Got a question i've been wanting to know this for some time.. does it harm anything in any way if you turn the car off before putting the trans in Park first? My folks always turn the car off while trans is still in Drive before putting it in Park.

nup. i always shift mine to n and turn off.

Shouldn't cause any issues. It won't let you start with it in D anyway, so eventually you would have to put it back to P or N. However, it is actually worthless to leave it parked in D as the car then has to rely on the handbrake alone to stop the car from rolling, as D doesn't lock the transmission, while P does.

Shouldn't cause any issues. It won't let you start with it in D anyway, so eventually you would have to put it back to P or N. However, it is actually worthless to leave it parked in D as the car then has to rely on the handbrake alone to stop the car from rolling, as D doesn't lock the transmission, while P does.
And it is very bad relying on the P lock alone to arrest a car on a slope.

thats why i chock the wheels :bowrofl:

Ah yeah cool.. i just thought it wouldn't have been transmission friendly to shut the car off when drive is engaged.. but then again i dont know the inner workings of a gearbox that well lol. But yeah in my cars I always put the handbrake on first, foot off the brake and made sure the car is stationary before putting it in park.. i dont like the clunk from the torque lock when ppl rely on "P" as a brake itself.

And it is very bad relying on the P lock alone to arrest a car on a slope.

For sure! I don't suggest at all to rely on that alone, but it's a good backup if the handbrake fails, or isn't put on properly. Much safer to leave it in P rather than D for that same reason.

And it is very bad relying on the P lock alone to arrest a car on a slope.

I agree.

But don't forget that it's there. Never put the car into park until it's stopped moving.

I agree.

But don't forget that it's there. Never put the car into park until it's stopped moving.

Yep. I've written howtos on parking and leaving on slopes.

There isn't too much wrong with leaving it in park on a slope, the pin which holds it all still is quite strong and idiot proof.