Unintentionally Shifting Gears While Driving...

First, I apologize for my ignorance, if there is a sticky on this already, or if I've created the 1,000th thread of this kind. My son was fooling around in the front seat of my 06 automatic Double cab pre-runner on our way to get gas. He accidentally knocked the shift knob out of "D" and into "4" while doing about 35 mph. I threw it back into "D" after about 3-5 seconds. I cycled through all the gears once I got to the gas station. My obsession with this truck doesn't allow me to let it go despite not noticing anything wrong. However, when I got home and under the truck, I heard a buzzing coming from the engine/tranny area. Am I good or should I be concerned about buzzing? I'll admit that I notice almost every noise this thing makes and have been told every single noise is normal. Thanks for your patience and words of wisdom or comfort...

 

Shifting the auto tranny while driving is fine , I do it all the time

 

At any speed you are fine

 

Perfectly fine

 

I do it just about everytime i get in it. Especially when driving in slow moving traffic, I'll shift down to 4 or 3 so I dont have to use the brakes as much. I'll shift down if somebody is following too close for my liking too.

 

X2 or 3

I use my gears all the time while driving especially going over mtn. passes. Last night coming home I was in 4WD doing about 45 and using the gears to help maintain descent speed.

Also, if you're climbing passes put it in 4 and leave it in 4. Keeps the tranny temp cooler by not having to down and up shift all the time.

 

Man... Thank you all so much for such quick responses! I'll be able to sleep and my son won't wonder if he'll live to see another day! My love for that truck is well known in this house as I'm sure it is in yours! Thank you again and happy new year!

 

how can you love a prerunner?

 

The same way your mother loved you.

 

lolz prerunner!

 

First automatic Spanish Fly?

It most likely was in 4th at 35 anyway, possibly 3rd.

No sticky, probably first post on this topic.

 

*Peerunner, and some people don't need 4WD, they have trucks that suit their needs.

 

I didn't know that. Good to know, Tnx Whip.

 

I understand that this is true but I am not willing to test it to verify.

 

Fun fact: If you have the cruise set and shift to 3rd gear (auto trans) the ECU drops out of cruise.

 

If it could possibly damage the truck by shifting an auto manually don't you think it would be locked in place? I know on my camry in manual mode it wouldn't let yyou downshift based on rpm. It would just beep at you.

Even the old pos 99 gmc 1500 won't let you slam it in first gear when doing 60.

 

If you ever end up driving with a load on truly mountainous roads, you'll learn that you have the choice between downshifting (probably to 3rd at highway speeds, and 2nd or even 1st at lower speeds) or overheating your brakes until they warp your rotors and the linings catch fire. At that point you won't have any more braking. One causes zero harm, the other, well, the cost of repairs won't even cross your mind until after you have fresh shorts on.