overdrive switch

[nacional]

hey guys

just wanted to know exactly how the overdrive button works. The guy at the dealership where i bought the car said that in overdrive it ran in 4 gears, and that with overdrive off it ran in 3 gears. But, i was testing it today and doin 60 with overdrive on it was doin 1500 revs, then i switched overdrive off and it went down a gear and was doin just over 2000 revs. does this mean that it runs in 4 gears with overdrive off and 3 gears with it on?

it aceelerates faster with overdrive off too. Could this be the reason why the car hasnt been goin as fast as i thought it would since ive been driving with overdrive on since i bought it a month ago.

[hippy]

u got it almost right .. overdrive is like a 5th gear ... and only kicks in above 80kph or so .. so if u are travelling with the overdrive off normally .. yes you do go faster cause u are travelling at a higher rev and therefore can reach boost earlier making it faster .. but u waste more petrol ... when i drive around i just use the overdrive so that i can change the gear up and down when i like ... so if i want to go a bit faster turn it off .. then on when i want some feul economy ... also if i brake .. i turn the overdrive off ... the gear shifts down ... and its much easier to brake ... same thing as in a manual ... hope that helps ..

[nacional]

thanks heaps hippy, that did help quite a bit actually. But i think im gonna keep on drivin without overdrive on local streets, and turn it on for the freeway

cheers

[WazR32GTSt]

if you have o/d on when on normal streets it changes up and down too often an also soemtimes runs at v.low rpm in some gears to the point that if you press the accelerator at all it will change down gears anyway

i only use it above about 0-70kph coz i hate the fact that the gears change all the time for no reason. just my 2c...

[Nizmo]

ok guys looking for an appropriate thread to ask this in.......

"Power/Snow switch on Autos"

The Power switch i seem to find more effective than taking the overdrive off on my car. Because as soon as i switch the power on - it leaves it a lot later to change gears making it rev a lot higher which is what the overdrive off does but i seem to find the power more effective for some reason. But i was wondering (maybe a stupid question - but to put my mind at ease) Is there any damage risk in using the buttons and switches FREQUENTLY to get more power out of your auto?

Reason i ask is the manual i recieved with my ZX auto - advised against switching your overdrive off unless necssary.

[nacional]

well Nizmo,

my dads a mechanic and him and his boss told me that the overdrive switch is only meant to be used above 70 km's/h and that having it on while drivin on normal ctreets could cause damage, because it forces the engine to stay in third gear instead to changin to fourth and reving lower. But, theyre used to aussie cars like falcons and corollas and the like, so the purpose of these switches in japan spec cars could be different to their purpose here.

In my opinion, it rev's the same and changes gears the same when you take o/d off, i havent noticed any difference. But with poer on it changes quite a bit later, especially when u give it, mine changed from second to fourth at 7 grand once!

hey, when you's race do you's start in 1st then go to 2nd then to drive, or just give it straight from drive?

[Nismodified]

when i hit the gas, my power light comes on automatically. it turns on when i release the gas.

this is regardless of the position of the power/snow switch.

all the power button does it hold the gears longer, so letting you rev harder, and possibly hold a gear through corners better

[WazR32GTSt]

nacional, i usually just give it from drive coz shifting manually still gives some delay and if you have floored it then it will change at the max itself not when u do it.

[Nizmo]

usually i leave it in drive off the line too.

nacional - yeah ive had it hit the 6.5 -7 rpm mark before it changes too. Just depends what kinda mood the cars in - but i find with the power switch on - all the gear changes are actually quite smoother and yes its far better for cornering!!