Modern vehicles with automatic transmission engines are increasingly popular due to the convenience of starting and controlling the motor.
With just a tap of the start button on the right side of the steering wheel, your vehicle is ready to begin the journey.
However, this version differs from the other models, typically the plus and minus on automatic gear shift.
If this is your first time driving this vehicle, our article will give you the key to controlling your speed most efficiently!
Plus And Minus On Automatic Gear Shift – What Do They Mean?
On the dashboards of countless modern vehicles today, you can find a component called a “shift lever.” It is located just behind the wheel and is surrounded by signs, letters, and numbers.
On automatic gear shift, the “+” (plus) icon is the mode for climbing. When pushing the lever towards plus, your vehicle will increase some, resulting in a sudden increase in engine power.
Meanwhile, the symbol “-” (minus) is the deceleration mode for the vehicle to go downhill safely.
When the lever is pushed towards the minus, the car will decrease by some, reducing engine power and speed.
When Should You Use Paddle Shifters?
It would be best if you used paddle shifters whenever needed to increase engine performance to suit the terrain.
Most vehicles today will deliver incredibly powerful maximum power, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 RPM.
Normally, drivers increase gears when the vehicle is uphill and climbing hills. In addition, paddle shifters are also extremely useful if you need to pull goods behind the car.
While traveling on flat or downhill roads, you should downshift to lower your vehicle’s RPM to the ideal range.
Low RPM helps the car save fuel but will cause noise and strain on the engine if reduced too much.
How To Use Plus And Minus On Gear Shift?
Using plus/minus on gear shift can have many different uses. Please scroll down to discover how you will manipulate them to achieve your goals!
Adjust Gear
Using the gear lever is extremely simple! The driver pulls it up for it to work. When dragging down and to the left, you will successfully reduce the number of cars.
Meanwhile, pulling the lever to the right will cause the vehicle to increase gears.
Adjusting the gearbox will help increase or decrease the vehicle’s current power. Thanks to this function, the car will have enough momentum to cross roads safely with uneven terrain.
Adjust Speed
Adjusting gear also means adjusting the speed of the vehicle. If you increase gears, the car tends to get stronger and move faster than it originally did.
However, this method will make the wheels have difficulty gripping the road, which is especially dangerous on sharp turns.
When the driver reduces the gear, the vehicle speed decreases, making it convenient for the driver to control the vehicle. So, it is suitable for traveling on flat roads, especially in wet and slippery conditions.
Control Car’s Fuel
The lower the RPM is, the less fuel the vehicle uses. Therefore, you should lower the gear when moving downhill. On flat terrain, adjust the car to a moderate level to avoid wasting fuel.
Control Power Generation Through RPM
When the RPM is above 3,000, increasing the gears will help the engine to generate power. But if you’ve never tried this, follow our detailed guide:
- Step 1: You will be in first gear starting from a full stop. Gently depress the car’s pedal, and the engine will begin to hum while the RMP gradually increases.
- Step 2: When the RMP reaches 3000, you need to pull the right gear lever to increase to the 2nd gear.
- Step 3: Continue this process until you reach the desired speed. Once you get the highest gear, you will no longer be able to perform the shifting process.
In case of a downhill, you need to do the following procedure:
- Step 1: Control the car to slow down while paying attention to the RPM. When the RPM drops to 2,000, pull the lever to the left, and you’ve successfully downshifted.
- Step 2: Repeat the process until you reach the gear you want. When down to 1st gear, the vehicle’s RPM will be lower than 2000 and will not work when it’s lower than 1,000 RPM. Click here if you wonder how many RPM is normal!
FAQS
Does Automatic Gear Shift Help Your Snow Driving?
The answer is yes!
Adjusting the automatic gear shift lower will slow down the speed and increase the driver’s controllability and the wheel’s grip.
Therefore, it is extremely suitable when going downhill on slippery roads.
In the case of heavy snow, increasing the number of vehicles will push the car to overcome obstacles under the wheels.
Depending on the snow conditions, consider adjusting the automatic gear shift accordingly.
Does Using Paddle Shifters Make Driving Fun?
Sure! Paddle shifters give you complete control over how your vehicle shifts gears, providing a more enjoyable driving experience.
Besides, it will avoid the engine stall or “stomp in place” situation often seen when driving a manual clutch.
Which Transmissions Use Paddle Shifters?
You’ll find paddle shifters on many modern vehicles, such as automatic or manual transmission cars. In particular, the automatic manual is the type of vehicle that integrates this feature the most.
Shifting is done through the vehicle’s ECU. The automation between the transmission and the clutch will cause the car to jerk when shifting gears.
You can also find paddle shifters on manual transmission cars, typically racing cars. These models still have clutch pedals but without the H-shape gear system.
What Do The Numbers and Letters Mean on an Automatic Transmission Shifter?
If you wonder what the numbers and letters PRNDL mean on an automatic transmission, then here is the answer:
- P (park): Keep power low enough for parking.
- R (Reverse): Keeps power low enough to control the vehicle during reverse.
- N (Neutral): Keep RPM at neutral.
- D (Drive): Allows the automatic transmission to operate (shift gears) within a certain parameter.
- L (Low): Keep the gearbox in the lower gear level
- S (sport): promotes the engine to work with a strong performance for acceleration or obstacles ahead.
You will find the serial number “4321” or “321,” depending on the model of some automatic cars and trucks. Usually, the number 1 is the lowest level, while “3”/” 4″ will be the highest.
Some Last Words
Plus and minus on automatic gear shift help the driver control all the operations of an automatic transmission car.
Through this article, we hope you have gained enough useful information and how to use it most effectively.
Wish you will have the best driving experience!