How to drive auto tranny?

[Domen]

I'm a brand new owner of 97 X soch. I never drove an automatic before and
I have these questions:
- When I drive in D, is the OD activated?
- In which position is OD automaticly disengaged? Maybe in 1 and 2 position?
- How should I drive uphill (with or without OD) and how to make X brakeing with engine when driveing downhill?
- A read that it is best for the auto tranny to drive without OD in the city. Is this true for X?
- When I push the OD button the orange light comes on. Does this mean that the OD is OFF?

Thanks for help.

Domen, Slovenia - EU

 

[IAmTodd]

1. In D, overdrive is on unless you press the button on the end of the shifter. OD will disengage, light will come on on dash that will say OD off.(answers 5 too.).
2. OD will not come on in 1 or 2. Only when it is in 3 and on will it engage.
3. Uphill, let the truck do the shift itself. Down hill, turning OD off will give some, but get used to using brakes.
4. Normally OD won't even get a chance to engage in the city.

For the most part, let the computer decide whats best for the transmission. And go easy on it, she's a weak one

 

[F14CRAZY]

The whole no-overdrive-in-the-city thing was made because it raises the shift points. Better for performance driving, but it's not like its better for the tranny or anything

 

[LBarr2002]

Basically put it in drive and leave it alone unless you're towing something heavy, then turn OD off.

 

[IAmTodd]

The whole no-overdrive-in-the-city thing was made because it raises the shift points. Better for performance driving, but it's not like its better for the tranny or anything

I don't think that that is true.

 

[F14CRAZY]

I don't think that that is true.

Yeah this might need to be searched. I read it here but was a long time ago. It was found to be true but not with the A4LD cuz they're mostly not-electronic.

My mom's '05 Hemi Durango has a 5 speed auto. Instead of "overdrive off" it has a Tow/Haul button. It does make a noticable difference (it's faaaast). It disables the highest gear

 

[LBarr2002]

My mom's '05 Hemi Durango has a 5 speed auto. Instead of "overdrive off" it has a Tow/Haul button. It does make a noticable difference (it's faaaast). It disables the highest gear

That's how the new F-250 SD's I drove from work were. They also downshift and engine brake a little for you.

 

[DistortedCloud]

say your going at 55mph in D and you shift it into OD, will that hurt your tranny at all?

and when i start my truck up and put it into reverse or OD to get moving, it makes a hard clunk as it has to much torque or something, any ideas? (also have the tranny level in good order)

 

[F14CRAZY]

The shift won't hurt anything, though my dad got me into the habit of letting off the gas so the engagement is softer (more of a habit than a tranny-saver).

Also, don't know if you can shift without braking, but unless I'm on an incline, I shift between park-Odrive, park-reverse, and Odrive/reverse without braking, which I feel limits the wear on the universal joints in the shaft and the differential/s.

How many miles do you have? The clunk is more or less normal, unless your U joins are going bad (like vibrating when driving), or your diffy is seriously worn and about to blow (unlikely)

 

[DistortedCloud]

currently have 223,000km on it, the tranny is rebuilt with 44k on it and it the only reason in vibrates is due to alignment issues(only at highway speeds). I'm pretty sure my u-joints are okay. If that clunking sound when shifting to od or R is normal, then I won't worry too much, more of a nuisance than anything.

 

[androofoo]

Basically put it in drive and leave it alone unless you're towing something heavy, then turn OD off.

isnt Over Drive suppose to be helpful in towing situations? OVER DRIVE? i dont get it.. i thought over drive gave power. ive been using it wrong this whole time?

 

[tgertz77]

over drive is for the highway, DO NOT tow with it.

 

[LBarr2002]

Over drive is a higher gear. It lets the truck run at lower rpms, which means it has to work harder if its pulling a load.

 

[Glacier991]

Overdrive is any final gearing that is greater than 1:1. Typical OD may be 0.75:1 ...it is a "HIGHER" gear. If you ride a 10 speed bike... which is the better gear for hills? higher or lower? Would you rather crank 10 turns to go 3 feet or 3 turns to go 3 feet? Towing is like climbing a hill. OD is a poor choice for towing except on a long flat or downhill.