A Beginner’s Guide to Gearboxes in Automatic Cars

Bought an automatic vehicle? Great choice indeed!

What did you say? You are new to driving and are not confident enough to drive the car yourself?

Believe us, you are not the only one who thinks so. We all know automatic driving is way easier than manual driving. Perhaps this is the reason why you have opted for ‘automatic’, right? However, if you have not driven at all before, driving may be a touch difficult in the beginning, even for automatic vehicles. But, if you know your car well, you will gain the necessary confidence to pass through the initial hiccups, in those early days.

In this blog, we will guide you on an important‘ equipment’ fitted in automatic cars-the ‘gearbox’.

Here we go!

How are the gearboxes indicated?

You will see four basic gears in almost all gear boxes in an automatic car. These are indicated by the letters P, R, N and D.

P- Park

It locks the gears so that the wheel can’t be turned. Make sure to be in Park mode before you start the engine and also after putting the engine off.

R-Reverse

You know it! It is when you reverse the car.

N-Neutral

You may be in this mode while waiting in traffic or at the lights.

D-Drive

You need to put the gear in ‘Drive’ mode to go forward. When you drive fast enough, the car will switch between gears, all by itself.

Some automatic cars may also have other letter sin the gearbox such as L ( lower gear) or S –Sport (for better acceleration)

What are the different types of Automatic Gearboxes?

Different types of automatic gearboxes are fitted in automatic cars these days. These may include-

Conventional automatic gearboxes

This type of gearbox is often found in luxury cars such as the Range Rover. These boxes use a ‘torque-converter’ to perform the job done by the clutch. They are more refined than other types of automatic boxes but can consume more fuel. In luxury cars with a conventional automatic transmission, you may find up to 9 gears.

Continuously variable transmissions (CVT)

These are mostly seen in hybrid cars. Instead of cogs, they are fitted with a belt to act as a single gear ratio. These provide high levels of efficiency and facilitate smoother drive as the car does not need to skip between gears.

On the flip side, you may get lower acceleration as compared to cars with other types of automatic gearboxes. A loud engine sound may also occur when you attempt to drive rapidly.

Dual-clutch automatics

This type of gearbox is pretty similar to that of a conventional automatic gearbox. But here, two automatic clutches replace the torque converter. It facilitates alternating gears to prepare the next ratio and thus, allows rapid gear changes.

Automated manual gearboxes

This type of gearbox works similar to a manual gearbox. But, it selects gears automatically and uses the clutch with the help of computers rather than by a pedal. Changing gears may invite 'jerks', very much like a manual transmission.

Automatic driving is still considered a grey area for many and this is what makes Automatic driving school important for beginners like you. Many Driving School Oxford offer short term and effective lessons for beginners. Such an Automatic driving school provides experienced driving instructors and with their expert guidance, you would soon become confident enough to zoom through the streets, with your automatic vehicle.

If you want to know more about Driving School Oxford, feel free to reach out to us.