What do the letters on the gear shift represent?
2 Answers
Introduction to gear shift letters: 1. P stands for Park, used for long-term parking of the vehicle; 2. R stands for Reverse, the gear engaged when the vehicle needs to move backward; 3. N stands for Neutral, the gear engaged when the vehicle is parked for a short time without turning off the engine; 4. D stands for Drive, when the gear lever is in D, the vehicle will automatically shift gears based on throttle opening and speed data; 5. S stands for Sport mode, making the vehicle drive more sportily; 6. M stands for Manual mode, when the gear lever is in M, gear shifting is done manually by the driver; 7. L stands for Low, the low-speed gear.
When I first started driving, I also didn't understand the letters on the gear shift. After driving for over ten years, I finally figured it out. P stands for Park, which you must engage before turning off the engine, otherwise the transmission could be damaged; R is Reverse, essential for backing into parking spaces; N is Neutral, used when waiting at red lights or during towing; D is Drive, the gear you use for normal driving. Some cars also have an S mode, which is Sport mode, making the throttle response quicker for overtaking; L is Low gear, used for climbing steep hills or descending long slopes to prevent brake overheating. Remember to always engage P before turning off the engine, or you might not be able to start the car the next day. Also, if you're waiting at a red light for more than 30 seconds, it's best to shift to N to save fuel and protect the transmission.
