To Neutral Or Not To Neutral...

[IanDH]

Hi guys. I have a question regarding stopping at traffic lights in my DB9 auto. I asked the question when I bought the car from the dealer but would like the opinion from here.

If I'm waiting at traffic lights should I put the car into neutral or not? Previous auto's I've owned I've been advised to do so, but the dealer said I didn't need to worry about it.

So what's the technical answer, and what do people actually do?

[Jockman]

Both paddles pulled back to engage neutral if I can be bothered, hit D or left paddle to pull off (foot on brake)

[BingoBob]

I never engage neutral. When you are stationary in D, the torque converter is just spinning at low rpm experiencing very little force. The box itself is similarly idle. This will cause it no perceptible wear.

If you change to neutral, you will be activating the solenoids, pushing fluid around your valve body to disengage and re-engage gears which will cause much more wear and on more components. Don't have any scientific proof, I'm afraid.

Either way, I suspect the wear caused by one method or the other will pale into insignificance compared to one full power gear change.

[Jockman]

Thanks for the info Bob.

Does it have any detrimental effect on the brakes ?? Any discernible impact on fuel consumption ??

As a Jock these things are very important to me.

Remember the first four letters of 'Freedom'

[David W.]

I appreciate being better able to admire the rear end of an Aston at traffic lights if the brake lights aren't dazzling me!

[Jockman]

David - I always drive with the sidelights on anyway, thereby accentuating the cars features (IMO)

[johng39]

Jockman said:

David - I always drive with the sidelights on anyway, thereby accentuating the cars features (IMO)

Is that the Volvo parts making it do that

[BingoBob]

Maybe fuel consumption slightly elevated in D, but if you're driving a DB9 you've probably thrown caution to the wind in that respect anyway

No effect whatsoever on the brakes unless you've just come from doing some properly hard driving and your disks are roasting. In which case, you don't want to be sitting anywhere with the brakes on.

[mikey k]

Sport shift has no torque converter.
So I always go to neutral if I am stopped for any length of time.

[George H]

David W. said:

I appreciate being better able to admire the rear end of an Aston at traffic lights if the brake lights aren't dazzling me!

Don't stare into the lights then?

What a pointless exercise going into neutral. I never do it in a manual, let alone an auto.

[BingoBob]

Probably best to avoid mixing up the robotised manual with the slushbox of a DB9. Completely different technologies and on an SS might well be worth going into neutral to preserve the thrust bearing.

[mikey k]

BingoBob said:

Probably best to avoid mixing up the robotised manual with the slushbox of a DB9. Completely different technologies and on an SS might well be worth going into neutral to preserve the thrust bearing.

Yep hence my earlier post to point out the difference.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

IanDH said:

Hi guys. I have a question regarding stopping at traffic lights in my DB9 auto. I asked the question when I bought the car from the dealer but would like the opinion from here.

If I'm waiting at traffic lights should I put the car into neutral or not? Previous auto's I've owned I've been advised to do so, but the dealer said I didn't need to worry about it.

So what's the technical answer, and what do people actually do?

Never put autos in neutral at a light. It is not good for driveline lash to continually be engaging drive. I'm sure you noticed how the driveline 'clunks' when engaging Drive or Reverse when first starting out. You don't want to being hammering away at the driveline at every stop light.

[yeti]

I always put manuals in neutral but leave autos in drive. Just feels right!

Seems odd and counterintuitive keeping the clutch down when stationary.

Edited by yeti on Monday 13th February 09:33

[Speedraser]

yeti said:

I always put manuals in auto but leave autos in drive. Just feels right!

Seems odd and counterintuitive keeping the clutch down when stationary.

Putting a manual in auto doesn't feel right to me at all

[Jockman]

johng39 said:

Is that the Volvo parts making it do that

That's the one John

I'm on record as preferring the Vantage front lights to the DB9, and it seems to have hit a chord with the Virage now having the Vantage fronts

[CPBRI]

Neutral is good for the manual gearbox, but perhaps not so good for a quick get-away. One should factor in the need to drive away quickly should the vehicle approaching from behind have braking trouble or simply not paying attention.