Urbanites have a preference for personal vehicles that are practical and easy to use, thus automatic cars are often found in urban areas. Urban streets that are synonymous with traffic jams are also one of the reasons why automatic cars are so popular. This type of car does not make the driver feel sore when there is a traffic jam. Do you know how to manage an automatic car transmission lever on uphill and downhill? Learn more about the position of the automatic car transmission lever in our following article.

Automatic cars, of course, have some differences from manual cars, especially in how to drive them. In an automatic car, the driver will not feel excessive pain in the left leg because the transmission lever is automatic. This is different from a manual car which requires the driver to repeatedly step on the clutch pedal located under the left foot.

Automatic cars have two pedals that you can rely on when you go uphill and downhill. For those of you who lack confidence driving this car, you can change the position of the transmission lever according to the road conditions being traversed. What is the ideal position of the automatic car transmission lever in an uphill and downhill state? To find out the answer, let's read and review this article ‘til the end!

Automatic Car Transmission Code

There is a letter and number code on the automatic car transmission lever that indicates the function of the transmission lever in a certain position. As an automatic car driver, you must understand the meaning of the code. You need to remember, each car provides a different shape of letters and numbers, but the operation of the gears remains the same as other automatic cars. The following is an automatic car transmission code that is often found:

1. P or Parking

This lever position is used when the vehicle is parked. When you position the lever at the letter P, the transmission will lock in this position so that your car cannot be moved or pushed. Besides, this position is also the initial process of starting the engine and releasing the ignition.

2. R or Reverse

This lever position is used when the vehicle is moving backwards. You must first change the lever position to R when driving the car in the opposite direction. This is the same as in the manual transmission.

3. N or Neutral

If you change the gear lever position to N, your car will be stationary. This is because the connection between the engine and the wheels of your vehicle is idle. The function of this lever is the same as that of a manual transmission.

4. D or Drive

This lever position is used when you are going to drive a car on the road. Usually, this lever position consists of 3 modes that you can choose according to the road you are going to take. These modes are D1, D2, and D3 which are basically the same as the gear ratios in a manual transmission car. You can use this mode when going uphill to get optimal acceleration. Apart from that, you can also use this mode when going downhill so that your car can do an engine brake. 

5. L or Low

The automatic transmission mode with the lowest gear ratio (Low) or similar to gear 1 in manual transmission. If you want to achieve acceleration on a road that descends sharply, you can change the position of the transmission lever to L mode. Your vehicle will stay under control because it gets engine brake assistance.

6. O/D (Overdrive)

You can press a button on the shift lever to turn on the O/D OFF indicator on your dashboard. If this button is pressed, then the transmission lever that works is only a certain part of the available gear ratio or not all of it. On cars with 4-speed, the transmission will only work until the third gear ratio. You can use this feature when you are going to overtake a vehicle at high speed, such as on a toll road.

7. +/-

If your automatic car's transmission lever is equipped with this mark, you can use an automatic transmission just like a manual one. You can adjust the gear position according to your needs. Even so, the transmission is still automatic, such as when downshifting to prevent over rev. In addition, there is a paddleshift in the steering wheel area to adjust the gear position on a premium car or sports car.

8. Shiftlock

You can use this feature when you are going to do parallel parking. You simply press shiftlock and shift the position of the transmission lever from P to N to activate it. Make sure the road surface is level before you use the mode.

READ ALSO: Characteristics of Transmission Issues in Automatic Cars

The Position of Automatic Car Transmission Lever on Uphill Roads

The following are some tips on positioning the automatic car transmission lever when going uphill:

1. Avoid the Transmission Lever Position D

If you use a conventional automatic car, you should avoid position D when going uphill. When the lever is in this position, the automatic transmission will shift gears according to the engine rotation. This engine speed will increase when driving on a long or steep incline. If the lever is in position D when you step on the gas on a steep incline, the gears will automatically change so that the car will lose torque and fail to climb.

2. Move the transmission lever in the low position

You can independently adjust the transmission when going uphill by moving the lever to position 2 or L (1/Low). In this position, the power will be promptly distributed and enable the car to pass the incline easily, even when going through a steep incline. The transmission gear will be stuck in a low position and will not shift to a higher position which can dissipate torque to climb.

3. Use the Overdrive feature

You can use the overdrive feature to go over grades and quickly overtake other vehicles. If you use this feature when going uphill, it's best to do it when the car's speed is stable or you have to overtake. This feature can increase the torque strength of your car.

READ ALSO: How To Stop The Automatic and Manual Car in A Traffic Jam

The Position of Automatic Car Transmission Lever on Downhill Roads

The following are some tips for using the position of the automatic car transmission lever when going downhill:

1. Use Engine Brake

When you go through the descent, you should take advantage of the engine brake. You do this by reducing your vehicle's speed and then moving your automatic car transmission lever from position D to position D3/D2. If you go down a slightly steep and not too long road, you can change the transmission lever D3 to D2. The transmission lever in position D2 will be fixed and work automatically in gear 1 and 2.

2. Move the transmission lever in the low position

In addition to moving the transmission lever position to D3 and D2, you can also move it to a lower position, namely L. The transmission lever in a low position will create an engine brake effect which will automatically help slow the car's pace. Using the transmission lever in a low position also helps your vehicle's brake performance not be too heavy.

3. Avoid Stepping on the Brakes Too Long

In a downhill state, you should avoid stepping on the brakes too long. This is to prevent the brakes from getting hot, causing the brakes to fail. Use the engine brake and shift lever in a low position to help you through the downhill roads. 

That is the information about the position of the automatic car transmission lever when going uphill and downhill. You don't need to worry when you ride on uphill and downhill roads. You just have to adjust the position of the automatic car transmission lever according to the road conditions. When going uphill or downhill, change your car's transmission lever to the low position. That can help you to control your car.

If you are interested in renting an automatic car or other type of car, MPM Rent is the solution. MPM Rent is the best car rental service that has 13,000 vehicle fleet variants for both office operational needs and personal needs. Monthly or yearly car rental made easy at MPM Rent at affordable prices. Please contact the nearest car rental service in your city.