Question:
i bought an automatic car yesterday. but have never driven one before?
anonymous
1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
i bought an automatic car yesterday. but have never driven one before?
Sixteen answers:
Stefan C
2008-04-06 03:09:40 UTC
Just to make it clear 3 on '4-speed' automatic transmission is not for 'thrid gear' it is for driving conditions whereby engine braking is required i.e in long sections of downhill driving, to save unnecessary brake wear. Putting the car in 3 will allow you to use gears 1, 2 and 3 but will not shift into 4 (overdrive for fuel economy and high speed driving). Also it can be used to make acceleration more responsive as your car will rev higher and will be in the powerband for strong overtaking, yet using more fuel.



It is not recommended to shift gears manually in an automatic car as this can cause unnessesary wear on the transmission. Gears 1 and 2 are designed for temporary use only i.e. 1 for low speed uphill acceleration or 2 for poor friction situations. Leaving a car in 1 and revving the engine for power whilst the car is cold will damage both your engine and transmission. NB** Do not rev a car hard while it is cold because over time you will have to replace both your engine and transmission.



Please use this last bit of advice if you take anything from what I have written.
Aqua P
2008-04-06 02:59:38 UTC
First (1 or L) – This mode locks the transmission in first gear only. It will not accelerate through any gear range. This, like second, can be used during the winter season, or towing



Second (2 or S) – This mode limits the transmission to the first two gears, or more commonly locks the transmission in second gear. This can be used to drive in adverse conditions such as snow and ice, as well as climbing or going down hills in the winter time. Some vehicles will automatically upshift out of 2nd gear in this mode if a certain rpm range is reached, to prevent engine damage.



Drive (D)– This allows the car to move forward and accelerate through its range of gears. The number of gears a transmission has depends on the model, but they can commonly range from 3, 4 (the most common), 5, 6 (found in VW/Audi Direct Shift Gearbox), 7 (found in Mercedes 7G gearbox, BMW M5 and VW/Audi Direct Shift Gearbox) and 8 in the newer models of Lexus cars. Some cars when put into D will automatically lock the doors or turn on the Daytime Running Lamps.



OverDrive ([D], OD, or a boxed D) - This mode is used in some transmissions, to allow early Computer Controlled Transmissions to engage the Automatic Overdrive. In these transmissions, Drive (D) locks the Automatic Overdrive off, but is identical otherwise. OD (Overdrive) in these cars is engaged under steady speeds or low acceleration at approximately 35-45 mph (approx. 72 km/h). Under hard acceleration or below 35-45 mph, the transmission will automatically downshift. Vehicles with this option should be driven in this mode unless circumstances require a lower gear.



As well as the above modes there are also other modes, dependent on the manufacturer and model. Some examples include;



Hope this (short essay) helps
r doug w
2008-04-06 09:31:31 UTC
There's not much I can add to all these good answers, other than when driving an automatic for the first time, put your left foot out of the way and forget about it, because if you touch the brake with you left foot you'll know about it..
tricky
2008-04-06 03:10:25 UTC
who said auto is easier then manual ,

Manual is easy driving its not hard to move a stick backwards are forwards,myself when i changed from manual to auto was shocked how hard it was to drive auto.

As said stick seemed easy rev move stick rev move stick.

Auto seemed harder as i lost the braking control and at the lights it wanted to shoot off when moving in slow traffic so i had to be aware of the change,also corners not knowing if it was going to change gear whist turning.

Great fun the auto is and after a few days you will love it .



Park (P) – This selection mechanically locks the transmission, restricting the car from moving in any direction. A parking pawl prevents the transmission, and therefore the vehicle, from moving (although the vehicle's non-drive wheels may still spin freely). For this reason, it is recommended to use the hand brake (or parking brake) because this actually locks the (in most cases, rear) wheels and prevents them from moving. This also increases the life of the transmission and the park pin mechanism, because when parking on an incline with the transmission in park without the parking brake engaged will cause undue stress on the parking pin. An efficiently-adjusted hand brake should also prevent the car from moving if a worn selector accidentally drops into Reverse gear during early morning fast-idle engine warmups.



A car should be allowed to come to a complete stop before setting the transmission into park to prevent damage. Usually, PARK is one of only two selections in which the car's engine can be started. In some cars (notably those sold in the US), the driver must have the footbrake depressed before the transmission can be taken out of park. The Park position is omitted on buses/coaches with automatic transmission, which must be placed in neutral with the parking brakes set.



Reverse (R) – This puts the car into the reverse gear, giving the ability for the car to drive backwards. In order for the driver to select reverse they must come to a complete stop, push the shift lock button in (or pull the shift lever forward in the case of a column shifter) and select reverse. Not coming to a complete stop can cause severe damage to the transmission. Many modern automatic gearboxes have a safety mechanism in place, which does to some extent prevent (but doesn't completely avoid) inadvertently putting the car in reverse when the vehicle is moving. This mechanism usually consists of a solenoid- controlled physical barrier on either side of the Reverse position, which is electronically engaged by a switch on the brake pedal. Therefore, the brake pedal needs to be depressed in order to allow the selection of reverse. Some electronic transmissions prevent or delay engagement of reverse gear altogether while the car is moving.



Neutral/No gear (N)– This disconnects the transmission from the wheels so the car can move freely under its own weight. This is the only other selection in which the car can be started.



Drive (D)– This allows the car to move forward and accelerate through its range of gears. The number of gears a transmission has depends on the model, but they can commonly range from 3, 4 (the most common), 5, 6 (found in VW/Audi Direct Shift Gearbox), 7 (found in Mercedes 7G gearbox, BMW M5 and VW/Audi Direct Shift Gearbox) and 8 in the newer models of Lexus cars. Some cars when put into D will automatically lock the doors or turn on the Daytime Running Lamps.



OverDrive ([D], OD, or a boxed D) - This mode is used in some transmissions, to allow early Computer Controlled Transmissions to engage the Automatic Overdrive. In these transmissions, Drive (D) locks the Automatic Overdrive off, but is identical otherwise. OD (Overdrive) in these cars is engaged under steady speeds or low acceleration at approximately 35-45 mph (approx. 72 km/h). Under hard acceleration or below 35-45 mph, the transmission will automatically downshift. Vehicles with this option should be driven in this mode unless circumstances require a lower gear.



Second (2 or S) – This mode limits the transmission to the first two gears, or more commonly locks the transmission in second gear. This can be used to drive in adverse conditions such as snow and ice, as well as climbing or going down hills in the winter time. Some vehicles will automatically upshift out of 2nd gear in this mode if a certain rpm range is reached, to prevent engine damage.



First (1 or L) – This mode locks the transmission in first gear only. It will not accelerate through any gear range. This, like second, can be used during the winter season, or towing.



As well as the above modes there are also other modes, dependent on the manufacturer and model. Some examples include;



* D5 – In Hondas and Acuras equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions, this mode is used commonly for highway use (as stated in the manual), and uses all 5 forward gears.



* D4 – This mode is also found in Honda and Acura 4 or 5-speed automatics and only uses the first 4 gears. According to the manual, it is used for stop & go traffic, such as city driving.



* D3 – This mode is found in Honda and Acura 4-speed automatics and only uses the first 3 gears. According to the manual, it is used for stop & go traffic, such as city driving. This mode is also found in Honda and Acura 5-speed automatics.



* + − and M – This is the manual selection of gears for automatics, such as Porsche's Tiptronic. This feature can also be found in Chrysler and General Motors products such as the Dodge Magnum and Pontiac G6. The driver can shift up and down at will, like a semi-automatic transmission. This mode may be engaged either through a selector/position or by actually changing gear (e.g. tipping the gear-down paddle).
anonymous
2008-04-06 02:58:49 UTC
The 1-2-3 are for going up or down inclines - the lower number selector numbers will keep the transmission in the number that you select - like number {one} is for going down a STEEP mountain - it helps slow the car down using the engine instead of standing on the brakes all the way down - that's why there are signs around mountains that tell Truckers to use LOWER gears ! The trans won't shift until you select another number or drive !
Carol
2008-04-06 02:55:52 UTC
The numbers 1 2 & 3 are just like the normal gears in a car, there may be times, for example, when your on a steep hill and you can hear the engine labouring thats when you can choose to drive it like a manual and change gears yourself.



Unless you live in a really hilly area you probably wont ever need to use them. I have an auto the main prob i had when I first got it was remembering not to go for the clutch, I found sitting on my left foot helped.lol
anonymous
2008-04-06 02:52:30 UTC
Why not book a driving lesson in an automatic with a driving school and professional instructor
anonymous
2008-04-06 02:50:50 UTC
Park is neutral but also mecanicaly locks the gearbox output shaft. Never engage park while your moving you will break the locking pawl.



1 is Ist gear with engine braking and when engaged will not charge up.



2 is 2nd gear and will not change up or down. Without engine braking. This is the ideal gear when setting off in ice and snow, it keep the torque low at the drive wheels.



3 is 3rd gear and will not change up or down. Without engine braking.
BS
2008-04-06 02:46:36 UTC
i am driving an automatic for 2+ years; even i have not used the 1-2-3 gears...



DRIVE SAFE!!!
anonymous
2008-04-06 02:49:18 UTC
Driving an automatic car is easier than driving a manual car because you don't have to learn how to change gears; the car does all the work for you. The steps below give you some guidance on how to go about it.

Steps



1. Find an experienced driver, preferably a professional driving instructor, to teach you.

2. If you have been learning to drive in a manual car explain this to the instructor.

3. Tell him about any problems you have been experiencing such as not knowing how or when to change gears.

4. Sit beside the instructor and listen to him as he explains the different controls.

5. Notice there are only two foot pedals - the brake and gas pedals.

6. Remember both pedals are operated by your right foot - your left foot stays on the floor.

7. Study the gear selector. Instead of markings 1 - 5 and R (for reverse) an automatic gear selector has the following markings - P for Park, R for Reverse, N for Neutral (use this if the car has to be pushed or towed) and D for driving.

8. Check that the car is in Park (P).

9. Turn on the engine.

10. Press the brake pedal down with your right foot.

11. Move the gear lever to drive.

12. With your hand on the handbrake look all around, including the blind spots, to check it is safe to move off.

13. Release the handbrake.

14. Use your indicators if there is anyone around who is likely to benefit from a signal.

15. Lift your foot gently off the brake - the car will start to move forward.

16. Move your foot over to the gas pedal and press down to increase speed.



Tips



* Remember the car will creep forward as soon as you select D for drive. It is vital you keep your foot on the brake until you are ready to move forward.

* Driving an automatic car is far easier than driving a manual car. This means you can spend more time studying the road conditions and looking out for hazards.

* You still need to learn how to drive safely and considerately.

* You will still need to learn about all the road signs and markings.

* It is not necessary to put the car into neutral every time you stop at a junction or traffic light. However, if you are stopping for more than a few minutes then you should put the car into neutral.



The 'S' on the gear shift is the 'Sport' mode, basically the gears will change quicker as you accelerate and keeps the revs higher, uses more fuel too.
Gurminder Grewal
2014-05-20 00:07:52 UTC
Driving a automatic car has been well explained on my BLOG
anonymous
2016-04-06 05:54:26 UTC
You own the car and the problem. The dealer is not liable. If the car is driving ok I suspect the fix for the reverse problem is minor. If you have a transmission shop near you called Transmasters you should try them first. No Aamco. I'm sure that the problem did not occur the very first time you used reverse. The dealer can't be responsible for an issue that developes after the car leaves the lot.
leena
2008-04-06 06:32:40 UTC
thanks to all those that have answered this. because i recently started driving an automatic due to my bad ankle on my left foot.

these cars do not need the driver to change the gears for or do the dreaded clutch control on a hill!!

but i myself werent sure about the numbers so ta
anonymous
2008-04-06 02:52:33 UTC
Yep, you have it. You only normally need D, P and R.



If (for example) you've managed to park your car on loose gravel or a muddy field and are wheel spinning in auto, you'll then might need to manually put it in 3rd to power out...
Doreen
2008-04-06 05:20:26 UTC
get rid of it quick! i passed my test in a manual 6 years agao, have driven automatics since. now got my own car and it's a manual and really struggling....automatics make you lazy.



i never used 1,2 or 3 think they are for more control like in snow to slow you down going down a hill.
overhereyoupretty
2008-04-06 04:33:21 UTC
Imagine starting your manual out in 4 th gear....(D).......You just can't do it ..correct........For automatics....start in (D)..Drive....Gears 1,2,3 are no differnt then your manual 1,2,3 gears except you don't need to start off in 1st and go through the gears to 4th ...Your transmission will automatically go threw the first 3 gears on its own...Hence the word AUTOMATIC....


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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