What Do the Letters on an Automatic Transmission Mean?

[DelWalker]

Generally, there are five letters on the gear shift of an automatic transmission car, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, L. Here’s a detailed introduction: 1. P (Parking Gear): When the car is parked and not in use, the gear is set to this position. At this time, the wheels are mechanically locked to prevent rolling. 2. R (Reverse Gear): Used when reversing the car. 3. N (Neutral Gear): Used when temporarily stopping (e.g., at a red light). Note that this gear indicates neutral, and to prevent the car from rolling on a slope, the brake must be pressed. 4. D (Drive Gear): Also known as the driving gear, used when moving forward. 5. L (Low Gear): When going downhill or on a long slope, shifting to this gear limits the car's gear to the lowest gear only (equivalent to first gear in a manual transmission car). This allows the car to use engine power for braking when going downhill, preventing the driver from having to press the brake for a long time, which could overheat the brake pads and cause danger.