Automatic transmission

T

Taxlady

New member
The Volvo is the first car that I have owned that has automatic transmission. I just noticed that I have adapted a habit from driving standard. I ease up on the gas as the car changes gears. What I'm wondering is if this is bad for the transmission, indifferent, or good for the transmission?
 
Generally new ATs "learn" from your driving habits. You really shouldn't vary gas when you think you're about to change gears as the AT could learn weird.



I noticed I did this to (MT, AT, now MT again) on my AT because I'm used to getting off the gas when I think a shift is going to happen (even with MT it wasnt' 100% certain :rolleyes: ). Anyway, I never noticed any negative effects of doing this. It might be beneficial due to the fact that the tranny isn't having to shift under load (less stress)? but I have no clue.
 
The modern automatics on proper cars such as volvo have an electronic controller that is connected to the engine's electronic controller to do the same thing you are doing with your foot. The engine torque is decreased during each shift if the controller thinks it needs to be..



I do the same thing though- as if to sort of force the shift to go ahead and happen..
 
ejant said:
If you release the accelerator while the trans is shifting and feel like a lag and then a hard feeling going into the next gear you will eventually wear some parts inside the trans.

ATs are meant for constant application of the accelerator.
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Yes, automatics are really mindless-use devices. You're probably just confusing the heck out of the computer when you do it! :p Modern transmissions probably shift the smoothest if you just keep constant pressure on the gas pedal and let them do all the thinking. :)
 
As stated earlier the automatic trans is computer operated and does not require any driver input after the driving demands are interpreted by the ECU. By reverting back to a less efficient manual transmission procedure ( lifting accelerator) you are probably confusing the trans computer analysis and also creating harmful backlash on the drivetrain. Let this modern pierce of equipment do its job. Driving may not be as exciting as with a manual but as in drag racing you will not beat its quickness and smoothness of shifts with a manual( driver activated clutching) or shifting your automatic manually.

Taxlady how do you know when it going to shift or are you lifting after you feel the gear change?:confused: If you are lifting after you detect the gear change you are not effecting the automatic procedure, it is already completed. It seems to me that you are just creating a uncomfortable ride for you and your rider.JMO:wavey
 
Actually, I think I only do it when it is in sport mode and I'm accelerating hard. If I don't do it, I feel the kick when it changes gears. I don't feel that kick if I'm accelerating more slowly (which is most of the time).
 
The transmission shifts gears best with the same pressure, just like in an manual, you matchthe RPMs, but the auto does it for you, it isnt bad, but could wearout your clutches a little bit faster, but i dont it would really hurt anything.



You DO use your parking brake right?;)
 
caddyman said:
The transmission shifts gears best with the same pressure, just like in an manual, you matchthe RPMs, but the auto does it for you, it isnt bad, but could wearout your clutches a little bit faster, but i dont it would really hurt anything.



You DO use your parking brake right?;)
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Not while I'm driving ;) Yes I do, even when I stop at the side of the road to let someone out of the car I put it in park and set the hand brake. That's how I knew my hand brake needed to be fixed. What's the hand brake have to do with shifting?
 
When you put the transmission in park, there are prongs or catches that engage. If you let the car roll forwards or backwards, they will have the weight of the car against them. Over time, they can be damaged by this. The proper parking technique with an auto tranny is:



1 - Press the foot brake (the normal brake you use for stopping)

2 - Put the transmission in netural

3 - Apply the parking brake. It can be a hand or foot operated.

4 - Release the foot brake (see #1)

5 - Put the tranny in park

6 - Turn off the car, take the key and leave. Oh yeah, lock the car also. :)



This reduces the stress on the tranny, specially the park prongs, and will hopefully make it last longer.
 
as long as you arent driving "two footed", you'll be fine.... what annoys me is when someone drives an AT with two feet and the brake pedal is always slightly down, so the CHMSL is always on making me think they're about to stop.... :rolleyes:
 
I hate foot operated emergency brakes. I had one on my 1971 Nomad with standard transmission. The danged thing could only be let off gently with a foot on the pedal. Really annoying when you have to start a standard on a hill. Drove me crazy. I only have two feet.



I don't bother putting it in neutral first unless I'm on a hill. I leave my foot on the main brake until the hand brake is set. I hate the way it feels when the car rolls and you can feel that it's leaning on the parking pins. If I felt that, I would start putting it in neutral first. Well, I might check that my parking brake was working...
 
Taxlady, have you changed your transmission fluid since you've gotten the car? just curious. Volvo recommends that you don't on the 850 but in reality a fluid change, (if not a flush and refill with synthetic) is one of the best things you can do for the 850 transmission to extend it's life, aside from driving habits of course. I wouldn't do too many neutral drops, just kidding but you should really try and let the transmission shift on it's own. You can feel\anticipate the up shifts a lot more in economy mode than you can in sport mode, you can't tell at all in sport mode unless you really get on it hard, like you said. Maybe if you leave it in sport mode and accelerate moderately that might help you.
 
I just checked my owner's manual and it says to use synthetic oil for the transmission. It doesn't say anything, one way or the other, about changing the transmission oil. I have read many posts on the BrickBoard that recommend changing the transmission oil. I'll talk to my indy Volvo mechanic about it. I have only owned the Volvo since April. It appeared to be well maintained when I bought it.



Since there seems to be no consensus on it harming the transmission to ease off, I will continue to do so. It makes a much more comfortable drive. I only put it in sport mode (and that's when I feel it) when I might

need to accelerate quickly, so not accelerating hard isn't an option. I don't usually accelerat hard, only if necessary.



What are neutral drops?
 
Neutral drops - dumping the car from neutral to drive with the throttle mashed (or heavily applied) for a drag strip type launch.



Yeah, I think you should change the tranny fluid. There are always little metal pieces, etc. which get picked up, and swirl around in there. With synthetic, you might be able to go twice as long, but you should be changing the fluid at 20k kms or so.
 
Volvo would have you believe the 850 transmission doesn't require fluid changing for the life of the car, it's not in the owners manual to change it. How many miles on your car exactly? Search the BB for transmission flush or fluid change. Check out http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/ for organized articles on the transmission and 850 in general. Maybe after a flush and fluid change you won't be able to anticipate the shifts in either mode!
 
My owner's manual says NOTHING about changing the auto tranny fluid, but my mechanic does it for me every year.
 
i hate going from manual to auto. im so used to manual now in my civic that i hate driving an auto just cause i like to control my own gears instead of the computer operating them!!!!
 
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