How to Use Paddle Shifters in a Car?

[DeGraham]

Paddle shifters are commonly operated by pressing the left side to downshift and the right side to upshift (gear indicators are displayed on the instrument panel). Some models do not differentiate between left and right; instead, pressing both sides simultaneously downshifts, while pulling both sides simultaneously upshifts. More details about paddle shifters are as follows: 1. Most paddle shifters are mounted at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the steering wheel, ahead of the wiper and turn signal controls, with one on each side for upshifting and downshifting. Some rotate with the steering wheel, while others are fixed on the steering column and do not rotate. 2. Usage method: Select manual mode (usually via a button), then shift the gear lever to the "D" position, and use the paddles to shift up or down. That is, first set the gear lever to manual mode (M or S position), then use the paddles to freely switch to the desired gear when the engine speed is appropriate. 3. Working principle of paddle shifters: They delegate control of the transmission's shifting to the driver. By pulling the paddles, the driver activates buttons embedded within the paddle module, which send signals to the transmission control computer, allowing manual intervention in gear shifting. Many models with multifunction steering wheels have ports related to transmission control hidden within the steering wheel's wiring harness.