How to Operate the Automatic Transmission of Toyota Corolla?
3 Answers
Here is a detailed introduction on how to operate the automatic transmission of the Corolla: 1. When starting the engine, the gear lever must be in the P position. Then, press the brake pedal and press the one-touch start button to ignite the engine. Similarly, when turning off the engine, push the gear lever to the P position (it doesn't have to be in P, but it is recommended), then press the brake pedal and press the one-touch start button to turn off the engine. 2. The transmission has five positions: P, R, N, D, and M, which stand for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and Manual, respectively. The P position is the Park position, and it is recommended to shift the gear lever to P when parking and turning off the engine. The R position is Reverse; note that the car must be completely stopped or moving very slowly before shifting from D or N to R. The N position is Neutral; for example, when parking for a long time without turning off the engine, shifting to N and applying the handbrake is a good idea. The D position is Drive; simply put, shift to D, release the handbrake, and press the accelerator to move the car. Finally, the M position is Manual. When in D, pushing the gear lever further to the left will shift to M. In M, pushing the gear lever up shifts to a higher gear, and pulling it down shifts to a lower gear, which can enhance the driving experience of some automatic models. 3. For Japanese cars, when moving the gear lever, follow the path indicated on the transmission. To select a desired gear, simply pull the gear lever down, and it will move along the path with minimal resistance.
Starting a Corolla with an automatic transmission is quite straightforward. First, press the brake pedal after getting in the car, then press the push-button start or turn the key to ignite. After the car starts, keep the brake pedal pressed, shift the gear lever from P (Park) to D (Drive), release the electronic parking brake or manual handbrake, and gently lift your foot off the brake—the car will begin to move forward slowly. For everyday driving, simply keep it in D (Drive) mode. If you encounter a steep slope and need better speed control, you can switch to S (Sport) mode or manual mode. When parking, first bring the car to a complete stop, engage the parking brake, shift into P (Park), and finally turn off the engine. Remember to pay extra attention to the sequence when parking on a slope to avoid transmission lock-up. If you're stopped at a red light in the city for more than 30 seconds, shift to N (Neutral) and engage the parking brake to reduce engine load.
When driving an automatic Corolla, always remember the safety steps: Before shifting gears, your foot must firmly press the brake pedal. When starting the car, the gear must be in P (Park) position; otherwise, the car won't start at all. D (Drive) gear is suitable for most road conditions. When reversing, wait until the car comes to a complete stop before shifting to R (Reverse) gear, or the transmission gears will clunk. It's crucial to engage the parking brake before shifting to P (Park) when parking, as this ensures the parking brake bears the vehicle's weight instead of the transmission—especially important on slopes in underground garages. A common mistake beginners make is shifting to N (Neutral) while driving to coast, which neither saves fuel nor is safe, as it reduces brake assist. On downhill slopes, it's best to use S (Sport) mode to limit speed.
