How to drive an automatic

ailuro2

ps, I just used my right fot last time- i recall it was less easier to get confused if I was only using one foot.

ispartacus75

Oops. My bad.

With all this talk of gearboxes and reverse I got carried away. Sorry.

---lee---

Lee's complete guide to automatics.

Notes

Rest your left foot on the supplied foot rest and don't move it again.

Use your right foot for the accelerator and brake.

Most automatics will have a safety lock button at the side of the gear selector which must be pressed and held in before you are allowed to move out of or select P, R or 1.

Be smooth with accelerator to avoid accidental kickdown.

Starting

1. Ensure the grear selector is in P. Some automatics will also start in N. Most (all?) will not start if any other gear is selected.

2. Start the engine.

3. Press the brake firmly.

4. Press the safety lock button on the side of the gear selector and move it to D or R.

5. Release the brake pedal gradually and the car will move off. If you are setting off on a gradient you may have to apply a little accelerator to get moving. If the engine is cold and the choke is on, the car will move off quite quickly so be prepared.

General Driving

Use the accelerator and brake as normal to speed up and slow down.

For normal driving, use D. On hills you can select lower gears 3, 2 or 1 to provide engine braking. Where rapid acceleration is required, either manually select a lower gear (3, 2 or 1) or floor the accelerator and the gearbox will automatically select a lower gear (this is known as kickdown).

When stopping at traffic lights, roundabouts etc keep the car stopped by holding down the brake pedal. The torque converters in automatics are designed to be used in this way - changing into N or P is unnecessary and will cause extra wear and tear. Do not use the handbrake to hold the car stationary whilst it is in gear.

If stopping for extended periods, it will be more comfortable to select N and apply the handbrake. To set off again, press down the brake pedal firmly, select D, release the handbrake then gradually release the footbrake.

Parking

1. Press and hold the brake pedal firmly.

2. Press the safety lock button and select P.

3. Apply the handbrake.

4. Release the foot brake.

Note: If you don't follow the above, it can be difficult to move the gear selector out of P due to the weight of the car resting on the transmission.

Others

Over time you will be able to accurately predict when gear changes occur. You can use this information to tailor your driving and keep things smooth.


Many automatics provide sports modes, usually activated by pressing a button. If your use of the accelerator is aggressive, many will engage sports mode automatically. Sports mode usually delays gear changes as long as possible for maximum acceleration and makes the gearbox shift more aggressively. Some automatics are ‘intelligent’ and try to adapt to your driving style.

MarkyMarkD

Please, please, don't sit on the brake pedal at traffic lights. As Hansi said it's incredibly annoying for the driver behind you who gets blinded by your completely unnecessary brake lights. Use the handbrake if you are stopped for any length of time.

---lee---

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Please, please, don't sit on the brake pedal at traffic lights. As Hansi said it's incredibly annoying for the driver behind you who gets blinded by your completely unnecessary brake lights. Use the handbrake if you are stopped for any length of time.

It's the correct way to drive an automatic. You can't use the handbrake unless you shift to N or P – both of which cause unnecessary wear and tear. Use the footbrake when stopped at traffic lights/roundabouts in an automatic. The torque converter is designed to absorb this energy and the transmission oil is especially cooled by a separate manifold in the radiator. If you are going to be stopped for longer than a few minutes however, you should apply the handbrake and move the selector to N.

In a manual use the handbrake if you believe you will be stopped for more than a few seconds. I'm an advanced driver and this was how I was taught to drive.

If you are going to sit around getting annoyed by stupid things like peoples brake lights, then you should not be driving – it's totally the wrong attitude to take against other road users - just look somewhere else!

jackieb

Read the FAQ about driving an automatic. http://www.2pass.co.uk/auto.htm

---lee---

Quoted from Pass Your Advanced Driving Test:


"When stationary in traffic, even for many minutes, it is not necessary to move the lever into neutral because the torque converter absorbs most of the engine's propulsion force - no wear occurs. In fact more wear takes place when the driver moves the lever from neutral into a gear."

Canucklehead

Good evening: I have to agree with Lee....I passed my Driver's test in Ontario, Canada in the early 80s...automatics are in the majority in Canada...and as said previously don't drive with both feet (automatic fail on test as it is a dangerous practice!!)

Canucklehead

---lee---

jackieb wrote: »

Read the FAQ about driving an automatic. http://www.2pass.co.uk/auto.htm

I would be more inclined to trust IAM over a random website plastered with ads given that they are an independent charity operating since the 50's promoting driving safety

jackieb

Quoted from RoSPA: I didn't know you could apply the handbrake if you were still in drive though.

You should cover the footbrake when moving the gear lever when the vehicle is stationary. You may wish to set the parking brake as many vehicles will ‘creep’ and some vehicles may have a tendency to lurch, particularly if fitted with an automatic choke. Stops in traffic, at junctions and at traffic lights leave the selector in D. There is no need to move into neutral, as no damage will result. You may wish to set the parking brake if the pause becomes a wait but your decision will depend on the circumstances.

No wonder people are confused! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2000/12/12/emrip12.xml