What is needed to switch from manual to automatic transmission?
3 Answers
To switch from manual to automatic transmission, you need the vehicle's driving license, the owner's ID card, and the vehicle registration certificate. Below are detailed explanations about manual transmission vehicles: 1. Overview: A manual transmission vehicle uses a manual shift mechanical transmission (also known as manual transmission, MT) to adjust the vehicle's speed. This means you need to manually move the gear lever to change the gear meshing position inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed change. 2. Principle: The power input shaft is connected to the clutch, and the power transmitted from the clutch is directly passed to the gear set through the input shaft. The gear set consists of gears with different diameters, and different gear ratios achieve completely different power transmission effects. The gear shifting during normal driving refers to changing the gear ratio.
Having driven manual transmission for over a decade, I found the first week with an automatic transmission genuinely uncomfortable. My left foot kept searching for the clutch pedal but found nowhere to step, and I instinctively wanted to shift into neutral at red lights. Later, I realized how incredibly effortless automatics are—just start the engine, shift to D, and go; no leg cramps in traffic jams. However, driving automatic requires keeping the left foot still—braking is right-foot-only to avoid accidentally pressing both pedals. Memorize the PRND gear positions carefully; when reversing, be cautious not to mistakenly shift into D and lurch forward. Avoid coasting downhill in neutral, as it can overheat and damage the transmission. New drivers should practice braking and throttle control in open areas first—automatics accelerate quickly, but mistaken pedal presses are more hazardous. The adaptation period lasts about a month; once accustomed, even two-hour traffic jams won’t faze you.
As a frequent visitor to auto repair shops, I've seen quite a few manual-to-automatic conversion cases. Frankly speaking, it's not as cost-effective as buying a new car—converting from manual to automatic transmission costs at least 40,000 to 60,000 RMB. First, you need to replace the entire automatic transmission assembly, along with matching the gear shift mechanism and the vehicle's computer system. Then, the clutch pedal assembly must be removed, and the positions of the brake and accelerator pedals need to be modified, with wiring also requiring rearrangement. The most troublesome part is the ECU tuning; if not handled properly, the malfunction indicator light will come on. Annual inspections are even more of a headache, as unauthorized modifications to the drivetrain are considered illegal alterations, often requiring extra money to 'find a way' through. If you're really set on converting, I'd recommend choosing high-volume models like the old Jetta or Golf, as parts are easier to find. Alternatively, you could look for a used automatic transmission from the same model, but after installation, you'll still need to break it in for about 2,000 kilometers to reduce gear shift jerks.
