Automatic Transmission
105
2
Using the automatic transmission
The following information is important - particularly for
drivers who are unused to driving cars with automatic
transmission.
•
Before starting the engine, ensure that both foot brake and
handbrake are applied.
•
After starting the engine, KEEP BOTH BRAKES
APPLIED before and whilst moving the selector lever to
the required drive position.
•
Keep the brakes applied until you are ready to move - an
‘automatic’ will tend to creep forward (or backward)
without throttle application, as soon as the brakes are
released.
•
Never 'rev' the engine while selecting a drive gear, or
while the car is stationary with a drive gear selected - an
‘automatic’ will move immediately the accelerator pedal is
pressed.
Gear change speeds
With ‘D’ selected, the road speeds at which gear changes take
place will vary according to the position of the accelerator:
minimum acceleration will result in gear changes at low road
speed, while larger throttle openings will cause the gearbox to
delay gear changes until faster road speeds have been reached
(thereby increasing the rate of acceleration).
With practice, gear changes can be made to occur at a wide
range of road speeds depending on accelerator position.
‘Kick-down’
To provide rapid acceleration for overtaking, push the
accelerator pedal to the full extent of its travel in a single,
quick movement (this is known as ‘kick-down’). Up to a
certain speed, this will cause an immediate downshift into the
lowest appropriate gear, followed by rapid acceleration. Once
the pedal is relaxed, normal gear change speeds will resume
(dependent upon road speed and accelerator pedal position).
Summary of Contents for Seventy Five
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