How to drive a car with an automatic transmission and use this type of gearbox

The first generation automatic transmissions, which did not yet have manual speed control, used a special design with reduction gears. Many drivers simply do not understand why downshifts are needed on an automatic transmission and how to use such a gearbox correctly. Let's take a closer look at what downshifts are used for on an automatic transmission.

Mode "S" on an automatic transmission: what you need to know

The active development of the automotive industry continues today thanks to the introduction of the latest technologies in this industry. In modern cars, the manufacturer invests a large margin in terms of dynamic and power characteristics, improves the level of equipment, safety, etc.

At the same time, a lot can depend on the quality of implementation of a particular technical solution, including the life and health of the driver, passengers, and other road users.

Note that, given the great popularity of automatic transmissions, the “S” (Sport) mode is designed to fully experience the “drive” of driving a car. Also, this mode can help the driver in a difficult situation. In this article we will look at what “S” gear is on an automatic transmission, why this mode is needed and how to use it.

Rudiments of the past

These letters come from ancient times, when car manufacturers had not even heard of control electronics. Automatic transmissions changed gears depending on the oil pressure inside the actuators. If the oil pressure exceeded a certain value, the relay was activated and the clutches moved the planetary gear to a new position.

Question answer

Is it possible to use engine braking on cars with an automatic transmission? But when going off-road, during slipping, the automatic machine did not understand that the car was stuck in the mud. When applying gas, it still peacefully went through the gears instead of allowing the driver to rev the engine to the “red zone” and get out of the trap. Therefore, engineers introduced a mechanical gear switch limiter. When the selector was moved to L, the box blocked the gear shift actuator, and the car crawled through the mud only in first gear. Later, two more modes were added to this mode, helping to use the hydromechanical automatic machine more correctly.

When the lever was moved to position 2, the car crawled only in the first and second stages, and in position 3 the box did not shift above the 3rd stage. This was convenient during active driving, as well as when transporting a trailer, when it is necessary to keep the engine at high speeds all the time, where the highest power and torque are produced. In the third position of the selector, you can ride on inclines and when traveling to the tops of hills in regions with mountainous terrain. In addition, in these restrictive modes it was convenient to brake with the engine when descending from the mountains along winding paths with many turns and turns. But you still can’t drive them all the time, as there is increased wear and tear on the transmission mechanics.

Basic operating modes

There are several modes that a self-driving vehicle has. These include:

Position before start. The lever is set to position “P” (parking). This is a mode when the car is stationary with the engine not running. Used when stopping for a long time. The car starts from this position.
Start position. The lever is in the neutral position “N” (neutral). This means that the engine is started but is idling. Recommended for use during short stops, for example, at traffic lights.
First phase of movement. The lever is set to o (drive). This is the main mode, when activated, the car moves forward and the gears change independently. It is used for constant driving, except for ice, snow, long ascents and descents at large inclines.
Accelerating a car. Installed in low gear “D3” - this is when only the first 3 gears are engaged. Recommended when driving on dirt roads, when driving up and down.
Even stroke. Modes “D2” and “D1” when speeds are less than 50 and 25 km/h, respectively. Recommended when driving on a difficult route in the forest, on a slippery or snowy road or on a mountain serpentine road. "D1" is also used when driving in a traffic jam.

There is also “D4”, when the average driving speed reaches 100 km/h. It is recommended to use it on a flat road. This mode is also called smooth transmission.

New management

But with the entry of improved transmissions onto the market, the need for the listed modes has disappeared. Now automatic machines have electronic control units that are trained to recognize slipping and even movement on various sections of roads with variable surfaces. Electronics corrects the operation of components and assemblies if it senses ice, snow or gravel under the wheels. In addition, many automatic transmissions now have a manual mode, allowing you to select gears yourself and change them as needed. The on-board electronics also contain programs for movement in various environments. If you set the off-road driving program, the computer will reconfigure not only the automatic transmission, but also the accelerator, engine, steering and even suspension. In this case, the box will only work at lower levels. Thus, mode L is no longer relevant and has been removed from the scene.

Article on the topic

The automatic is not a CVT. How can you not warm up automatic transmissions? In sport mode, the gearbox will automatically change gears only after the engine reaches maximum traction speed. And when the “Snow” mode is activated, the transmission will launch a gentle program, will start from second to avoid slipping, but will not allow activating the higher stages at speeds from 40 to 80 km/h in order to maintain traction on the wheels to counteract possible yaw of the car.

In general, the functionality of automatic transmissions has expanded significantly, and the need for the old modes 2, 3 and L has disappeared. However, they are still found on used cars or on licensed copies of old transmissions, which can be seen on Chinese vehicles. They are also found on old frame SUVs that have not been updated for more than 10 years, which come with old proven transmissions coupled with a reduction gearbox and mechanical differential locks. New electronic boxes are contraindicated for such machines.

Lock as a precaution when driving an automatic car

Driving an automatic for beginners requires careful attention to the vehicle's driving modes. Thus, you should remember a few simple rules:

The automatic transmission lever is designed with some safety measures

If the automatic transmission lever switches to certain modes without pressing the lock button, this means that the lever can be moved into these ranges both when the car is moving and when starting off. If the lever is moved to a certain mode only by pressing a button on the selector, then this indicates that some precautions must be taken to perform this action. Thus, with the selected driving mode “1”, it is possible to safely move the lever to position “2”, and then switch it to range “3” or “D” on the move, without stopping your vehicle

However, it is worth noting that switching the lever from the “Third” position to the “Second” or “First” is already accompanied by pressing the latch. This is done to prevent damage to the box if the driving mode is incorrectly selected. Otherwise, the machine will be subjected to significant overloads, which will inevitably lead to its breakdown.

Thus, with the selected driving mode “1”, you can safely move the lever to position “2”, and then switch it to the “3” or “D” range on the move, without stopping your vehicle. However, it is worth noting that switching the lever from the “Third” position to the “Second” or “First” is already accompanied by pressing the latch. This is done to prevent damage to the box if the driving mode is incorrectly selected. Otherwise, the machine will be subjected to significant overloads, which will inevitably lead to its breakdown.

Therefore, to correctly switch between modes in this order, it is necessary to either stop completely or slow down the speed of the vehicle. Thus, switching the lever from position “Two” to “Third” gear without using a locking button is impossible; compliance with restrictions is required. Namely, you cannot use such a combination when driving above a speed of 70 km/h, so as not to damage the transmission. Although in new automatic transmission models this nuance seems to have been removed, so switching when driving even at high speeds will not bring much harm, even if the switch is incorrect.

That's all we wanted to say on this issue. Driving an automatic transmission for novice drivers causes difficulties only at first, which cannot be said about a manual transmission. First you need to understand the modes of your transmission. In any case, all the necessary recommendations for using the automatic transmission capabilities of a specific car model are available in the service documentation. Such documents usually “come” with the car upon purchase, or can be found by make and body number on the Internet.