7 Things You Shouldn’t Do in a Car with an Automatic Gearbox
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Car with an Automatic Gearbox
Today, a car is such a common and convenient type of transport that literally every adult driver uses it. Interestingly, you don’t even need to own a car, as there’s the opportunity to pick up a compact, standard, or even exotic car rental at Atlanta Airport, as well as in many other locations around the world. Car with an Automatic Gearbox.
As you know, driving a car with an automatic transmission is simpler, unlike driving a car with a manual transmission. Fortunately, most modern cars are equipped with automatic gearbox and every year more and more people buy cars with this type of gearbox. But did you know that you need to use an automatic transmission by following certain rules, so as not to kill the transmission?
Yes, it’s easy to break. If this happens, you will be shocked by the cost of repairing it. This is the main drawback of the automatic transmission. However, if you avoid erroneous actions when using such a gearbox, it will delight you with trouble-free operation. Thus, check out 7 things you must follow in order not to break the automatic gearbox in your car.
Never switch the gear until the vehicle stops moving
Remember that if you switch the gear while the car is moving, you will overload gearbox, since the automatic transmission will receive a load, slowing down your car.
The correct sequence of actions:
- stop the car by depressing the brake pedal;
- make sure the car stops;
- select the desired gear mode.
Don’t coast in neutral
Many drivers believe that in a car with an automatic transmission it’s possible to drive downhill in neutral gear without damage to the gearbox. However, if your goal is to keep the car’s transmission in perfect condition for as long as possible, then avoid these actions. Otherwise, your gearbox will quickly fail and you will be a welcome customer in any car service.
Modern cars are equipped with an electronic fuel injection system and effectively save fuel when driving downhill. So, moving in neutral will only accelerate the wear of your car – don’t forget this rule!
Change the transmission fluid on time
When was the last time you changed the engine oil? And what about an automatic transmission? If almost every motorist will probably easily answer the question about the engine, then the question concerning the gearbox causes confusion. It’s amazing that there are a huge number of people who don’t know an automatic gearbox needs the fluid to be changed periodically.
Usually, the automaker indicates this information in the car manual. So, if your aim is to save the transmission, then buy a corresponding high-quality fluid and set off to the service. How often to change? Well, of course, as often as possible – every 30,000-50,000 km.
Don’t use the parking mode on the go
This is another bad habit for many drivers. It’s about a hurry in the parking lot, when car owners switch the gear to the P-mode, without having to wait until the car stops completely.
Remember that this habit poorly influences the gearbox mechanism and can simply kill it quickly.
Don’t turn on the neutral when stopping at a traffic light
Many motorists believe that by turning the gearbox in neutral at the traffic light, they will save fuel. This is partly true. But did you know that your fuel economy is not worth it to repair the automatic gearbox soon? Thus, get rid of this habit if you are used to waiting for a traffic light with the switched-on neutral on a mechanical gearbox.
Remember that automatic transmission is not a mechanical one – here other rules apply.
Tow the car correctly
If your car breaks down, then forget about the ordinary towing in case it’s equipped with an automatic transmission. Of course, if you care about the condition of the gearbox.
Generally, you have two options: use a tow truck. True, the latter option is undesirable, because you have to raise the front wheels if your car is front-wheel drive. In this case, the entire weight of the car will move to the rear wheels. As a result, when towing a car to the service center, the rear suspension will get an overload, which can lead to damage.
Don’t ignore the gearbox icon on the dashboard
For many drivers, a modern car is a complete mystery, especially when it comes to the icons on the dashboard. Unfortunately, some motorists don’t notice them, considering them unnecessary hieroglyphs, puzzles or pictograms. This often leads to serious damage.
For example, in case of any problems with the automatic mechanism, the ’gearbox’ icon may appear on the dashboard. Often it appears when the automatic transmission overheats. For example, this can happen when staying in a long traffic jam in hot summer weather.
If the transmission is overheating, stop the machine as soon as possible, allowing the transmission to cool. Otherwise, there’s a risk of damage to the gearbox. If the error soon disappeared, don’t disregard it – it’s recommended to visit the car diagnostic center.
Conclusion
As you can see, when driving a car there are enough nuances that can both extend its ‘life’ and break it ahead of schedule. When performing the above steps, your car will only give you positive emotions. This is especially important for long-distance trips, during which car reliability is a paramount factor.
Also Read: Reliable Car Garage Services in Dubai