My Car Rolls When I Put It In Park!

How Much Rolling Is Too Much?

Part of the joys of having an automatic transmission vehicle is having it stay in place when you engage “P” (Park). It’s perfectly normal for your automatic transmission vehicle to move an inch or two after shifting it to park, such mechanical play is common even for modern cars. But if your vehicle rolls more than a few inches in Park position, it might be a sign that your transmission is faulty.

Your automatic transmission is a very critical component in your vehicle. What many car owners don’t know is, repairing an automatic transmission can cost more than replacing an engine. It is due to this you need to pay extra attention to such minor symptoms. If you suspect your transmission is faulty contact a car repair expert immediately for a comprehensive diagnosis. This service will thoroughly check your vehicle for transmission issues as well as other problems you might be experiencing.

A vehicle that still moves when packed is a safety hazard, and could potentially place the lives of its occupants as well as other road users at risk.

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What Holds My Car in Place When in Park?

Ideally, when you shift your automatic transmission vehicle to park, you expect it to remain stationary. There are certain parts of your transmission system that are responsible for this action, especially if you are packed on a hill. Your automatic transmission has a device known as a parking pawl. This device locks the transmissions output shaft, preventing it from moving when your shifter is in Park.

This device resembles a pin, that functions by engaging a notched ring attached to the transmission’s output shaft when in ‘P” Park position. The parking pawl restricts the automatic transmission output shafts (and wheels) from rotating in either direction. When you move the shifter out of Park, it disengages the pin, letting your transmission output shaft and wheels move freely.

Signs and Symptoms Your Parking Pawl Is Faulty

If you notice your vehicle moving backward or forward more than a couple of inches after putting your shifter at “P” park, your parking pawl could be significantly damaged. In rear-wheel-drive vehicles, a faulty U-Joint (Universal Joint) will also let your vehicle roll even after your shifter is in Park position. More often than not, a U-joint will cause your vehicle to roll than a parking pawl.

What Causes Your Parking Pawl to Fail?

When you park your vehicle on an incline, a lot of stress is placed on your vehicle’s parking pawl, especially if Parking is set before the e-brake. When you set your shifter to Park position before you set the e-brake, the entire weight of your vehicle rests in the parking pawl device. Doing this over time will force the parking pawl to get weak and wear out, leading to premature failure.

Engage the E-Brake Before Shifting in “P” Park Position

Your vehicle’s transmission is set to wear over time. You might not know this, but by simply parking, you are exerting extra wear on your transmission. Your transmission is affected more if you constantly park at an incline. A rule of thumb is to engage your e-brake before you put your vehicle in Park. By performing this action, the pressure exerted on your vehicle by the incline will be absorbed by both your brakes and parking mechanism, reducing the load on your parking pawl.

What Options Do I Have?

If your vehicle rolls more than a couple of inches after you put it in Park position, have it checked at your local AAMCO Boise & Nampa repair shop for a transmission repair service. While it might seem like a tiny problem, having your car roll when it should be parked could cause damage to property and worse injure the occupants of your car, as well as other road users. If you suspect your transmission is faulty, you should have it checked immediately.

AAMCO Boise & Nampa – Full Service Auto Mechanics

AAMCO Boise & Nampa are car repair experts in Idaho specializing in Transmission Repair Service, Auto Repair and Service, Belts and Hoses, Exhaust Systems, Fleet Service, Auto Tune-up Service, Battery Repair and Maintenance, Clutch Repairs, Factory Recommended Maintenance and many more.

Drive into a local AAMCO Boise & Nampa shop for a comprehensive transmission checkup or schedule an appointment now, our representatives will be more than happy to help you out.

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