Driving a car with an automatic transmission is certainly more comfortable than its analogue with a manual transmission. But in order for the automatic transmission to serve for a long time and reliably, it is necessary to follow certain rules and take into account some nuances.
Instructions
Step 1
Before starting the engine, make sure that the selector is in position P or N. An attempt to start the engine with other positions of the lever will at best result in the electronics blocking the ignition; at worst - to the breakdown of the machine. In the cold season, immediately after starting, start switching the selector to all modes, lingering in each of them for 2-3 seconds, which will warm up the box. Then turn on the D mode and hold the car with the brake for 2-3 minutes without touching the accelerator pedal.
Step 2
Get in the habit of depressing the brake pedal before moving the selector from P or N to D. And only after a characteristic slight jolt and a decrease in idle speed, release the brake and drive off, smoothly drowning the accelerator. Do not try to switch to a dynamic driving style until the oil in the transmission has warmed up to operating temperature.
Step 3
If you are accustomed to driving a car with a manual transmission, resist the temptation to manually shift gears when accelerating or go to neutral when braking. Until you get used to it, keep your left foot away from the pedals so that, out of old habit, you don't press the brake instead of the clutch. In city mode, keep the selector in position D or 3, trying to use the overdrive OD as little as possible. When driving uphill and other difficult conditions, use range 2.
Step 4
When moving the selector from one position to another on the move, never engage the P and R modes until the vehicle has come to a complete stop. The inclusion of the N mode while driving is allowed only when absolutely necessary, for example, when braking by the engine. If you accidentally switch to an unacceptable mode, immediately drop the speed to idle, and then move the selector back to position D. Try not to exceed the permissible engine speed.
Step 5
In the presence of modes 3, 2 and 1, perform engine braking with their help. To do this, release the gas pedal and move the selector from position 3 to position 2. After reducing the speed to 50 km / h and below, switch to mode 1 using the same algorithm. Note that on vehicles with automatic transmission, the engine braking efficiency is much lower than in the case with manual transmission.
Step 6
Use the same modes for fast overclocking. Move the selector from position D or 3 to position 2, following the revolutions on the tachometer. If you have a sport mode, turn it on. When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the box itself will go into kick-down mode, in which gears will be changed later for the most efficient set of speed. Automatic exit from this mode is possible only when the engine reaches its maximum permissible rpm. To forcibly deactivate the kick-down mode, simply release the accelerator pedal. Please note that frequent use of this mode will reduce the resource of the automatic transmission.
Step 7
Use kick-down or range 2 selector before cornering to decelerate and forcibly engage underspeed. On sequential automatic transmissions, manually lower the gear.
Step 8
Always use the brakes during short stops. If during a stop the selector is switched to position P, it is not necessary to use the brake. However, if the machine is on a slope, be sure to engage the parking (hand) brake. In this case, first turn on the parking brake, and then - mode P. Turn the N range only on long parking, as well as in traffic jams and in the heat to improve the cooling of the box.
Step 9
Do not be afraid of short-term slippage on a slippery road. The box is worn out by prolonged slipping. So if you get stuck, rock the car, alternately switching from low mode 1 to R mode and vice versa. For driving with a full load or with a heavy trailer, use lowering modes 3 or 2. In this case, start acceleration in mode 1, and when reaching 40 km / h, switch.
Step 10
Find out in advance the maximum range and speed of towing the vehicle from the instructions. As a rule, cars with an automatic machine are allowed to be towed in N mode and a distance of no more than 50 km at a speed of no more than 50 km / h. If more distant towing is required, load the car onto a tow truck, hang the drive wheels or disconnect the transmission.
