Things to avoid when driving an automatic car

Automatic cars are becoming more and more popular thanks to their advantages such as ease of driving, convenience and reasonable price, especially in the mid-range car segment. However, the maintenance and repair costs of automatic cars are still more expensive and complicated than manual cars. The following experiences can help users save on maintenance costs as well as avoid unnecessary damage.

What should you pay attention to when using an automatic car? - Illustration photo

Do not switch to P, N, R, D… mode while the vehicle is moving.

The gearbox uses gears to effectively utilize the engine's torque and help the engine provide the wheels with the most suitable speed zone depending on the load mode and the driver's wishes. In principle, when the engine speed of an automatic transmission vehicle is higher than the standard speed in idle mode (usually the speed is at 700-900 rpm), the driver cannot change gears and can only change gears back and forth when the vehicle has stopped completely. Particularly for high-end vehicles with M and +/- modes, shifting between D and M modes is completely possible.

Improper use can damage the gearbox very quickly, not to mention the car can jerk or lose control. Shifting to neutral while the car is running will disable safety systems, such as the ESP electronic balance system. In all cases of switching to different modes (D, N, R, P or L, 2, 3), the driver must step on the brake to ensure safety.

Never leave the car in N mode when going downhill.

When the car is going downhill, many people think that the car is already going downhill, so shifting to N (Neutral) combined with pressing the foot brake will help save fuel (the engine does not have to use pulling power but takes advantage of the slope to run). However, the bigger the car, the heavier the weight, the greater the speed of the car when stepping on the gas, the inertia of the car also increases.

If you leave the car in N position, when going downhill, the wheels will move faster due to inertia than when the engine is in control, forcing you to brake harder to control the speed, the brakes will wear out and break quickly. This way of using is not technically correct, very dangerous and not very economical.

Do not shift the gear lever to position P until the vehicle has come to a complete stop.

If you switch to P mode while the car is moving, it can cause the car to stop suddenly, damaging the parking brake lock. Therefore, when parking, you need to combine the braking system, the car has to stop completely before shifting the gear lever to P position.

Do not step on the gas pedal when you need to accelerate.

When you need to accelerate, you only need to press ¾ of the accelerator pedal. Drivers should avoid revving the engine because sudden acceleration or sudden braking will create a large frictional force, increasing wear, creating gaps and making the mechanisms no longer fit together.

According to Traffic Newspaper