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What Do The Symbols On An Auto Gear Shifter Mean?

A car in a garage is shown.

You must familiarize yourself with the gear shift letters and numbers before you take to the open road in your new automated vehicle. Understanding their purposes will enable you to make the most of your automobile. Auffenburg CDJR of Herrin will provide a brief insight into this blog post.

De-coding the letters and numbers:

P – Park

This represents “Park” as a symbol. You may safely leave your car in park and start walking away. Your automobile will also be in the parking brake position when you are in this position.

R – Reverse

This represents the reverse sign. Your automobile drives backward while it is in reverse. Driving in this position requires additional caution since your visibility is limited unless you have a rear camera.

N – Neutral

This is a resting position for your car; think of it as “neutral,” like in between gears.

D – Drive

This is the most commonly used position, meaning “Drive.” Your vehicle will drive forward while in this position. The car automatically changes gears when it is in “drive.” The particular gear employed will vary depending on the vehicle, although most cars will have first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gears.

Low or D1

Your car will drive forward in low gear while in this position. The low gear is used when starting from a stopped position, going down a steep hill, or towing something heavy.

D2

This gear is present on some older autos. It has a higher gear ratio than “Drive,” but else it is similar. It is now uncommon to employ this mode, designed for fuel efficiency.

O/D-Overdrive

The “Overdrive” position is the highest gear position. This position should be used when cruising on the highway or driving at a constant speed.

S-Sports mode

This position is designed to be used when driving under conditions that require more power, such as overtaking or merging.

Knowing how to use your car’s gears is important for a smooth ride and good fuel economy. Now that you know the meaning of automatic gear shift letters and numbers, you can confidently hit the road!

What is Manual Mode?

Manual mode gives you manual control over the gears. In manual mode, you have to shift the gears yourself. The car will not automatically shift for you.

You will need to use the paddle shifters or the gear shift lever to shift gears in manual mode.

How Does the Car Change Gear in ‘D’?

The car changes gears in ‘D’ mode using a hydraulic system and a fluid coupling or torque converter. The automatic transmission is connected to the engine by a torque converter. The torque converter allows the engine to run at a different speed than the transmission.

When you put the car in drive, the automatic transmission will start in first gear. The transmission will then upshift or downshift based on the car’s speed.

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