How to Change Gears in an Automatic Car

If you're considering how to change gears in an automatic car, it's important to understand how the gear shifting mechanism works when your car has an automatic transmission.

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Different people have different reasons for wanting to know how to change gears in an automatic car. Normally, the whole point of an automatic transmission is that, unlike with a manual transmission, the automatic transmission handles the shifting for you. However, there are also circumstances where the normal "gearing" of transmission doesn't provide enough torque or power for the task at hand. In those cases you may have a need to shift the automatic transmission into a lower gear. This guide describes how automatic transmission shifting works and how to appropriately use lower gears without damaging your transmission.

The automatic transmission in your car is computer controlled and programmed to keep the engine running at an optimum RPM (revolutions per minute). Whenever the RPM level increases above the top limit (the engine is turning too fast), the transmission automatically shifts into a higher gear so that the engine will turn slower under the same power. When the RPM level decreases beyond the low limit (the engine is turning too slow), the transmission automatically shifts into a lower gear so that the engine will turn faster under the same power. In simple terms, this is the entire theory behind an automatic transmission's control system.

The basic elements of an automatic transmission include the following:

• Planetary gear sets
• Hydraulic clutch system
• Torque converter
• Governor
• Throttle sensor

An automatic transmission is tightly integrated into many other components of your vehicle so that the transmission knows when to shift when you're trying to pass another vehicle, going uphill or downhill, or when you're trying to accelerate.

Due to the fact that the automatic transmission is integrated with the car's throttle (gas pedal), it's actually possible to force your transmission to change gears if you want more power. It's much easier to force the transmission to downshift (to lower gears) rather than upshift (to higher gears), but both are possible.

• Downshifting - Forcing your automatic transmission to shift into a lower gear is as easy as pressing the gas pedal as hard as you need to in order to get the engine RPM level to increase beyond the transmission's "shift limit." You'll notice this happen when you press the petal to the floor in order to pass someone or to accelerate quickly onto the highway.
• Upshifting - You can also force your automatic transmission to upshift into a higher gear, and typically this just involved easing off on the gas petal. For example, if you're accelerating up a hill and the transmission has shifted into 3rd or 4th gear, as you're reaching the crest of the hill you can force your transmission to shift back up into the next higher gear by easing off the gas petal. Keep in mind that the more often you keep your transmission in higher gears, the less fuel that your engine will consume (as well as less wear and tear).

There are several circumstances when you'll need to use the lower gears on your transmission (usually labeled with "1", "2", or "L"), and in every case improperly using it can damage your transmission so be careful. Most people never use these lower gears, but you may find yourself in a situation where it is necessary.

• Towing heavy loads - If you are pulling a large boat or you have a truck and the flatbed is loaded down with heavy equipment or supplies, you could damage your transmission if you don't drive in "low gear." This is because your transmission is programmed to operate and shift under the manufactured weight of the vehicle. When you significantly change the weight it can have adverse effects on the transmission. Using low gear to tow heavy loads ensures that the entire transmission keeps the engine running at higher RPMs in order to handle that heavier load.
• Climbing a steep incline - If you are driving up a very steep hill - like taking a tourist drive up on mountain toll road, for example - the automatic transmission can be affected in the same way as though you were towing a heavy load. This is because gravity is pulling back on the vehicle and making the load on the engine much heavier. Use low gear whenever you're driving up a long, steep incline.
• Riding down a seep hill - Another technique that not everyone is aware of is using low gear when driving down a long, steep hill in order to save your brakes. "Riding the brakes" down such a hill can overheat them and in some cases it can lead to failure. By switching to low gear and allowing the engine to "brake" for you, you are taking advantage of the compression of the engine pistons to absorb some of that force and slow your vehicle (although brakes will still occasionally be necessary).

As you can see, driving an automatic transmission isn't all about putting the shifter in "drive" and letting the transmission do all of the work. While it does remove the need to pay attention to shifting while driving, it doesn't completely remove your ability to have some control over shifting or control over how much power the vehicle has to tow heavy loads or climb hills. By understanding when it's appropriate to shift gears with an automatic transmission, you'll be a much smarter driver.

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