What does the +- next to d/s mean?

[MacQuinn]

d/s The +- next to it means gear shifting. If there are "+ and -" signs, it means this is a manual-automatic transmission. The "+" sign is for upshifting in manual mode, and the "-" sign is for downshifting in manual mode. The specific operation of manual mode and the application range of the - sign are as follows: Specific operation of manual mode: Manual mode can lock a gear for long-term driving. For example, when driving uphill, if you use D gear, it may upshift prematurely, resulting in insufficient climbing power. In this case, you can switch to manual mode first, press the + sign to shift to 1st gear, and start climbing. When you notice the slope is easing, press the + sign again to shift to 2nd gear and continue driving. Application range of the - sign: Compared to the + sign, the - sign has a wider range of applications. For example, when going uphill, if you find that the engine torque is insufficient in D gear mode, you can directly switch to manual mode and press the - sign to actively downshift one gear, forcing the engine to output high torque at a lower gear, ensuring sufficient climbing power.

[OElaina]

I always love figuring out these buttons while driving. The +− next to D/S is actually the manual shifting function. When the gear lever is pushed from D to S, you can use +− to shift up or down. For example, when climbing a long slope, holding the + button keeps the gear low to prevent frequent gear shifts by the transmission; when going down a steep slope, shifting to - utilizes engine braking. Some cars also have paddles behind the steering wheel, which serve the same purpose. This function is especially useful in rainy, snowy weather or on mountain roads, but remember to push it back to D after use, otherwise it will keep the high RPM. When I first bought the car, I was also confused, but later I read the manual and realized that the symbols vary quite a bit between different brands.

[DelRyder]

I once encountered this issue when renting a car, initially mistaking the +− buttons for audio volume controls! Actually, when in S mode, pushing the gear lever forward upshifts, while pulling it back downshifts, with the current gear number displayed on the dashboard. Last time driving a friend's Audi on the highway, I tried manual downshifting to overtake—the revs soared to 4000 RPM with the engine roaring, delivering strong acceleration but honestly worrying about the car. Remember not to use it extensively on regular roads; a colleague's car burned its transmission fluid because of this. Many new cars now feature paddle shifters, but the principle remains manually controlling the shift timing.

[StAlina]

Novice drivers might find it confusing - that the +/- symbol is equivalent to a temporary manual mode. When driving normally in D gear, the transmission decides when to shift on its own, but after switching to S gear, you can control it manually with +/-. Last week when I was teaching my cousin to drive, he accidentally pressed the - button at a red light and started directly in 2nd gear, causing tire spin. There are three key points to note: the gear number displayed on the dashboard must be within a reasonable range (generally don't go below 3rd gear during normal driving); the transmission will automatically upshift when the engine roars into the redline zone for protection; and it will automatically reset after turning off the engine. Different car models have different logic - Japanese cars generally respond more sensitively.

[DiStephen]

This design actually hides some clever details. When I was modifying my car, I measured the signal wires and found that pushing +/− sends pulse signals to the TCU. Some performance cars even have protection mechanisms: for example, BMWs in S mode will automatically engage sport shift logic when the throttle is deeply pressed, at which point manual intervention actually has lower priority. Once at a track day, I saw an M4 owner using manual mode the entire time, downshifting twice before corners and blipping the throttle, with the exhaust popping and crackling in a particularly cool way. However, special care is needed—using this feature in older cars can easily trigger fault codes. A friend’s Mercedes once lit up the transmission yellow warning light because of this.

[Olga]

After a decade in auto repair, I've seen countless cases. Some owners mistook the +− for cruise control, ending up with the transmission locked in 1st gear on the highway. In reality, when switching to S mode, the transmission delays upshifting, allowing more precise manual intervention. I recall a Cayenne slipping on a snowy slope in winter—teaching the owner to start in 2nd gear immediately stabilized it. Daily driving tips: downshift 1 gear for torque burst when overtaking; use lower gears on long descents to save brakes; avoid frequent shifts when towing. Most importantly, never exceed the engine's redline—ease off when the dashboard warning triangle appears.