How to read gears in an automatic transmission: A must-read guide for beginners
With the popularity of automatic transmission cars, more and more car owners choose to drive automatic transmission models. But for newbies, automatic transmission gear markings can be confusing. This article will introduce in detail the meaning, usage and precautions of automatic transmission gears, and attach the hot topic data of the entire network in the past 10 days for reference.
1. Basic introduction to automatic transmission gears

The gears of automatic transmission cars are usually represented by letters or symbols. The following are common gears and their functions:
| gear symbol | Full English name | Function description |
|---|---|---|
| P | Park | Parking gear, used when the vehicle comes to a complete stop |
| R | Reverse | reverse gear |
| N | Neutral | Neutral, used when parking briefly |
| D | Drive | Forward gear, used during normal driving |
| S | Sport | Sport mode provides more power |
| L | Low | Low gear, suitable for climbing or descending hills |
2. Tips for using automatic transmission gears
1.start vehicle: Depress the brake → shift to P or N gear → ignition → shift to D gear → release the handbrake → start
2.temporary parking: When parking for a short time, you can keep the D position and apply the brake. For a long time, it is recommended to put the N position and apply the handbrake.
3.Reversing into storage: After the vehicle comes to a complete stop, switch to R gear
4.hill start: Use handbrake assist to prevent the car from rolling away
3. Precautions for automatic transmission driving
1. It is prohibited to change gears while driving (such as D→R or R→D)
2. When going down a long slope, you can switch to L or S gear and use engine braking.
3. When waiting for a red light, it is not recommended to shift to P (to prevent rear-end collisions from damaging the gearbox)
4. Check the transmission oil regularly
4. Popular car topics on the Internet in the past 10 days
| Ranking | topic | heat index | Main discussion points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New energy vehicle subsidy policy | 9.8 | Impact of subsidy reduction in 2023 |
| 2 | Liability determination for autonomous driving accidents | 9.5 | L3 level autonomous driving legal liability |
| 3 | Latest news on oil price adjustment | 9.2 | No. 92 gasoline price trend |
| 4 | Automatic driving skills | 8.7 | Newbie FAQs |
| 5 | Vehicle intelligent system evaluation | 8.5 | Comparison of mainstream vehicle systems |
5. Frequently Asked Questions about Automatic Transmission
Q: Does automatic transmission need to warm up the car?
A: Modern cars do not need to be warmed up for a long time and can be driven slowly in 30 seconds after starting.
Q: Is it correct to travel the world in D position?
A: It is OK for daily driving, but appropriate gears should be used for special road conditions.
Q: Can the automatic transmission coast in neutral?
A: Absolutely prohibited. It is both dangerous and damaging to the car.
Through the introduction of this article, I believe you will have a clearer understanding of automatic transmission gears. Correct use of gears can not only extend the life of the gearbox, but also improve driving safety. It is recommended that novice drivers practice more and gradually master the skills of automatic transmission driving.
Final reminder: Driving safety is no small matter, please always obey traffic rules and maintain good driving habits.
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