What are the plus and minus signs next to the D gear in an automatic transmission?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission D gear side of the plus and minus signs are the signs of manual and automatic transmission shifting, pushing the gear lever to the plus and minus gear position can manually shift gears, + is upshift can increase the speed, - is downshift can reduce the speed. The use of the plus and minus signs of D gear is as follows: 1. When the gear lever is in the D gear position, push it to the right, the transmission will enter the manual mode, at this time push up the transmission will upshift one gear, on the contrary, the transmission will downshift one gear. 2. When the car runs at high speed and the engine speed does not match the gear, the transmission will automatically upshift; when the speed is very low and the transmission gear is very high, the transmission will also automatically downshift.
I've noticed many friends who are new to automatic transmission cars get curious about the +/- symbols next to the D gear. That's actually the manual shift mode design, giving drivers more control during operation. When you want faster transmission response while driving, just push the gear lever toward the minus (-) symbol to downshift – the gear drops immediately and engine RPM surges, which is perfect for situations requiring quick acceleration like overtaking. Pushing toward the plus (+) symbol upshifts the gear, making the ride smoother and more fuel-efficient. But don't overuse this feature – it's mostly a temporary assist function. If you don't touch it for a while or restart the engine, the system automatically returns to D gear to prevent confusion. Personally, I find it less useful in city traffic jams, but it's incredibly helpful when driving downhill on mountain roads. Using the minus (-) gear to control speed is much easier and safer than constantly braking.
