What do the plus and minus signs on an automatic transmission car mean?

[SanElijah]

Automatic transmission car plus and minus signs refer to the manual mode of the automatic transmission. The plus sign is for manually shifting up, and the minus sign is for shifting down. The method of using the manual mode is: 1. Shift the gear to D, then push the gear lever to the right, and the transmission will enter sport mode; 2. Use the method of pushing the gear lever forward and backward to shift gears. Pushing forward is for upshifting, and pushing backward is for downshifting; 3. To switch back to automatic mode, simply push the gear lever to the left to the D position. The gears of an automatic transmission car are: 1. P is the parking gear and starting gear; 2. R is the reverse gear; 3. N is the neutral gear; 4. D is the drive gear, also known as the forward gear; 5. L is the low gear; 6. S is the sport mode; 7. OD is the overdrive gear.

[VanLucia]

The plus and minus signs on the automatic transmission actually represent the manual shift mode. I particularly enjoy using this function during traffic jams or when going downhill - just a flick of the finger can lock the gear. When needing to accelerate for overtaking, pulling the minus sign backward to downshift makes the RPM soar instantly, delivering power rapidly. However, using the plus sign to upshift during long climbs might cause the car to roll back, as maintaining lower gears provides stronger engine braking. Remember to switch back to D mode after use, otherwise the transmission will stay locked in that gear. Beginners should be cautious with this feature - last time I forgot to return to D mode and nearly redlined the engine.

[MacJoy]

The plus and minus signs are the entry to the manual mode of the transmission, which I use as a semi-automatic. The minus sign represents downshifting to accelerate, for example, when you want to overtake on the highway, lightly flick the minus sign to drop two gears, and the push-back feeling comes immediately. The plus sign is for upshifting to save fuel, especially smooth when manually shifting to the highest gear on good suburban roads. But remember not to skip gears, I once tried shifting directly from 5th to 2nd gear, the car jerked violently and it's particularly harmful to the transmission. It's best not to use this function in rain or snow, as the transmission's automatic protection mode is safer when the tires slip.

[BarrettFitz]

Actually, this is the manual mode of an automatic transmission, which I call the 'lazy man's manual'. It's super easy to operate: push towards the minus sign to downshift, revving up the engine for a power boost; push towards the plus sign to upshift, lowering the RPM for better fuel efficiency. I used this feature a while back on mountain roads—downshifting before turns to utilize engine braking, then speeding up smoothly out of corners. Just keep an eye on the dashboard, which shows the current gear number, and be aware that prolonged high RPM in low gear will trigger a warning light. Beginners should practice in open areas to get a feel for the right timing to shift gears.

[OEmerson]

As someone who frequently drives long distances, gear shifting is my most commonly used hidden feature. For example, when climbing a slope fully loaded, the D gear tends to shift frequently, but manually locking it into 2nd gear provides exceptional stability. Downshifting for overtaking is quicker than flooring the accelerator, with the RPM instantly increasing by about 500. However, it's important to protect the transmission—avoid suddenly dropping from 6th to 3rd gear at speeds above 70 km/h. Some cars even come with paddle shifters, allowing gear changes right from the steering wheel. Mercedes' column shifter design is even more unique, with up and down movements of the lever for shifting. A tip from seasoned drivers: when descending into underground parking with continuous turns, manually fixing the gear in 1st is more stable than relying on the brakes.

[CadenMarie]

That little plus/minus button is the essence of manual mode in automatic transmissions. When driving American cars, I'm used to shifting the lever left to engage M mode – push '+' to upshift and pull '-' to downshift. Most Japanese cars simply require pushing the lever up/down directly from D position. Dropping from 7th to 5th gear for highway overtaking feels exhilarating, more direct than sport mode. Just remember not to exceed 4500 RPM – prolonged redline operation damages the engine. For daily commutes, D mode suffices; save this feature for mountain roads or when you want spirited driving.