When I first met my wife her father didn't teach her that. She's let it rock back on the pawl and then set the parking brake. Epic Fail. I had to undo that procedure. I'm in San Diego and have to admit in this climate I do start the car right up but do putt through the neighborhood until I get on the highway.
Thanks Car Care Nut. You are brilliant.

[ARX]

Thank you for this. Never knew what the component was actually called. My dad taught me this as a kid. He said “settle out the vehicle”. To this day I put it in neutral, apply hand brake, settle vehicle, then place in park. Has served me well thus far. Thanks for the clarification. Love your content BTW. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK 😊

[cerny]

AMD you’re a good guy to not only post outstanding videos but you also must spend hours answering all the questions that you then get. Keep up the good job sir!!

[coquipr]

Excellent tips ! My corolla is 31 years old and the transmission still works like new i change the fluid and filter every 25 to 30 thounsand miles and maintain it as the manual says and so far so good. Thank you for the great tips and maintenance recommendations for all of our toyotas

[ginacirelli]

The first tip earned you a sub! I currently drive a manual transmission, and so many folks laugh at me for using the parking brake, even though I live in a mountainous region. I have a new hybrid Jeep on order, and now I feel justified for planning to continue the parking brake habit.

[genebigs]

I learned a lot from this video. I'm the guy who puts the transmission in neutral at long red lights, thinking that was a good thing to do.. I also never thought about warming up the tranny either. Thank you for some great info!

[perdidonoglobo]

Very informative video. I was taught to drive a manual transmission by a dearly departed lady. She made it clear that the parking brake is for every parking scenario. So even though my current car is an automatic I still adhere to her wisdom. Thanks for the validation.

[musicalbenjiman]

May the Lord bless and keep you as well. Always enjoy these excellent videos.

[danettej]

I was told not to change my transmission fluid until about 110, 000 to 115, 000 miles on my 2007 Toyota Tundra. I changed it at 99, 000 after you and other U-Tubers convinced me too. Everything is been ok and is now too. Thanks.

[jameswag]

I abused my parking pawl the other day. Needing to level out the vehicle I backed half way up some ramps to check the transmission dip stick at level. I hung the abnormal weight of the vehicle on that ramp on my parking pawl. The feeling and sound when I took it out of park was not something I ever want to put my truck threw again. Looking back I could have done so much to prevent this and am just grateful everything seems ok. If some day the parking pawl gives up on this truck I will know why. Thank you for all your content and the way that you deliver it. You have a way with us Toyota fans. God bless you and your family.