# Car moves when shifted to Drive **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** acceleration, mustang, ford\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925 "2009-07-24T16:02:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@algernon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/algernon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/1 "2009-07-24T16:02:13Z")
When I start the car and shift to Drive, the car takes of @ 5mph without any gas pedal action. Why ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/2 "2009-07-24T16:08:28Z")
When you start a cold engine, the idle speed is higher than normal. High enough, in fact, to move the car. This is quite normal, unless your car’s cold idle speed is exceptionally high. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/3 "2009-07-24T17:00:15Z")
It could be because you have an automatic transmission that works as it should. What year is this Mustang? You are not applying the brakes as the car moves at 5 MPH, are you? That would be a serious issue. ---
**Author:** ![algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@algernon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/algernon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/4 "2009-07-24T17:31:19Z")
Only when parking, 5 mph is fast when in a parking garage. I understand some forward movement is expected. I expected the car to respond when I apply the gas, but it is like the car is on cruise control @ 5mph ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/5 "2009-07-24T18:18:29Z")
Does it do this when the car is at full operating temperature or only when the engine is cold? If only when cold, it’s normal, as McP said. If it’s doing it when the engine is at full operating temp, you have too high an idle. There are a few possibilities, but if this is the case post back and we’ll list them one by one…depending on the year of the 'Stang and its engine (carbed, TBI, or multiport injection). ---
**Author:** ![algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@algernon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/algernon)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/6 "2009-07-24T19:41:38Z")
I happens at full operating temp. It is a 2005 V6 convertible… When I slow down all the way, the car still runs at 5mph THANKS ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/7 "2009-07-24T21:36:22Z")
In that case you may want to look at the idle air control circuit, or maybe even the throttle position sensor. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/8 "2009-07-24T22:46:48Z")
Looked for TSB’s and none related to your concern. There is a TSB about slow filling of the gas tank (new tank fix). Finally some other reason than “topping off”. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-moves-when-shifted-to-drive/33925/9 "2009-07-24T22:49:29Z")
Excellent…but are you sure you attached this to the right thread?