I have been driving muy car for almost 60,000 miles and I have never used 2nd or 3rd gear. When would I use them and what is different in the car when I switch
2006-10-23 14:58:03 · 6 answers · asked by Tommy12oz 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
its an automatic because you would never ask that with a manual. your transmission is a 4 speed, so the selector tells you which is the highest gear it will shift into. D=4, 3=3, 2=2, L=1. at the top of a big hill, "trucks use lower gears". it is for downhill situations. if you are going down a long hill, downshift to a lower gear (you can do it while driving, just dont go down too far and blow your engine). if you are driving down a long winding mountain pass, and you would like to be going 20mph, but are constantly pushing the brakes, downshift to a lower gear..this will keep your speed down without using the brakes...YOUR BRAKES CAN HEAT AND FAIL IF YOU DONT. downshifting is for maintaining speed, brakes are for stopping.
2006-10-23 15:06:50 · answer #1 · answered by FJ40spencer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a lot like the gears in a bicycle. The lower the gear, the slower the speed. The lower gears are for mountainous driving, either up or down the hill. The lower gears can also be good when more traction is neede, like being stuck in snow. The higher the gear the faster the car will travel. Plus the high gear is the most gas economical. You wouldn't ordinarily drive an automatic trans car in city traffic using a lower gear. Normal driving conditions call for driving with the car in "D."
2006-10-24 09:02:07 · answer #2 · answered by stretch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the way you ask, I'm guessing that you have an automatic.
If so, 2nd & 3rd are largely put on there for people who like to shift as if they had a manual transmission. HOWEVER, you might want to use 2nd, for example in stop-and-go traffic. When the car is in 2nd, it starts 'off the line' more quickly, and it also slows down more quickly, because of 'engine braking'. What it means is that if you are driving in 2nd, and you take your foot off of the gas, the car slows down right away, as opposed to in 'drive' where the car coasts quite a bit longer (until you hit the brakes).
2006-10-23 22:08:07 · answer #3 · answered by roscoedeadbeat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An ex-boyfriend once told me that second gear is best to use if stuck in the mud or a ditch. He was an idiot, though, so I'm not sure if that's true or not- something to ponder, I guess..
2006-10-23 21:59:45 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer F 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its manual: straight after 1st or 4th depending if your going up or down.
If its Auto, they are basically there for towing heavy things and for people who like to pretend they have a manual transmission when they dont.
Dont lose any sleep over the fact you havent used them.
2006-10-23 22:22:49 · answer #5 · answered by mickattafe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is an automatic if that is the case you do use 2nd and 3rd, drive goes 1,2,3,overdrive. but do'nt use it, if you don't know what your doing you could ruin your trani
2006-10-23 22:35:39 · answer #6 · answered by Blackdog 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋