Carsut – Understand cars and drive better

Category: Driving

Learn how to drive a car and how to park a car in the correct way. Manual or automatic transmission, it makes no different!

How to Change Gears in an Automatic Car

Although an automatic car handles almost everything related to the gears, there are times when you need to change gears manually even in an automatic transmission. These circumstances are such as when you need to overtake a car at a speed very close to you or when you need extra power to go uphill. Compared to manual transmission cars, an automatic car is much more popular because it shifts gears robotically for the driver. Many new drivers who are learning to drive a car prefer to buy automatic cars over manual cars because it’s easier to drive uphill without rolling back. In addition, it’s easier to drive because you don’t have to worry about the gearbox.

Automatic Car Gear Pattern

In the late 80s and 90s, almost all states in the U.S. requires everyone to learn to drive a manual car before they are able to get a valid driving licensed. In recent years, people in certain states are able to get a valid driving license as long as they know how to drive an automatic car. This happens not just in the U.S. but also some other countries such as Canada, Japan, Mexico, South America, China, Germany, United Kingdom, Singapore and others. However, it’s vital to know the difference between automatic and manual cars even if you don’t plan to drive a stick shift forever.

Gear selector on different automatic cars

A standard automatic gear selector is usually come with four basic markings, they are P for Parking, R for Reverse, N for Neutral, and D for Drive. Some automatic cars come with a small overdrive button located on the gear selector. For luxury automatic cars, it usually comes with extra markings other than the basic four mentioned. Normally you will see D3 (third gear), 2 (2nd gear), S (Second gear), 1 (first gear), L (Low gear) or other similar markings. You can change gears in an automatic transmission as long as you understand all meanings on the marking. Also, you can even make an automatic car tires spin once you have captured the idea.

Three Ways to Change Gears in An Automatic Car

There are three easy ways to shift gears in an automatic car. The first method applies to all automatic cars while second only applicable to a car that comes with overdrive features. The last method works on automatic cars with extra markings on the gear selector, for example, D3, D2, 1, D, and + or – signs.

Method 1: Step on the gas pedal

Step on the gas pedal as hard as you can to downshift for more power if you are going uphill or overtaking another car. Many new cars are designed to downshift for more power when a driver step on the gas pedal all the way to the floor. You will feel your car accelerates quickly once the gear is changed. On the other hand, you can also downshift a car by easing off the gas pedal. To upshift, simply give more gas to your vehicle.

Method 2: Use the Overdrive

The overdrive method is one of the easiest way to downshift an automatic cars. Activate the overdrive feature to downshift when you are driving at sustained speed. The car will give you more power with higher Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) to overtake any vehicle in front.

Method 3: Use the Extra Markings

Using the extra markings on your gear selector is one of the best way to change gears in an automatic car. First of all, you will need to study the number of gears you have in your car. There are 7 speed, 6 speed, 5 speed as well as 4 speed automatic transmission. Normally your gear selector will be at D (Drive) while cruising at a constant speed. To downshift, simply shift the gear selector to one speed lower than D, normally it will be S, D3, 2 or L. This is very helpful when you are going uphill or need extra power. Remember to shift the gear selector back to D otherwise your car will be maintained at low gear.

Last but not least, check out our step-by-step driving guide: How to parallel park a car, How to turn on car headlights, How to do a burnout. Alternatively, you can also read our complete car buying guide that you won’t find it elsewhere.

August 25, 2016
How to Turn On Car Headlights
Learning how to turn on car headlights is an unavoidable step when you learn to drive a car. Although it is a simple thing, you still need to know how and when to turn the lights on. For example, during night time, dark days, heavy snow days, raining days or whenever visibility is low It is safer to drive with headlights on because other vehicle can notice your car. Follow the 4 easy steps below to turn on car parking lights and headlights.

4 Steps to Turn on Car Parking lights and Headlights

Generally, there is only 1 switch or control arm or button to turn on parking lights (also called running lights) and headlights. It takes you less than 3 seconds to turn on the lights.

Step 1: In order to switch on car lights, you need to locate the headlight controls. Most cars come with a control arm located near to the steering wheel. For most Mercedes-Benz models, it usually has a headlight control panels on the dashboard. Look for the headlight indicator symbol and you will be able to locate the control.

Step 2: A headlight control usually has three position: off, parking light and headlight. It should be off when the car is not in use. Leaving your car headlights on for a few hours will drain your car battery if the car is not in use. Therefore, always make sure you OFF it before you turn off the ignition.

Step 3: To turn on car headlight, switch the headlight control to parking light and then headlight according to the symbol near to the switch. Parking light is the second position and headlight is usually at the third position.

Step 4: If this is the first time you are driving the car, switch the headlight control to “Parking light” and get down from your car to check it. Do the same for headlight so that you know how your car’s headlight works.

Tips:
- A vehicle headlights and tail lights work together when you turn on the headlight switch. It is important to check your vehicle lights from time to time to make sure all the lights are working. Signal lights and brake lights are vital too.
- Vehicles with headlight warning will beep or notify driver the headlights are on when they remove the key from the ignition. Thus, check your car headlights if you hear some sound after the key is removed from the ignition.
- Certain cars come with an indicator on the dashboard telling the driver the headlights is on, off or faulty.
See other driving related articles: Learning to Drive an Automatic car (Full tutorial with pictures), Learning to Drive a Manual Car (Best guide with pictures and videos), and How to parallel park a car (The best parallel park guide you ever need).

How to Turn On Car Headlights Video Guide

It might be a stupid question to ask an experience driver how to turn on car headlights but it is a vital question for beginners who just get their hand on driving a car.

Last but not least: How to Make an Automatic Car Tires Spin
May 17, 2016
Difference Between Automatic and Manual Cars

It’s not embellish to say that many people don’t really know the exact difference between automatic and manual cars. Take an example of the answer we get from a random drive who have been driving an automatic cars with a valid driving license for 3 years, “You don’t have to worry much about driving an automatic car. I usually put the gear selector to D and just drive it. For manual cars, it is quite troublesome because you have to deal with the clutch and shift gears all the time.” She definitely made her point but there are few more things about both automatic and manual cars you need to know.

8 Differences Between Automatic and Manual Cars

Learn the difference between automatic and manual cars will allow you to drive better. It will also give you adequate knowledge to make the correct decision when buying a new car. Basically, there are five main differences between manual and automatic transmission cars.

1. A manual transmission car has three pedals – clutch, brake and accelerator (gas pedal). An automatic transmission car has only two pedals – brake and accelerator.

2. A manual transmission car features a gear shift. It is also known as Stick Shift. You need to press the clutch in order to shift gears. An automatic transmission car features a gear selector where you need to put the car to D to drive it. The gear selector in an automatic car also has P (Parking), R (Reverse) and N (Neutral).

3. It is more complex to get started on a hill when driving a manual car compare to automatic car. In a manual car, the driver needs to control the clutch and shift gears manually. See learning to drive a manual car for more details. In an automatic car, the driver only needs to put the gear selector to D and drive it because the car will shift automatically for you.

4. You need to press the clutch and apply the brake to slow down or stop a manual car. As for automatic car, all you need to do is lift your right foot from the gas pedal to the brake to slow down or stop the car. Some people prefer automatic car because it is easier for parallel parking.

5. When it comes to pricing, all the manual transmission cars tend to be less expensive compared to automatic transmission cars because the transmission system is simpler. An automatic transmission consists of complicated technology thus is it more expensive to repair. You could save up few hundred dollars if you are buying a stick shift.

6. It is easier to do a burnout in manual car compared to automatic car because you can control the wheel spin with clutch. See how to do a burnout for more details.

7. Automatic cars bring more advantages when you are driving in traffic jam because you don’t have to keep shifting gears like the manual cars. Driving a manual transmission car in traffic is simply gruelling.

8. Manual transmission cars typically gives a better gas mileage. This is because the driver can control the car based on the road conditions. Also, you can rev your engine to the redline in a manual car but you can’t do it in automatic cars. Redline is the maximum RPM value a car engine is able to handle.

Most cars on the road today are automatic transmission because they are easier to drive especially for people who are learning to drive a car. In conclusions, there are advantages and disadvantages of both manual and automatic cars. All you need to do is understand the difference between automatic and manual cars and go for the one that suits your needs the best.

September 8, 2015
21 Strangest Car Accidents and Crashes

Check out the 21 strangest car accidents and crashes happened around the world if you believe everything happens for a reason. The photos of these car accidents will leave you stunned. You will wonder how did it happened. There are cases when a car ended up in a swimming pool, when a pickup-truck flipped over and landed on a roof top, and when a dump truck flicked and stand on the road like a Transformer Optimus Prime. Read through how these crashes happened and you will be astonished at least twice, perhaps thrice.

How did it happened?

Lexus in Swimming Pool

A car ended in a Lake

Two teenagers were trying to save the old man from the car with boat.

A Car Bridge?

Is the driver texting while driving?

The Optimus Prime Dump Truck?

Obviously, the car is standing in the middle of the road.

A Dodge 4×4 Hanging on the roof top

A Classic Strange Car Accident

All the gentlemen and ladies are wondering how did it happened.

Air Jordan is popular, so does Air Blue Car

Enzo Ferrari will be sad to see this Ferrari Enzo destroyed in water

Drive through the stairs?

Is this drive learning how to do a burnout?

The iconic Volkswagen Beetle

The road divider divided this car into two

Are you serious?

Escalator drive?

Just like Miley Cyrus’s song, “I came in like a wrecking ball.”

Another roof top crash that’s weird

This only happens once in a blue moon

Subaru into Suba-Two

Moose stuck in a car

You really need good balancing for this

Twilight Saga latest version?

To be honest, how could these accidents happened? How did it happened and how the car ended up on a tree? It doesn’t has a wing and it doesn’t has a 1000-horsepower engine under the hood. Please leave a comment if you do know how. Other than the strangest car accidents photos, you should check out our driving guide to understand cars and drive better.

September 7, 2015
How to Do a Burnout
It’s vital to know what is burnout before you learn how to do a burnout. Burnout is about sending a serious amount of horsepower to the wheels of your car to make them spin. Once your wheels spin at a high frequency, it will start burn the tires and cause a lot of smoke. So, what is the purpose behind burnout since it is all about burning rubber? The purpose of burnout is to heat up the tires to get a better traction. That’s the reason burnout can frequently be seen in many drag racing. Other than that, it is definitely a cool thing to do behind the steering wheel. Whether you own a manual or automatic transmission car, you can perform a burnout easily even it is a pickup truck. Get your car key and check out the step by step guide here.

What if burnout fail
- You will fail to do a burnout with a manual transmission car if you pop the clutch out of sudden. This will cause the car spin out of the course and accident could happen.
- The clutch of your car will be burned if you step on the brake too hard or you do a burnout for too long. It costs a lot of money to repair the clutch pad and many parts related to it. Therefore, make sure you do a burnout without blowing up your clutch.
- Your car tire will tear apart if you fail to spin them in the correct way. Learn how to drive an automatic car properly before you do a burnout or before you learn to drift.
- You car brake can factually catch on fire if they heat up. This will probably cause major damage to your car.
How to do a burnout in a manual car

Regardless of front wheel drive or rear wheel drive car you are doing it. The process to do a burnout with a stick shift is the easiest. It will be easier to do a burnout with high horsepower cars. Check out how much horsepower does my car have for better understanding. Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger are a few great muscle cars to do a burnout.

Step 1: Start the car and release the handbrake (e-brake).

Step 2: Press the clutch all the way down and shift to first gear.

Step 3: Step on the gas pedal gently. Release the clutch and step on the brake fast when you see the RPM is high enough (normally is 4000-5000rpm). Do not step on the brake too hard as it will cause your clutch burn. Release the gas pedal when you want to stop the burnout.

See the step by step guide: learning to drive a manual car

How to do a burnout in an automatic car

You can do a burnout easily in an automatic car or truck if your engine has high horsepower. Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Crew Cab and Subaru Impreza WRX STi are some of the greatest 300 horsepower cars to do a burnout.

Step 1: Start the car and step on the brake pedal with your left foot.

Step 2: Shift the gear selector to D or 1 and release the handbrake (e-brake).

Step 3: Rev the engine and release the brake slightly then you can perform a burnout. Release the gas pedal when you want to stop it.

See the step by step tutorial: how to make an automatic car tires spin

How to do a burnout in a front wheel drive car

Many people are wondering if it is possible to do a burnout in a front wheel drive car rather than RWD or AWD (All-Wheel-Drive) car. Of course you can if the engine is powerful. SR20DET and K20A are two great example of front wheel drive engine.

Step 1: Pull the handbrake (e-brake) and hold the safety button.

Step 2: Shift to first gear, rev the engine and release the clutch (if you are doing this in a manual car).

Step 2: For automatic transmission car, step on the brake, shift the gear selector to 1 or D and shift your foot from the brake to the gas pedal. Rev the engine and you can do a burnout in a FWD car.
July 17, 2015