So I leave for work this morning, and shortly discover a minor spill on my shirt. Whip around and head back home to fix. Upon arriving, I switch off the car but hear some unusual beeps - looking down, I see that being in a hurry and not paying attention, I'd randomly left the car in D instead of shifting to P like normal.

Oh well, not a problem, I'm going to be gone for about 90 seconds so it doesn't really matter...

I come out and think 'that's weird, thought I pulled up farther than that'. Then notice that the G is smoothly rolling down the driveway...

A quick sprint and stomp on the brake pedal later, all is well. But upon reflection, it's clear that a) my driveway still has a minor slope even at the "flat" part, and b) I now remember that unlike an MT, when an auto is in D there's no mechanical linkage between the engine and the tranny. I'm usually pretty **** about this, and in my old car automatically put on the hand brake when stopped, but don't bother with the footbrake in the G.

So take this as a cautionary tale of the random circumstances that can happen when you're in a hurry, not paying attention and figure "eh, what can happen"...

 

So you had left it in drive? Gotcha. That particular error beep annoys the crap out of me. Often times I will whip into my parking spot and throw the car into P - but I guess unless your foot is firmly on the brake when you do that it gives you that BEEP BEEP BEEP error. I've found that flicking the shift **** trigger a little will make it go away but it sure is annoying.

 

AT seems like a new concept for you!!!!!!!! AHHHH!!!

 

holy cow

 

If you left it in "D" with no parking brake, didn't the car start moving as soon as you let go of the foot brake ??

Maybe I read your post incorrectly -- but are you saying that the car started moving only when you came back after about 90 secs ??

All the autos that I've had, would move the minute you let off the brake -- even on a slight up hill !!

 

This part of the driveway actually is "flat" - I'm guessing the slope is at most a degree or two. Based on speed and distance moved, it took a while to actually start moving.

 

Did it move forwards or backwards?? I back out of my driveway, so that would mean the car was in drive, yet gently rolling backwards?!?! Just trying to understand what was going down....

 

Backwards

 

FYI he said the car was off and in D, not running in D. that's why it's not creeping forward at 3mph.

So that annoying beeping that happens occasionally but gives you no warning lights was because I put it in park and turned off the car too quickly? because the car is off, I don't see any warning lights or anything.

 

I think I read the manual and it says that beeping happens if you put the car in park without your foot on the break. Very annoying.

 

It's probably not a good idea to put the car in park with out making sure it is completely stopped first anyway,as it may cause damage to the transmission but this is just the opinion of someone who knows very little about AT trannys.

 

I mean I pull into my perfectly flat parking spot with my foot on the break. Car stops. I pop the car into park.

Just wanted to clarify I'm not suddenly slamming the car into park at 35mph ;-)

 

OHHHHH!!! good catch kring!!

 

My first car was a 78 Pinto - Green on Green - Automatic.

My brother,who usually drove a stick, borrowed my car and returned it to me at work. I went out at lunch and it wouldn't start.... couldn't figure out why.

I jumped the solenoid from under the hood and the car started, jumped the curb, threw me out of the way and flew across the parking lot.

He had left it in drive.

We don't leave cars in drive anymore.

 

You don't need to remember to engage the e-brake, you need to remember to shift into park...

I'm Glad no damage was done.