What are the plus and minus signs on the D gear of an automatic transmission car for?
2 Answers
The plus and minus signs on the D gear of an automatic transmission indicate manual mode. When you need to shift gears, pushing the gear lever forward will downshift, while pulling it backward will upshift. However, if the vehicle speed and engine RPM do not meet the requirements, upshifting will not be possible. Each operation must be approved by the transmission control unit. In manual mode, the transmission will downshift when the speed is low, but it will not upshift automatically. The D gear of an automatic transmission car does not have engine braking capability. As the speed increases during downhill driving, the transmission will continuously shift to higher gears, causing the vehicle to accelerate. This requires frequent use of the foot brake to control speed, which can easily lead to overheating and failure of the brakes due to excessive use, posing a significant danger.
The plus and minus signs on the D gear are designed for manual shifting, which is quite a practical feature in automatic transmission cars. During my daily commute in traffic jams, I often find the automatic shifting too slow, so I prefer using the plus/minus signs to control the gears. The plus sign is for upshifting—for example, when driving on highways or flat roads to save fuel, a quick press can switch to a higher gear. The minus sign is for downshifting; pressing it downhill allows the engine to assist with braking, making it much safer and preventing brake pads from overheating. Beginners might worry it's complicated, but the operation is straightforward—just push the gear lever or press the button without affecting automatic mode. I've also noticed that downshifting during overtaking gives a rapid speed boost, as if the car suddenly wakes up. Car manufacturers likely designed this feature to enhance driving enjoyment while also protecting the transmission from heavy loads. In short, it lets you adjust freely to suit different road conditions.
