Originally Posted by cos
I have a 2020 Accord and was wondering if it would damage the CVT trans to leave it neutral when stopped at a light. Why? I don't like to hold brake pads against hot rotors.
I know, I can throw it in park but was just wondering about neutral.
I wouldnt do it unless its a LONG light and your shutting it off.
I used to have a 45 second light at work and I would shut the car off.
As for brake material transfer causing pulsation - that's mainly a MYTH for commuting.
It would likely be more of a hill descent issue on trucks trailering with red or yellow hot rotors.
Plus brake pads are $30 and axle, rotors @ $30 >70 each;
transmission clutches would be a few thousand more than that.
Plus the engine likes to have a viscous dampened load when running which a converter provides.
Some CVT don't have converters - my Wife's Subaru Impreza CVT has a mini-converter that locks immediately in first gear once it gets moving a bit.(5mph)
I don't know why most planetary gear units didn't do that decades ago. I guess the lockup clutches were weak and torque limited.