neutralläget

Neutralläget, Swedish for "neutral position" or "neutral gear," is a term primarily used in the context of vehicles, particularly those with automatic transmissions. It indicates a state where the engine is disconnected from the drive wheels, allowing the vehicle to roll freely without propulsion. This differs from Park (P) which engages a locking mechanism for the transmission, or Drive (D) and Reverse (R) which select gears for forward or backward motion respectively.

In an automatic transmission, selecting neutral (N) disengages the clutches or bands that transfer power from the engine to the transmission's output shaft. This means that while the engine can still run, its power is not being applied to move the vehicle. This state is useful for situations such as towing a vehicle with an automatic transmission, where the drive wheels must be able to rotate freely. It is also used when starting a manual transmission vehicle, as it ensures no unintended movement occurs if the clutch is not fully depressed.

It is generally not recommended to engage neutral while driving downhill, as this can reduce the vehicle's ability to be controlled by engine braking and may increase reliance on the service brakes, potentially leading to overheating. In most modern automatic transmissions, neutral is a distinct position on the gear selector, often denoted by the letter 'N'.