What is the button on the automatic transmission gear lever called?
2 Answers
The button on the automatic transmission gear lever is called the shift lock or lock button, and its functions are: 1. To prevent the driver from shifting gears by mistake. If the wrong gear is engaged, the vehicle may move forward or backward unexpectedly, which could lead to an accident; 2. To protect the transmission, prevent damage to the transmission gears, and extend the lifespan of the transmission. An automatic transmission eliminates the need for the driver to manually shift gears, as the vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. Generally, automatic transmission vehicles have six gear positions, from top to bottom: P, R, N, D, S, L. Driving an automatic transmission vehicle only requires the use of the parking gear (P), reverse gear (R), neutral gear (N), and drive gear (D) to meet daily driving needs.
I was also quite curious about this button when I first started driving, but later I learned it's called the shift lock release button, used in automatic transmission cars to unlock the gear lever position. Every time I get in the car and find the engine isn't started and the gear lever is stuck, I press this button, which allows me to easily shift from park to neutral or reverse, making pushing or towing the car much more convenient. The original design intention was to prevent accidental operations, such as children playing with the gear lever or preventing rollaway accidents when parked on a slope. I remember one time my car was parked on a hill with the engine off, and the gear lever was locked and wouldn't budge; pressing the button solved the problem, saving me the hassle of calling a tow truck. From a safety perspective, this little device is quite useful, as it can reduce the risk of accidentally starting the car. It's not used often in daily driving, but it's important to check during maintenance to see if the button is loose or dusty, especially since parts in older cars are prone to wear. In short, getting familiar with it can make daily driving smoother and safer, and I recommend that new drivers try it out more to understand its benefits.
