How to Drive a Car With an Automatic Transmission
Driving an automatic car automates several of the aspects of driving a car with a transmission - the operator does not have to control the clutch, and gear changes are also done automatically. It is simpler to drive than a manual transmission, although not always the better choice.
Steps
*Notice there are only two foot pedals - the brake and gas pedals. Remember both pedals are operated by your right foot - your left foot stays on the floor.
*Study the gear selector. A typical automatic transmission shifter has markings "P R N D 2 1". (See the tips section for details and other configurations).
*Check that the car is in Park (P). Press the brake pedal down with your right foot, and turn on the engine.
*Move the gear lever to Drive (D), or Reverse (R).
*Lift your foot slowly off the brake - the car will start to move. (This might surprise some that have driven manual transmissions previously)
*Move your foot over to the gas pedal and press down gently to increase speed. If you have driven a manual transmission previously, you may have the urge to step on the wide brake pedal to engage the clutch - don't, your left foot always stays on the ground when driving an automatic).
*To slow down, apply the brake. There is no need to shift out of Drive or Reverse when stopped. Keep your foot pressed on the brake once stopped.
*Once you're done driving, put the gear into Park (P). If necessary, pull the handbrake. Turn off the car, and let go of the brake.
Tips
The car will move as soon as you select a gear (this may surprise some that have only driven manual transmission previously). Keep your foot on the brake until you are ready to move. Most automatic transmission do not let you shift into many positions unless the brake pedal is applied and a button is pushed.
Driving an automatic car is simpler than driving a car with a manual transmission. For those that are not experienced manual transmission drivers, this may allow you to spend more time studying the road conditions and looking out for hazards.
It is not necessary to put the car into Park or Neutral every time you stop. However, if you are stopping for a considerable amount of time, you may want to put the transmission into Neutral (N) or Park (P). Neutral allows you to shift back into Drive quicker, but you may need to keep your foot on the brake, depending on the condition of the road. Park will usually allow you to take the foot off the brake. Either one will allow the engine to idle at a more fuel-efficient rpm, and put less strain on the brakes and the drivetrain. However, repeatedly shifting in and out of Neutral and/or Park will strain the transmission.
In addition to P, R, N, and D, the transmission will most likely have a few additional settings for the Drive setting. They may be numbers (such as D, 3, 2, 1, as seen in Buick Regals), they may be letters (OD instead of Drive, D, L, as seen in some Chevrolets), or a mixture (D, 2, L, such as on the Toyota RAV4). Some transmission may have buttons to turn on or off the overdrive (usually on the shift knob, labeled "O/D OFF", as seen on a Toyota RAV4), and some may allow you to press the shifter to the left or right in the D setting (some newer Mercedes-Benz cars). What these settings do is restrict the largest gear the transmission will use. OD ("Overdrive") is typically the highest gear (if present), next highest is D, and "L" tends to be the lowest. Most of the time, the "D" (or "OD", if present) is the setting you want to use.
When going up a hill, the transmission may repeatedly change gears (this can be identified by the engine repeatedly revving high then down). In this case, it is adviseable to downshift the transmission to limit its maximum gear to the lower of the two gears. Which one depends on the current speed and the kind of transmission. If you are not sure, simply keep downshifting by one gear until the engine stays revved high. Once you are past the hill, or going significantly faster, shift back.
When going down a hill, you may find yourself repeatedly braking to prevent overspeeding. In order to not wear out the brakes excessively, you may want to downshift the transmission. This will rev the engine higher, which causes more resistance and thus a braking force. Once the hill straightens out, or you are going significantly faster, shift back.
Some transmissions may allow you to change its shifting characteristics. On some GM models, this is done with a simple "S" button, for "Sport mode". Some Toyota cars have an "ECT" button, which has a "Normal" and a "Power" mode. Mercedes-Benz cars often have a switch between "E" ("Economy") and "S" ("Speed"). Engaging the "Speed" or "Sport" mode may cause the transmission to shift more abruptly and rev the engine higher before shifting, for increased performance. Typically, it's best to stay in the economic mode unless the extra bit of power is needed.
[edit] WarningsNever shift into Park when moving. An automatic transmission will internally lock up when shifting into park, and doing this while moving is likely to damage it.
While shifting from Drive into Reverse or vice-versa while moving is not as bad as in a manual transmission, it is not recommended to do so anyway, as it puts more strain on the engine and transmission, and may cause the torque converter to heat up and possibly fail.
