Stuck in neutral at 80mph

[backslashv]

On my daily commute, there's a downhill on which I put the car in neutral and at the bottom of it I shift to drive again. Today the gear was stuck in neutral. I tried putting the car in drive and accelerating, but nothing worked. Had to pull over and restart the engine.
What's wrong with the car?

[sspade]

You should not be shifting the car into neutral on downhill grades. Period.

[0w40X1]

I found that the X1 and most cars need to approach a downhill at less than speed limit, and put it in a few lower gears. Whatever doesn't allow it to speed up. Coasting is never done even in manual trans. As you might have found out it ruins automatics.

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by sspade

You should not be shifting the car into neutral on downhill grades. Period.

Nailed it

[mreric]

in most state is illegal to place vehicle in neutral while in moving.

California Vehicle Code 21710 states, “The driver of a motor vehicle when traveling on downgrade upon any highway shall not coast with the gears of such a vehicle in neutral.”

there is a reason for this. you are proof of it. it can be dangerous, lose control or traction to move etc....

nothing wrong with the vehicle, something wrong with how you think neutral should be used. traction control also needs vehicle in gear to work properly.

[backslashv]

Originally Posted by mreric

something wrong with how you think neutral should be used.

why did the car behave that way that day?

[Njerts]

Instead of putting it in neutral, put it in manual and change the gear to 8th.
Much safer for you and the car.