# Transmission Damage? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** forester, subaru\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888 "2011-03-22T20:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rodge657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@rodge657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rodge657)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/1 "2011-03-22T20:08:46Z")
I have a 2008 Subaru Forester (auto transmission). Am I doing damage to the transmission by not coming to a complete stop before shifting from reverse to first (e.g. slowly backing out of a parking space and shifting into first gear without braking)? Bad(?) habit from when I had a stick shift… ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/2 "2011-03-22T20:23:04Z")
You’re not doing the transmission any good by doing this. I suspect in time that damage will be done sooner or later. I would recommend breaking this habit because transmission repairs are very costly nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/3 "2011-03-22T20:24:29Z")
Yes, but that does not really answer your question. The question are you doing material damage. That one I can’t answer for you. However for the sake of your whole car, especially the transmission and possible passengers, I would unlearn that habit. ---
**Author:** ![realbinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@realbinky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/realbinky)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/4 "2011-03-22T20:42:15Z")
That was even worse for a manual. Actually, thanks to the torque converter, you do little damage - it’s like sitting at a light in drive, the engine turns, the car does not. Don’t do it at high speed, but “almost” stopped is nothing. Though it does put a strain on the engine - if you can bother to ask, bother to stop 😛 ---
**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:** [March 22, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/5 "2011-03-22T23:58:09Z")
Why gamble? Automatic transmission repair is very expensive. Come to a complete stop before shifting from reverse to drive. It only takes an extra second. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/6 "2011-03-23T00:02:11Z")
Yes, bad habit. What seems like only a little motion to you is actually a lot of force. Brakes are designed to handle this force, not so for the transmission. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/7 "2011-03-23T00:17:17Z")
You’ve heard the opinions and I agree. It’s now up to you. The owner’s manuals often say"come to a complete stop". ---
**Author:** ![Cinderocka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Cinderocka](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cinderocka)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage/62888/8 "2011-03-23T01:41:45Z")
My little sister does this, drives me mad, because every time she shifts from reverse to drive her transmission goes “clunk” like the noise a manual makes when you don’t quite push the clutch pedal all the way in before shifting. I would say you’re definitely doing more harm than good, that sound is sickening.