How to control your automatic gear change using the accelerator?

[LesleyAprotto]

There are many ways as to how we can control the gear change of auto cars

using the accelerator pedal...

Certain times we need to ...

climb a steep hill how do we use the accelerator pedal to have a quick low gear change?

Or how do we use the accelerator pedal to have a powerful and fast overtaking another vehicle?

Certainly its not just pressing on it alone...

There are techniques of doing it...

Lets discuss on ways we can control the auto gear change with the use of the accelerator....

Professionals comments also welcomed...:wavey:

 

[eazt92]

based from my past experience with several auto cars and experienced people,u need to understand where the car powerband comes at. whether it is low end,mid range or high end for the torque. auto car will sure to change the gear when u press the accelerator up to some rpm point according to the ecu setting. for overtaking other car in D position, u can simply press the acce up to the point where it will shift the gear down and then pushing it up but slowly until u passed the car in front. u cannot just press the acce till the floor which cause low pickup and consume more fuel only. thats my opinion. correct me if im wrong.

 

[leynye yamin]

10 level accelerator stepping technique.

 

[vr2turbo]

Lift off the accelerator, then step more on it. This will definitely make your auto downshift....

 

[amrancharger]

Lift off the accelerator, then step more on it. This will definitely make your auto downshift....

yes, dats how the otai taught me when i got my auto cars.
but really need to understand the powerband of the car.

however before coming to a steep slope i will already push the pedal a bit to ensure i dun loss the momentum.

 

[vr2turbo]

yes, dats how the otai taught me when i got my auto cars.
but really need to understand the powerband of the car.

however before coming to a steep slope i will already push the pedal a bit to ensure i dun loss the momentum.

My wife's SUV only 4 speed so should change down one gear, but not sure if over step for those 6 speed will it drop more gears? :hmmmm:

 

[cvkit17]

Playing with the accelerator actually help in saving fuel too...What I do:

When accelerating and upon reaching steady speed, usually RPM plus minus 3k, I'll lift of the pedal, let the car cruise for 1 sec, then press the accelerator slowly. It would usually shift to higher gear and RPM drop back to 2k. If I do not do this, it will only shift at RPM around 4k. Fuel wasted

This is poor man's driving style yo

 

[Izso]

After driving manual for a while now, driving my auto Myvi is annoying. So much right footwork it gets tiring. And then there's that damn tiny 1.3L engine. Gahhhhh..

Manuals FTW!

 

[^pomen_GTR^]

10 level accelerator stepping technique.

make it 15

 

[LesleyAprotto]

10 level accelerator stepping technique.

What do both of you mean by 10 level stepping technique and 15 level ?

Care to explain in simplier term?

 

[crazykatak]

What do both of you mean by 10 level stepping technique and 15 level ?

Care to explain in simplier term?

watch initial d how Keisuke Takahashi learns to control the throttle of his FD..similar concept and principle i should say..

the TPS senses throttle valve opening angle, should the angle be increased gradually at "D" range..ecu detects a "change of load" at the engine..thus downshifting the gear.initially 1 gear.
if the throttle valve angle opening increased greatly in a sudden at "D" range, downshift of 2 gears may occur..
this however, dependent on engine power and at which RPM you are operating the engine at.

 

[Waiora_ProTuner]

just use the shifter..dropping the gear with accelerator is just too slow...

 

[vr2turbo]

Playing with the accelerator actually help in saving fuel too...What I do:

When accelerating and upon reaching steady speed, usually RPM plus minus 3k, I'll lift of the pedal, let the car cruise for 1 sec, then press the accelerator slowly. It would usually shift to higher gear and RPM drop back to 2k. If I do not do this, it will only shift at RPM around 4k. Fuel wasted

This is poor man's driving style yo

Bro., if you step lightly on the accelerator, the gear change is at lower RPM....

 

[cvkit17]

Bro., if you step lightly on the accelerator, the gear change is at lower RPM....

No ler..i've tried accelerating slowly and gentle on the pedal. But the acceleration is killing me..it's like the earth spins away faster than my car can go lol..got once the car behind me even flashed his light at me haha. :slug::slug:

 

[vr2turbo]

No ler..i've tried accelerating slowly and gentle on the pedal. But the acceleration is killing me..it's like the earth spins away faster than my car can go lol..got once the car behind me even flashed his light at me haha. :slug::slug:

hahahahaha...is like that loh......

 

[6UE5t]

Me, I just do a quick deep stab of the gas and it'll downshift, or I switch to 'manual' mode of the tiptronic and drop a gear using the shifter. If driving conventional auto without semi auto/tiptronic, then just either quick stab of the gas or drop to 3rd/2nd gear, with the OD button pressed as well. Btw I've been using auto constantly for only 2 yrs now, so probably not yet experienced enough to have more advanced tricks. :)

 

[Izso]

Having driven autos for a goddam long time and being driven in one too, I have to say that using the accelerator pedal to shift down has its downsides :

1. Too much pedal will shift down 2 gears and depending on your car, it may only just make a lotta noise and no performance. Like on a Myvi the shiftdown is just embarassing. No power to overtake really memang no power.

2. Stabbing or dabbing the accelerator pedal to shift down will make your passangers uncomfortable. The sudden and short burst acceleration from your dabbing the pedal will make everyone bop their heads. Having a wife who vomits easily due to motion sickness makes this dabbing technique very annoying.

The key to a comfortable drive in an auto is to maintain pedal pressure and hold it there long enough for everyone to adjust or adapt. Then slowly release to slow down. Or just hold the accelerator there and manually shift down one gear using the stick or paddles. The head bopping will reduce dramatically.

Lastly is if you don't have the power to overtake a car in your current gear and speed, don't bother. Automatics are for comfort use so just cruise. Want performance get a manual or shift to manual mode.

 

[vr2turbo]

Myvi not lagi Best lagi Power ah?.....
Lucky my wife's auto is a 2.0.....

 

[cvkit17]

Myvi not lagi Best lagi Power ah?.....
Lucky my wife's auto is a 2.0.....

Lagi best = slogan for new myvi 1.3
Lagi best lagi power = slogan for new myvi 1.5

I'm not sure about auto 1.5 as I'm driving a manual. Overtaking is pretty easy. I have driven 1.3 auto and though it is not underpowered, but sometimes overtaking can be a little bit hard when the gear and engine rpm doesn't click.

Izso, if myvi 1.3 auto gives you headache in overtaking, try picanto auto. Last time I test drive my sis in law's picanto on Jalan Kuching. From middle lane I wanted to switch to fast lane to overtake. I signaled, glance the rear view mirror, the car behind me was around 4-5 cars away and wasn't speeding, probably doing 90kmh. I was doing 70kmh in middle lane. Then I steered into the fast lane and put my foot in the pedal. Bloody hell the car doesn't move at all!!! I feel like I'm still doing constant velocity, not acceleration lol. Upon seeing the car behind me getting closer and closer, I switched back to middle lane and got stunned by the WTF moment.

 

[mosh]

errr.... around 80 marker agak2 or 50m marker terus, brake then see wheter ur get around 4-3k rpm during 100kmph drop to 3. take turn, then full pedal, it will downshift to 2 and go up back accordingly

don't flame me ya..