Auto box - how to use for complete beginner

[davidjmiller]

Guys,

I've only driven an auto in a couple of hire cars but really liked them. On top of that a lot of people on here have good things to say about them (some not so good, I know). So , I pick up my auto disco on sat  :D  :D  :D

I always used "drive" but I remember there are other settings. This may be a stupid Q (won't be the first) so when is it best to use 1,2,3 and any others that I've forgotten about ( I'm probably ok with N and P!!!).

Thanks,

D

[Smego]

htere is another important one, it is marked with a little, "R" make sure you are stationary, put you foot on the brake with the engine running, select this setting, release the hand brake and then the footbrake, instantly press the right hand peddle hard and at the same time look behind you. If you see anything there it is now too late to avoid hitting it as you will be travelling backward as fast as a landie can go.

Hope this helps,

[alaric]

3, 2 & 1 limit the top gear that the box is able to select.

In "D", the gearbox will change up and down through all 4 gears as required with no input from the driver.

If you floor it, it should force the gearbox to "kickdown" to a lower gear for maximum acceleration.

The drawback to auto boxes is that, with no load (i.e. rolling down a hill) they will change all the way up leaving you with no engine braking. This where the 3, 2 & 1 options come in.

Instead of riding the brakes all the way down a long hill (perhaps with a trailer on the back or a full load) just move the gear lever to the lower setting that allows you to control your speed. For a long hill in a 70 limit this will probably just be 3rd.

On a very steep hill in a 30 with a junction at the bottom, 1st or second.

Just think about what gear you'd be using in a manual.

The gearbox won't select a lower gear until you've reduced your speed to one suitable for that gear - so if you change into 1st at 70, it won't select 1st until you've used the brakes to bring the speed down.

All the above applies to all modern auto boxes.

I don't know the LR boxes specifically, but you may have a "Winter" or "Traction" button (often a snowflake symbol" which forces a 2nd gear pullaway to reduce wheelspin on ice, and a "Power" or "Sport" button which keeps the revs as high as possible for maximum immediate acceleration.

Hope this helps...

Alaric.

[clbarclay]

P is park, this engadges a transmission lock (you rearly need to use the handbrake) and should not be slected when the vehicle is moving or you get a grinding sound

N is neutral the same as neutral in a manual

The foot brake is your friend, certainly off road careful application helps get the best out of gearbox.

Wheel spin in an auto taking off :shock: take some lead out of the right foot, 1st gear in an auto is typically a lower ratio (higher output speed and lower torque) than an equiverlant manual so evan less chance of spinning. I only know about the early ZF autos fitted to land rovers, though I expect the latter ones do have all manner of electrickery to make your life easier.

[Thrasher]

Offroad, 1st low - i.e 1 selected for descent, 3rd low for ascent :) Don't use D offroad, and learn to use the numbered gears as you would a manual. All my vehicles are auto :)

Onroad - D :) or if new enough ... D in S mode ;)

[paulhumphries]

I don't know about Land Rovers auto's (my SIII is manual - I'm fitting an auto clutch !)  but our familly Chrysler Neon is an auto and to get best performance  / economy it's suggested you change from 1-2-D manually.
For acceleration that certainly applies as it's a real slug if you let  the autobox change even with throttle floored.
Never bothered trying to change manually to increase economy (23 mpg  :? ) as it's used most of the time by my wife and due to her having only 20% use of right arm (I have duff left leg) as she now only now drives autos.

Paul Humphries

[Range Rover Blues]

Unlike most auto boxes the ZF 4 speed fitted to Discos and RRC has an extra clutch in it.  So in 1st gear ONLY the overrun one-way clutch is locked up.  Normally in 1st if the road speed suddenly ecceeds the engine speed then to prevent an uncomrfortable ride the transmission free-wheels.

Engaging '1' will operate this extra clutch to lock the transmission, allowing a considerable amount of engine braking.  Unfortuantley 1st gear on an auto is like 2nd gear on a manual, so the engine braking effect will be less than a manual, but it's still quite a lot.

As said, the '2' position prevents the 'box selecting any higher gear than 2nd, as '3' does with 1,2 & 3. D allows all 4 gears plus the torque converter locks up at 53mph which feels like a 5th gear has been engaged.

On road, use D.  Occasionaly I use 2 or 3 to get the engine really reving if I want to make a quick getaway, say when towing, but mostly the double kickdown does the trick quite well.

Double kickdown, well as you depress the loud pedal the 'box can change down a gear, but if you bury it in the carpet it will change down another gear, 2nd at 70mph, it'll sit up and set off, trust me

Off-road, low box and 1st if you descent anything, climbing usually 2nd low, or 3rd if it's not too steep.  It will change down as your speed decreases so the chances of you stalling on a hill climb are very low.

Auto boxs are best suited to big, lazy engines, just like the V8 :D