All
car-owners out there, listen up! We'll explain the meanings of those mysterious
plus and minus signs on your automatic
gear shift. No more wondering what they do - we're here to help! Ready?
Let's get started!
How Do Automatic Cars Work? - The Basics
First,
let's get a little bit of context. How do automatic cars work? In traditional,
manual vehicles, the driver uses a clutch to connect and disconnect the engine
from the gears. This process can be challenging to master - and it's certainly
not for everyone.
In an
automatic car, there's no clutch pedal. Instead, the vehicle uses a torque
converter to manage the connection between the engine and transmission. This
makes driving an automatic significantly more straightforward than a manual -
but that's not all. Automatic cars also have additional features like
hill-start assist and adaptive cruise control.
So,
what exactly do those plus and minus signs on your gear shift mean? Let's take
a closer look.
The
minus sign (-) on an automatic car is used to put the car into reverse gear.
This is like in a manual car - you use the minus sign to select reverse when
you're parked up and want to start driving backward.
The
plus sign (+) on an automatic car is slightly different. It's used to select a
lower gear than your current one. So, if you're cruising in fifth gear and need
extra power to overtake, you can push the + sign, and the car will
automatically shift down to the fourth gear.
Pushing
the + sign repeatedly will cycle through the lower gears until you reach the
first gear. Once you're finished overtaking, you can take your foot off the
accelerator, and the car will automatically shift back up through the gears to
fifth.
You'll
also find a + and - sign on your car's steering wheel. These are usually
located on the left-hand side of the wheel, near where your cruise control
buttons would be. Just like on the gear shift, pushing the - sign will cancel adaptive
cruise control or hill start assist, and hitting the + sign again will turn it
back on.
Automatic Transmission Maintenance
The
automatic transmission contains gears, planetary gear sets, hydraulic pumps,
and fluid valves, all working together to shift the gears automatically. All of
these parts require regular maintenance for the transmission to function
correctly. Here's a brief guide:
· Check
transmission fluid levels and quality every 30,000 miles. The transmission
fluid should be a pink or red color. If it is dark brown or black, it needs to
be replaced.
· Flush and fill the transmission fluid every 60,000 miles. This will help remove any debris or build-up accumulating over time.
· If
you notice any strange noises or shifting problems, get a qualified mechanic to
check the transmission system as soon as possible. Ignoring transmission issues
results in severe damage.
Pretty
simple, right? If you want to test it out for yourself, visit Kelly Toyota of Hamburg, serving Hamburg, PA, today and take a spin in one of our latest models! We
have a wide variety of new cars for sale that are perfect for your driving
needs. Plus, we always offer competitive prices so you can get behind the wheel
of your dream car without breaking the bank.