what does 3 on the auto trans actually do? at cruising speeds you just need D and basically, 3 only allows you the 4th gear ratio so it's basically redundant? but the owners' manual says use 3 for acceleration. don't know what that means. if you floor in D and floor in 3, would there be any diff?

i thought 3 was the 3rd gear ratio... hence the 3. it always good if ya towing big loads on the highway or something and the gearbox cant make its mind up what gear to be in.. 3rd or 4th, then it overheats... :x - i've had that happen b4 :? (was in a fairmont tho)

I've allways assumed 3 is the third gear... Unless there is some technicallity that im not aware off.

hmm i don't know. so basically 3 is only used for towing?

3 is just third gear works the same as a manual guys

you select the gears when towing or going up a steep hill so you can keep the revs at the highest torque possible. then you dont slow down . somtimes towing can stress a auto out but i thought using the gears stopped it overheating as much. you can get auto trans coolers tho if its being a big problem.

i thought you should use 2 for going up steep slopes? and i am certain 2 varies between the 2nd and 3rd gear ratios.

i thought you should use 2 for going up steep slopes? and i am certain 2 varies between the 2nd and 3rd gear ratios.

i thought it stuck to the gears selected. it depends on the hill how fast you are going , if you are stopped and its a BIG hill then you can start in 1st take it up thru the revs then change to 2nd then 3rd just as you would in a manual.

i must admin tho i havent really used many autos.

You can also use the gears going down a hill so the engine slows you down. Saves the breaks

D - will automatically change all the gears.

3 - will automatically change all the gears upto 3rd.

2 - will automatically change all the gears upto 2nd.

1(or L sometimes) - will leave the tranny in first.

Is it healthy to change it manually?

Sometimes I feel like changing gears whenever, so at a traffic light I chuck it in L then proceed to drive on, then to 2, drive more, then D (TR's only have L,2,D).

Is it ok to do that?

I use the gears in an auto all the time... mainly to slow down coming up to traffic lights etc.... kick it down a gear and to slow down.
Haydn

i use 2 for engine brakes. L would be really useful in emergencies but it doesn't kick in unless you car slows down to below 30km/h. i thought i read in the users' manual also that use 3 for accelerating... hmm.

3 is the equivalent of the overdrive switch on the old autos - it allows you to turn off the overdrive gear - which is 4th gear.

you guys sure that continual "manual" shifting of and auto is a good idea for the auto box? (sounds like a kind of robot) :)
i mean, wont it wear it out prematurely? ie tranny fluid, torque conv.?

you guys sure that continual "manual" shifting of and auto is a good idea for the auto box? (sounds like a kind of robot) :)
i mean, wont it wear it out prematurely? ie tranny fluid, torque conv.?

i'd be careful on that one. manually shift only when necessary. otherwise just keep it in D. the magna gearbox may not be the worst gearbox around but it certainly isn't one of the strongest.

thought so......unless its a "tiptronic" style auto.

Well I don't know about your car but this is what the markings are for.
1 is first
2 is second
3 is third
d is drive
n is neurotic
r is race
p is performance

ah so when ur at the lights to drag someone u chuck it in 'r'ace -- no wonder i was always slow off the line

lol :lol: :lol:

Doing manual shifts will not wear out the trans sooner provided you are not doing it in order to do reverse donuts (liquidhotmagna???) LOL
The reason a shift was put there is so you can select a particular gear, don't forget when you floor it the trans also downshifts.

Nothing wrong with manually selecting gears as long as you're looking after it. Cops get tought how to drive thair autos like manuals. They run them up though the gears when they need to. D will use 1 - 3 gears and an overdrive gear which you could call 4th as the manuals have 5th as an overdrive gear.