How To Drive An Automatic Transmission

Driving an automatic transmission car is a little different from the usual manual cars. It can even be said that it is easier to drive an automatic transmission car, as the driver does not require learning clutch control and changing gears, which is probably the most troublesome task for all drivers and learners. An automatic transmission does everything on its own, providing the person on the driver's seat with utmost comfort. However, as the functioning and operation of automatic transmission is different, one definitely needs to know how to drive it, before actually experiencing the luxury. Given below are some tips regarding the same.

 

Park (P): This mechanism restricts the car movement in any direction by mechanically locking the transmission. However, the non-drive wheels of the car may still spin freely. Therefore, using the hand brake (or parking brake) is advised to lock the rear wheels, so that they don’t move. A car can be prevented from moving even if a worn selector accidentally drops into reverse gear, if the hand brake is efficiently adjusted.

 

Reverse (R): This mechanism gives the car the ability to drive backwardsby putting the care into the reverse gear. The car must come to a complete stop and then the shift lock button is to be pushed, followed by selecting reverse. Severe damage to the transmission can be caused, if the vehicle doesn’t come to a complete stop. Reverse mechanism mostly consists of a solenoid-controlled physical barrier on either side of the Reverse position. A switch on the brake pedal engages this physical barrier electronically.

 

Neutral/No Gear (N): This mechanism allows the car to move freely under its own weight, by disconnecting the transmission from the wheels. No Gear is the only other selection in which it is possible to start the car.

 

Drive (D): Drive mechanism helps the car to move forward and accelerate. This is done through the range of gears provided by the selection. The number of gears in a transmission will vary from model to model. However, the gears commonly range from 3 to 8, depending upon the car model. The newer models of Lexus and BMW cars come with 8 gears.