What do the plus and minus symbols on an automatic transmission car mean?
3 Answers
The plus symbol represents upshifting, while the minus symbol represents downshifting. Principles of car gears: 1. N stands for neutral. Selecting the N button disengages the transmission and disconnects the driven wheel of the transmission. At this point, the car will move based on its own weight, momentum, and inertia, which is equivalent to turning off the engine. The car cannot rely on the engine to operate and move, so remember not to use neutral when going uphill. 3. D stands for drive. Its principle is to engage all possible forward movement gear ratios through the transmission, with these ratios generally ranging between 3-9. 4. Overdrive (OD). The principle of overdrive is to allow the automatic transmission to overload. If the automatic transmission is turned off, the gears will automatically downshift under hard acceleration.
I've been driving an automatic transmission car for several years and discovered that the plus and minus symbols on the gear shift or steering wheel paddles are for manual gear control. Pushing towards the + direction upshifts, allowing the car to run smoother and more fuel-efficiently at higher gears; pressing - downshifts, delivering more powerful acceleration which is especially useful when overtaking. For example, when encountering a large truck on the highway and needing to overtake, a gentle push on the minus sign raises the RPMs, instantly unleashing explosive power for an easy pass. Downhill, downshifting also uses the engine to hold back the speed, reducing brake burden for greater safety. Overall, this design not only adds driving fun but also handles various road conditions. With frequent use, it becomes an essential feature, though it took me some time to get familiar with it initially.
From a mechanical enthusiast's perspective, I believe the plus and minus symbols actually serve as the manual mode switch for automatic transmissions, allowing you to intervene in the gear-shifting process. Pushing towards + upshifts to lower engine RPM, reducing fuel consumption and making the car more stable; pressing - downshifts to increase torque output, delivering more aggressive acceleration. This is achieved through electronically controlled shifting mechanisms inside the transmission, enabling more proactive power management in specific scenarios like climbing hills or carrying heavy loads, avoiding potential misjudgments by automatic shifting logic. Although many modern automatics are quite intelligent, manual control allows for more precise driving, such as downshifting before corners to maintain balance. When I'm enjoying spirited driving, I love using this feature to simulate the thrill of a manual transmission.
