What are the functions of the D+ and D- gears in an automatic transmission?
1 Answers
D+ and D- are unique to vehicles with a manual-automatic transmission, representing upshift and downshift respectively, used in the manual mode of the transmission, often labeled as M or S mode. Here are some situations where manual mode is useful: Climbing long steep slopes: When climbing a long steep slope, you can switch to manual mode and engage the 1st gear. This keeps the vehicle in a lower gear, preventing frequent gear shifts, making the climb more powerful and protecting the transmission. Descending long slopes: When descending a long slope, the driver should also use manual mode, keeping the transmission in a lower gear to control speed. This avoids prolonged brake usage and prevents brake overheating, which could affect braking performance. Accelerating to overtake: When accelerating to overtake, if a quick overtake is needed, the driver should switch to manual mode and downshift first. The vehicle can then utilize the high torque of the lower gear for instant acceleration, completing the overtaking maneuver more quickly.