We have all watched exciting high-speed car chases in the movies. The bad guys are chasing the hero of the story. The camera pans in on the driver’s feet as they flip between the clutch and the gas pedals as if in hyper-drive. In a move only Hollywood could make legendary, the main character drives in reverse, slams on the brakes, turns the wheel, spins in a circle, and slams the shifter into drive. Ever wonder if your car can do this? That is, can you switch from reverse to drive or drive to reverse while moving? Hollywood productions may give us thrills, but they don’t always prepare us for reality. In the real world, putting your car into reverse while driving forward may land you and your vehicle at one of Calgary’s mechanic shops.

Learn What Happens, and Avoid Damaging Your Car

Transmissions were not built to engage in reverse while you are moving forward. You might be able to switch gears if you are moving extremely slow, but that isn’t ideal. In short, please don’t let the movies give you any ideas of becoming a stunt driver. Here is how your truck or car would respond:

1. Newer Vehicles: Sorry to disappoint you, but today’s technology protects us from ourselves. Our cars are deliberately designed with a function that inhibits us from shifting from drive to reverse while moving forward. With automatic transmissions, your car ignores your request until you slow down to an appropriate speed. There are physical locks in the shift mechanism for manual transmissions, which make you work hard to go into reverse.
2. Old Vehicles: Trucks and cars that are older are also less sophisticated. Most do not have the reverse-inhibit function or have a hydraulic reverse inhibit system. These transmissions don’t know any better and will allow you to switch to reverse from drive. However, you may be a bit disappointed.
3. What Can Happen If You Are Successful: If you have decided to start your training for the next great Hollywood movie, you can expect a couple of things to happen:

• Stalled Engine – With no reverse inhibitor, you can expect your engine to stall. It probably will not lock up or skid, but it will slow down and act like it is in neutral. You will also lose control and could crash.
• Severe Damage – May be you are successful at your stunt training, and your engine only stalls. However, there is a strong chance that your transmission gets damaged severely in the process. Is satisfying your curiosity worth the cost of a new transmission?

Choose Lakeview Automotive Shop for All Your Car Care Needs

Save your engine – do not try to put your vehicle in reverse while you are driving forward. For those times when you need mechanic work, choose Calgary’s preferred automotive shop, Lakeview Automotive. Our team can complete any job you need on your Ford, Subaru, or any other make or model. We offer general maintenance, transmission services, air conditioning work, Dyno tuning, and about anything else in our one-stop-shop. Contact us today and see what we can do for you!



Call our Calgary mechanic shop at 403-242-1575 or book an appointment online for dependable, expert service on all your cars, trucks, and fleet vehicles.