When to Use D+ or - in Automatic Transmission Cars?

[DeNathan]

Below is the usage of D+/- in automatic transmission: Meaning of D+/-: The "D+" and "D-" in automatic transmission refer to the manual mode of the car. When the gear is in D, moving the gear lever to the left or right switches to manual mode. In manual mode, you can shift gears by operating "D+" and "D-". Pushing towards "D+" shifts up, while pushing towards "D-" shifts down. Usage of D+/-: When going downhill, you can use "D+" to shift to D2 or D3. Downhill driving utilizes the engine's braking effect, and 2nd or 3rd gear can meet the power demand. "D+" is also needed. When going uphill, the power demand is higher, so "D-" should be used to downshift the vehicle for climbing. Similarly, if the vehicle starts to accelerate downhill uncontrollably, use "D-" to downshift and control the speed. Additionally, "D-" can be used for short overtaking or in congested road conditions.

[LeMax]

I truly understood the wonders of manual shifting only after driving an automatic transmission car on mountain roads. During long descents, shifting from D to the minus sign gear noticeably engages engine braking, eliminating the need for constant brake pedal pressure and preventing overheating. Once descending Taihang Mountain's 20+ km continuous downhill, I barely touched the brakes - the discs stayed merely warm. The plus sign gear proves equally valuable for steep climbs; last winter on snow-covered switchbacks, third gear provided exceptional traction where D would've caused wheelspin. Even urban overtaking benefits - dropping two gears before highway passes delivers throttle response so sharp it feels like a different car. At red lights, simply holding the brake suffices, freeing you from constant gear monitoring in this manual mode.

[VanBenjamin]

In our track day car enthusiast circle, we call manual shifting the 'magic weapon'. When an automatic transmission car is put into manual mode for cornering, speed control is extremely precise, and throttle response out of the corner is nearly half a second faster. It's especially useful on winding roads like Tianmen Mountain's hairpin turns - keeping third gear through sharp corners maintains RPM right in the peak torque range. Once during rainy mountain driving, I locked in second gear the whole way; the stability through waterlogged corners was incredibly reassuring. For daily traffic jams, D mode is fine, but when dealing with lane cutters, a quick manual downshift with a throttle blip makes the car lunge forward - enough to scare them off. When tire noise increases, that's your cue to upshift.

[BentleyDella]

Using manual shifting every day to drop off and pick up kids from school. That two-kilometer gentle slope near the school gate? Coasting down in second gear is way steadier than braking—my kid eats breakfast in the backseat without spilling a drop of soup. Last week during heavy rain on the way to tutoring class, shifting manually to third gear merging onto the highway gave crisp acceleration. Moms, remember: warm up the car and test the shifts before winter school runs—cold transmission fluid can cause jerking. During kindergarten traffic jams, just stay in Drive (D) for peace of mind; let cutters cut in, safety first. Normally stick to D mode, save paddle shifters for special road conditions.

[Frances]

This feature is my favorite for highway cruising. For instance, when encountering a slow-moving convoy on long drives, preemptively downshift to rev up to 4000 RPM before accelerating, making overtaking seamless. Last year, driving the Qinghai-Tibet Line over the Tanggula Mountains, I stayed in fourth gear the entire way, with power readily available. Be especially cautious during consecutive overtakes—don’t get greedy. Once, I forgot to upshift after downshifting for an overtake, and the engine roared for five minutes before I noticed. Newer models are smarter now, automatically switching back to Drive (D) mode after overtaking. Using manual mode in tunnels also prevents headlights from flickering during automatic upshifts.

[MacMary]

Switch gears flexibly based on road conditions for the most reliable performance. For mountain switchbacks, it's recommended to stay in second or third gear. Use second gear to start on snowy roads to prevent wheelspin. Always engage manual mode for long 10km descents – I've seen truck brakes smoking from overheating. On urban expressways, downshift two gears for overtaking; one gear downshift suffices on elevated roads. Pay close attention to the tachometer: shifting up manually above 2,500 RPM ensures smoother transitions, while dropping below 1,500 RPM signals time to downshift. Once, I revved an old Camry to 6,000 RPM in second gear – sounded like taking off in an airplane. Beginners should practice gear sounds in open areas; half an hour with paddle shifters will reveal the mechanics.