The Start-to-Finish Guide on How to Drive an Automatic Car
How to drive an automatic car? Well, you will be happy to know that driving a car with an automatic transmission is easier than the one that uses a manual gearbox. However, it does not mean that you can learn to drive automatic without any practice. It’s mandatory to learn drivingeither in a school or under a private instructor. However, learning the basics beforehand will help you big time in this regard.
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How to Drive an Automatic Car: The Functions of the Gears
What do the letters and numbers on an automatic gearbox mean? It’s crucial to know their role and functions to ace the driving test.
In the automotive world, these letters are known as PRNDL (pronounced as ‘prindle’). What they stand for are:
P (Parking): to park the car.
It locks the transmission shaft and does not let the car to move anywhere. The only thing that can rotate in that condition is the non-driving wheels. Although, it will completely lock down a four-wheel drive.
R (Reverse): for reverse driving
Shifting to this gear allows you to drive the vehicle backward. To do that, stop the car completely and choose the R gear after pressing the shift-lock button. There’s no need to do anything while moving from R to N or D, but shifting to the R again will require the use of the shift button.
N (Neutral): no gear
It means the vehicle is using no gear. In this state, the transmission will have no connection to the driven wheels and the car will move using the momentum only. You should use it only for pushing or towing the car.
D (Drive): to start and move
Understanding the functions of this gear is the most important when you are learning how to drive an automatic car. Putting the car in this gear means driving normally. But, the transmission uses some other variations including D1, D2, and D3 to adjust to the speed at which you are driving the vehicle. The D1 means the very first gear and you can gradually move up to the higher ones. Using the highest gear could be fuel-efficient when you are driving long distance on the highway. Otherwise, these gear ratios are suitable for unusual conditions only such as getting the car out of the ice or mud.
When you set the gear at D1, it means that the transmission gets locked in that position and won’t change on its own. Setting the gear at D2 means locking it in the second gear. In some models, the gear automatically shifts from the 1st to 2nd when it reaches a particular speed limit, such as 30mph, to protect the engine from damage.
L (Low): to set a gear at low
An automatic car changes the gears automatically with the increase and decrease of the speed. Manually shifting to the low gear will decrease the speed but not the torque. As a result, your car gets more towing and staying power.
Some More Gears and Their Functions
Depending on the make and model, your automatic vehicle can feature some other gears too. Let’s have a look:
S (Sport) mode
It’s almost similar to the D mode but with maximum output levels. It enhances the engine performance when you are speeding up. The downshifting will also be much quicker in this position, boosting the braking effects.
SEE MORE:
- Automatic Transmission: Low Gear Functions Explained
- Transmission Issues: Don’t Overlook these Signs!
OD (Overdrive) mode
It’s the highest gear and turning it on will allow the transmission to go through all the gears including the Overdrive. Turning it off will limit the transmission to move between other available modes. It’s helpful for towing, climbing hills, and overtaking.
B (Brake) mode
Some models come with this gear that helps to decrease the speed of a car. It’s also useful in maintaining a certain speed when you are going downhill.
How to Drive an Automatic Car: Step by Step Procedure
You have already learned the basics of an automatic transmission. It’s time for you to know the steps of driving before starting to practice for real.
The complete tutorial that is geared towards beginner drivers
Know the use of the feet
Unlike the manual cars, the automatic models don’t have the clutch pedal. They have only the brake pedal and accelerator and you will use only your right foot to control them. The first lesson of learning how to drive an automatic car is to know that your left foot should remain at rest all the time.
Starting the car
The lever should be in P when the engine is off. Push the brake pedal and insert the key to the ignition to turn it on/Xe phải ở số P . Đạp thắng và đút chìa khóa để mở máy Gently shift the gear to the D and then release the pressure on the brake pedal slowly. The vehicle will start moving/Nhẹ nhàng chuyển qua D và từ từ nhả thắng chân .
If you want it to move faster, simply press the gas pedal. The speed has nothing to do with the gears. So, don’t change it for regular road driving/Nếu bạn muốn chạy nhanh hơn , chỉ cần đạp ga .Hộp số ko liên quan với tốc độ ko . Do đó , ko cần thay đổi khi lái xe thông thường
Taking turns and slowing down/Quẹo và chạy chậm
You have to turn the steering wheel left or right to drive the car in that direction/Dùng tay lái để quẹo Apply the brakes to slow it down or stop/Dùng thắng để chạy chậm hay ngừng . The accelerator is for speeding up and you have to limit that speed by shifting the foot on the brake pedal/Ga dùng để tăng tốc và bạn phải giới hạn tốc độ bằng cách đạp thắng . Apply pressure on it slowly and gradually unless you need to stop the vehicle all on a sudden/Đạp thắng nhẹ và từ từ trừ phi bạn cần ngừng xe đột ngột .
Parking/Đậu xe
This is the last step of this procedure of how to drive an automatic car. You have to gradually press the brake pedal and shift the gear to the P position to stop the vehicle completely/Bạn phải từ từ đạp thắng và chuyển sang số P để ngừng hẳn . Use the ignition key to switch off the engine/Tắt động cơ. Finally, turn off the headlights and get out of the car/Cuối cùng , tắt đèn và rời xe .
Conclusion
Besides learning these basics, you should also read the owner’s manual to learn how to drive an automatic car. It has details about the roles and functions of the transmission and gears. There are various types of automatic transmission cars. So, reading the manual is necessary because it provides tips about that are relevant to the specific model of your car.
Matsumoto Naoki
Matsumoto Naoki is senior car blogger at Car From Japan. Having background in mechanical engineering, he has a unique perspective on a lot of new car innovations. Prior to Car From Japan, Matsumoto was Mechanical Design Engineer at Yajima Plant, Subaru Corporation. His articles provide detailed DIY instructions and how-tos to help you get your new car on the road. If you want to save money and feel more confident when working on your cars, you should not ignore Matsumoto’s sharing posts. He presents driving tips and tricks for everyone through easy-following steps and mechanically but friendly writing.
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