zaphod
Joined: 18 Sep 2007
Location: Magrathea
Posts: 106
 
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At lights: Neutral (with EPB if required) - lets the brake pads and disks cool avoiding warping 
At my LRE day we were told to use the foot brake or park as the EPB only acted on the rear wheels which is no use on slippery inclines....................  Sail Fast - Live Slow...
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 Wed Jul 16 2008 8:48pm |
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SN
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Doing the Lambeth Walk
Posts: 7154
 
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when I first got the D3 I never used to bother - just left in D with foot on brake - now though I tend to knock it into neutral Steve N | 2006 TDV6 S Auto in Buckingham Blue | Member of the top ten club | Am I online?
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 8:57pm |
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MartinR
Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 18
 
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Gazzer wrote:Don't you engage a clutch to take it in & out of 'D', thereby increasing wear this way.
I guess that's a pretty key question if you want to know the wear aspects: what actually happens inside that dirty great transmission tunnel when you flick from N to D?
Ref the super bright brake lights, I will as a rule actually stay on the foot brake (even if in N and epb) until there's someone behind me at the lights, just to make it quite clear I'm stopped! Got hit from behind on the M25 one night - everything stopped all of a sudden, except the Cavalier behind me. I was still on the foot brake having only just stopped myself(!) so what with the tow bar drop plate and several tons of D1 it was attached to, the Cavalier looked a bit sorry for itself... I didn't seem to get any closer to the BMW in front however, so I'm guessing I didn't lift off the brake pedal on impact!
Martin
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 10:09pm |
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cmyers_uk
Joined: 10 Apr 2005
Location: Near Bristol, UK
Posts: 247
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Here is a good article on how to use an automatic gearbox
http://www.rospa.com/drivertraining/info/automatic.pdf
Here is there take on the need to put it into neutral
When stationary in traffic, even for many minutes, it is not necessary to move the gear lever into neutral
because the torque converter absorbs the engine’s propulsion force but does not transmit it all to the
gearbox. No wear is taking place. In fact, more wear will take place if you engage neutral then engage a
drive gear when it is possible to move off.
Personally , I aways put it in neutral as I like to squeeze every mile out of a gallon.
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 8:27am |
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1stLandie
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 9
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I used to hold the footbrake but naturally switched to EPB and neutral when I noticed the reflection coming-off drivers foreheads in the rear-view mirror 
To keep me occupied at lights I now play with the air-suspension trying to get the D3 to behave in a "South Central LA" style - haven't yet figured how to lift one wheel to when going around corners though! 
[/img]
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 8:51am |
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Gazzer
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Location: Guildford, Surrey **2008 TDV6 HSE**
Posts: 220
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The EPB is same as on my XKR, it has the 'drive away' feature, therefore if LR/Jag have designed this, then I'll use it.
Agree with the ole brake warping thing mind you. I always try to rotate the discs if parked too long at lights to allow for as much even cooling as poss.
G  
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 10:26am |
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NoDo$h
Joined: 02 May 2006
Location: Dodging peanuts
Posts: 5918
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 Not just me who pops it into offroad height at the lights / holdups then. Gives you an even better view of what's ahead and has the added benefit of scaring the cack out of the tailgater you've picked up as put on the EPB and accidentally engage reverse for a moment or two, just as your brake lights go out.   Going, going...... Gone!
Carbon footprint? I neither know nor give a damn
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 10:27am |
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1stLandie
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 9
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 You're obviously as disturbed as me Nodo$h! I just didn't have the courage to admit it first! 
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 10:38am |
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SteveNorman
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Location: Somerset
Posts: 82
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The reasons behind not leaving the autobox in drive, are to keep the autobox oil from overheating.
While you are in drive, the 1st gear clutchpack is locked up, thus ready in 1st gear, the engine is driving the torque converter, the torque converter is slipping all the time, fighting against 1st (which is stationary), thus you have say 800rpm on one half of the torque converter & stationary on the other half. The trans oil is the item which absorbs all this energy. In neutral, the torque converter is free to rotate (both halves), & free wheel.
In the days of older trans the high temp of the oil leaving the torque converter could cook the front input seal to the autobox & cause it to dump all it's oil in the road. I have never heard of this happen to a Disco3 though!!
I personally leave it in D, when, say waiting at a roundabout, but if prolonged at trafficlights, would be in N.
The same goes with towing, don't allow the torque converter to constantly slip, better be in a lower gear & it locked up to prevent excessive heat up.
HTH
Regards
Steve
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 11:56am |
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PaulP
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 760
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NoDo$h wrote: Not just me who pops it into offroad height at the lights / holdups then.
hahaha....you're definitely not the only one ND....
I usually knock it, 'accidentally' of course, into off-road height when pulling up alongside Touaregs and X5s....for some reason X5 drivers don't like having to look up to anyone 
I've also been known to do it when I see someone admiring my rear-end (steady ND...) at traffic lights. They seem to find it entertaining. 2006 TDV6 SE Auto Buckingham Blue
2007 Golf GT DSG
1990 Audi 90 2.2E Sport 5-cyl Tornado Red
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 12:02pm |
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Walmsleys
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Location: Leyland
Posts: 80
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Driving trainers always advise being in neutral when you're at lights, etc in case someone rear ends you, your foot slips off the brake and the car drives into the car in front! 2007 TDV6 SE Zermatt Silver, auto, black leather and nothing else!
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 1:02pm |
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ronp
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Location: Lost in my own space!
Posts: 4113
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On a similar theme, when waiting to turn right off a main road.
Don't have your wheels pre turned, keep them straight ahead.
Cos if your rear-ended you'll be shoved into oncoming traffic.
I had told my daughter this a couple of years ago.
She was since hit from behind waiting to turn right off the busy A19.
She had heeded my advise and was just shunted forwards.
Had I not told her this [and had she not listened/acted] she and the 3 kids would have been shunted into the path of an oncoming HGV. Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
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Morphy Richards 7w "Dual" Food Processor
[complete with addittional bowl and changeable blades]
Only 70p at a store near you!
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 "The BEAST"
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 1:47pm |
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NHR
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 785
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Good advice. I always do this ...and am amazed at those that don't.
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 1:49pm |
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catweasel
Joined: 05 May 2006
Location: LONDON
Posts: 4048
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SteveNorman wrote:The reasons behind not leaving the autobox in drive, are to keep the autobox oil from overheating.
sense at last and this applies to power steering too. if at a corner no need to keep the wheel turned. is more important in warmer climates, trust me
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 3:18pm |
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stapldm
Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Location: In a queue for diesel
Posts: 856
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My personal preference would be EPB+Neutral, however since I've had the D3 I've learnt to use Footbrake+Neutral.
I apologise now to those blinded behind me, but the faff involved when using the EPB in attempting to move into Drive, then finding it won't until I use the footbrake, then having too many revs then waiting for it to slow back to idle before moving into Drive then waiting for the gear to engage before I pull away really p s me off.
Yeah I know that all takes 2 seconds max, but that's still long enough for the tool behind to start using their horn. I'd be soooo happy to hear there was a fix that allowed you to move into Drive whilst the either the EPB or the footbrake are on. Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.
Terry Pratchett, Discworld
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| Thu Jul 17 2008 9:29pm |
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