[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

I’ve just bought a Taigun 1.5 GT with the DSG gear box. Got delivery yesterday.

My Volkswagen app is screaming that I accelerate to hard, when I don’t think I am doing so. How do I keep that in check?

Any tips on driving an auto - best driving practices, tips on how to extend / maintain life of the gears, etc. would be much appreciated!

While the dedicated thread on driving automatics is shared above, on the topic of acceleration, it is after all a 1.5 TSI DSG. It will accelerate hard even with medium inputs. If you personally think you are doing ok, ignore the app and enjoy the ride.

[DeepeshKarnik]

Hi All,

I have recently bought a Seltos GTX+ Diesel 7-speed Auto and have a question - Everytime I put the vehicle in D and start driving, the engine sounds very loud for the first few gears. It sounds like the engine is stuck at high rpms until the 3rd or the 4th gear kicks in, after which the engine sounds mellows down completely and its quiet cruising. Its my first automatic so maybe I am still not starting off the right way or is this normal behaviour for automatics ?

I am a sedate driver and I usually try to keep below 2k rpms at all times with max speed not going beyond 70-80 on highways. Whenever I start, no matter how light I keep my foot, the engine still sounds like its stuck on high rpms until the 3rd or fourth gear. Also, there is hardly any speed vis-a-vis the kind of noise it makes.

Can the pros help me understand this ?

[alpha1]

Last week I drove a torque converter automatic (used car, potential for buy).
We were doing low speeds (10-25 kmph) in heavy traffic. Upon engaging tiptronic mode, I saw that I could upshift only till 3rd gear. It was as if the gearbox didn't allow me to go to 4th or 5th.
1) Is this normal or does this show that it might have some issues with higher gears?

2) How do I test all the gears in automatic transmission, without going at breakneck speed.

3) Couldn't find any dipstick arrangements (this is for 2012 Elantra AT) - how does one go about checking the quality of transmission fluid?

[TheCamShaft]

Originally Posted by alpha1

We were doing low speeds (10-25 kmph) in heavy traffic. Upon engaging tiptronic mode, I saw that I could upshift only till 3rd gear. It was as if the gearbox didn't allow me to go to 4th or 5th.
1) Is this normal or does this show that it might have some issues with higher gears?

2) How do I test all the gears in automatic transmission, without going at breakneck speed.

3) Couldn't find any dipstick arrangements (this is for 2012 Elantra AT) - how does one go about checking the quality of transmission fluid?

At city crawling speeds, the Transmission Control Unit would not allow to upshift to higher gears in manual mode, that would be an expected behaviour. You should take a test drive where you can go above 40kmph and check out if you are able to manually upshift well to 4th and higher gears. Consider doing that test to clarify your doubt.

For AT boxes without dipstick, checking ATF quality is not easy. It can only be checked by pulling off the drain plug , like in this video (it's for 6L50 Automatic transmission , however you get the drill) -

[Thinking_Slow]

Thanks to all members who contributed here. There is a ton of useful info in this thread.

This seems to be the appropriate thread to ask this question that has been bothering me since I switched from manual to an AT car. The switch happened just 3 months back. I own a Tata Safari 2023 facelift. It has a torque converter transmission. After ignition and putting in D, car moves forward slowly in D1. I softly press the accelerator pedal to increase speed. If foot is not released from pedal, then engine revs up to 2K RPM before upshifting to D2. Same for the next gears i.e. Dx to Dy happens only after reaching 2K RPM. I think this is too late to shift.

Here is the interesting part. Have noticed that when right speed is reached and I lift the foot from pedal, upshift happens before 2K RPM. It feels as if the car needs a nudge to upshift and that is to release foot from pedal. But, what is the point of AT if we have to semi-manually control upshifts.

Have noticed somewhat similar behavior in XUV700 and Innova Hycross. Is this normal AT upshift behavior in all cars?

All suggestions, comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.

[cleanexhaust]

Hello there!
I had a few questions about how to drive up a hill in an automatic, I am someone who has never driven an automatic in my whole life, and I am thinking of getting one (either torque converter or DCT). And I plan to take it on hilly areas quite frequently, all that I know about automatics, is what I have learned from YouTube videos and POV driving videos.

Alright, picture this scenario: you're driving an automatic transmission car and you come to a halt on a hill. You start to move forward again, relying on the natural 'creep' of the car's automatic transmission to smoothly propel you forward when you release the brake. Easy enough, right? But what if you're facing a steeper incline, and the creep just isn't cutting it? You've got a handbrake, sure, but it's electronic, and even if your car boasts a hill hold assist feature, it disengages the moment you nudge the accelerator, leaving you in a bit of a pickle. And what if it's an old automatic that doesn't have a hill hold and even the handbrake doesn't work? (Extreme scenario, but still)

Here's the crux of the issue: on a seriously steep hill, the minimal forward movement you'd typically get from releasing the brake isn't enough, and the car stubbornly refuses to budge without a solid push on the accelerator. Yet, as soon as you apply even the slightest pressure on the accelerator, the hill hold assist disengages, and before you know it, you're rolling backwards.

So, what's the solution in this frustrating scenario? You're unable to gauge the biting point by modulating the accelerator while relying on the electronic handbrake, and you're adamant about avoiding the risky practice of using your left foot in an automatic.

Additionally; Like, I know how to do this in an manual, and the way is too just half-clutch it, hold it on clutch, and use both clutch and accelerator pedal to modulate the car, for a few seconds and it does no harm because it's necessary in a few scenarios. But how do I do this in an automatic provided that I don't want to use the hand brake, I don't want to use my left foot for breaking, and I don't wanna use the parking assist either.

And how did people do this in olden times when automatic cars didn't come with hill hold or parking assist in the places like San Francisco?

[alpha1]

Originally Posted by cleanexhaust

Hello there!
I had a few questions about how to drive up a hill in an automatic, I am someone who has never driven an automatic in my whole life, and I am thinking of getting one (either torque converter or DCT). And I plan to take it on hilly areas quite frequently, all that I know about automatics, is what I have learned from YouTube videos and POV driving videos.

I am presuming that you not actually tried doing all that you posted, and it is just a thought experiment.

In my experience with AT, I have never even given a thought about driving from rest at an incline. You slot into D, remove your foot from brake, move it to accelerator pedal and press it. If you sense the car roll back, then use the handbrake and do the slow release against pressing the accelerator - just like how anyone will do on a MT.

Regarding the "half-clutch" use case, you don't need to bother in AT. Just press the accelerator enough to do whatever you desire. The clutch is inbuilt, and your left leg doesn't have to bother about any scenario where you intend to half press the clutch pedal.

Originally Posted by Thinking_Slow

After ignition and putting in D, car moves forward slowly in D1. I softly press the accelerator pedal to increase speed. If foot is not released from pedal, then engine revs up to 2K RPM before upshifting to D2. Same for the next gears i.e. Dx to Dy happens only after reaching 2K RPM. I think this is too late to shift.

Whole heartedly agree on the bold part. It is lazy manufacturers and their lazy engineers who program the gear shifts that way.
In my conventional automatic also the gear shifts happen at 2000 RPM, which is criminally high - and perhaps the number one cause of high fuel consumption. Especially in city's rush hour traffic where your speed is typically below 20 kmph.

In my normal driving (which doesn't place any high torque demand), I shift from 1st to 2nd at 1000-1200 RPM, 2nd to 3rd at ~1500 RPM, 3rd to 4th at 1500-1800 RPM. Since lower gears produce higher torque at the wheel, one need not wait till high RPM to upshift.

Here is the interesting part. Have noticed that when right speed is reached and I lift the foot from pedal, upshift happens before 2K RPM. It feels as if the car needs a nudge to upshift and that is to release foot from pedal. But, what is the point of AT if we have to semi-manually control upshifts.

Have noticed somewhat similar behavior in XUV700 and Innova Hycross. Is this normal AT upshift behavior in all cars?

All suggestions, comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.

I will try this and report back, but if this is happening, then it is a desirable behavior.
What you need to understand is that gear up-shift or down-shift depends on driver's intent. I want to accelerate faster, I down shift; I have no intent of acceleration, but maintain a certain speed, I up shift.
The automatic gearbox needs to predict your behavior and it has only one measurement to gauge your intent - the extent of pressing the accelerator pedal.

[cleanexhaust]

Originally Posted by alpha1

I am presuming that you not actually tried doing all that you posted, and it is just a thought experiment.

In my experience with AT, I have never even given a thought about driving from rest at an incline. You slot into D, remove your foot from brake, move it to accelerator pedal and press it. If you sense the car roll back, then use the handbrake and do the slow release against pressing the accelerator - just like how anyone will do on a MT.

Regarding the "half-clutch" use case, you don't need to bother in AT. Just press the accelerator enough to do whatever you desire. The clutch is inbuilt, and your left leg doesn't have to bother about any scenario where you intend to half press the clutch pedal.

You're correct, for the most part it is a thought experiment, and some complains I have heard from my friends and even on this forum where people were not very amicable towards the idea of having an automatic car to be used on the hills. And I am also a bit hesitant to just test drive an automatic car on a hill, without being accustomed to it.

But I digress, coming back to it, will electronic handbrake cause more problems in feeling bite point than a conventional one? And the thing that worries me is the fact that I wouldn't know if the car will roll backwards or not if I took my foot of the brake pedal in an automatic, is there any way to gauge that, like knowing that whether the creep of the car would be enough to overcome the hill or not?

And with regards to hill hold assist, as I said it disables at the slightest press of the accelerator(?, Correct me, if this assertion is wrong), like let's say the hill requires for 15% depression of accelerator pedal and before I manage to press that 15%, the car's brake disengage and the car rolls back. What to do in a situation like this? Does it become a complete necessity to use handbrakes at this point?

[aeeshaan007]

Originally Posted by cleanexhaust

And with regards to hill hold assist, as I said it disables at the slightest press of the accelerator(?, Correct me, if this assertion is wrong), like let's say the hill requires for 15% depression of accelerator pedal and before I manage to press that 15%, the car's brake disengage and the car rolls back. What to do in a situation like this? Does it become a complete necessity to use handbrakes at this point?

If I may know, do you live in hilly areas with Steep inclination and traffic ?
I have driven my Sonet Diesel AT in lot of South Indian hilly areas and never faced any issue. Under inclination, I always press the hold the brake(not handbrake ) until I need to move. On wanting to move, I move my foot from brake to accelerator and the Hill Hold works until I press accelerator sufficiently. In case there is a need to stop, I again move my foot from accelerator to brake. It has been so comfortable that inclination driving has been easier with automatic than in my old manual.

The Handbrake is only used when I need to park the vehicle. Only in Manual I used the handbrake during inclination but never in automatic.

[alpha1]

Originally Posted by alpha1

I will try this and report back, but if this is happening, then it is a desirable behavior.

Nope, doesn't happen on my auto.
Gearshift always happen at 2000 RPM, whether I do tap dance or keep pressing the accelerator gently.
If I press the accelerator with force (pedal to metal), then the upshift doesn't take place even after 2000 RPM.

Originally Posted by cleanexhaust

But I digress, coming back to it, will electronic handbrake cause more problems in feeling bite point than a conventional one? And the thing that worries me is the fact that I wouldn't know if the car will roll backwards or not if I took my foot of the brake pedal in an automatic, is there any way to gauge that, like knowing that whether the creep of the car would be enough to overcome the hill or not?

1) I have no idea about electronic handbrake. Mine is still the good old cable handbrake. However, I don't see how it makes any difference.

2) Let's say you have a manual transmission car, and standstill on incline. AND you don't want to use handbrake - what do you do? The exact same you do on an automatic. (= lift your leg from brake and press hard on the accelerator)

3) What makes you think that automatic will creep forward on an incline? I don't see any engine sold in India that makes enough torque at idling RPM so that the car can move up an incline.

And with regards to hill hold assist, as I said it disables at the slightest press of the accelerator(?, Correct me, if this assertion is wrong), like let's say the hill requires for 15% depression of accelerator pedal and before I manage to press that 15%, the car's brake disengage and the car rolls back. What to do in a situation like this? Does it become a complete necessity to use handbrakes at this point?

I can see you are overthinking.
Please post your response to all the scenarios you have mentioned if you were driving a manual transmission.

[cleanexhaust]

Originally Posted by aeeshaan007

If I may know, do you live in hilly areas with Steep inclination and traffic?

I don't live in a hilly area, but my parents do. I think my posts were based upon the misconception that the hill hold assist requires you to just be immediate, as even a slight tap on the accelerator pedal might disable the brakes. I think the cars that I checked were just crappy automatics or didn't had a good hill hold system.

Originally Posted by alpha1

Let's say you have a manual transmission car, and standstill on incline. AND you don't want to use handbrake - what do you do? The exact same you do on an automatic. (= lift your leg from brake and press hard on the accelerator)

That's right, while half clutching it sort of modulate the speed and hold it in place.

Originally Posted by alpha1

What makes you think that automatic will creep forward on an incline? I don't see any engine sold in India that makes enough torque at idling RPM so that the car can move up an incline.

I didn't mean it that way, I was just just talking about very low gradient inclines.

[quote=alpha1;5769721I can see you are overthinking.
Please post your response to all the scenarios you have mentioned if you were driving a manual transmission.[/QUOTE]

Well in all those circumstances, I would use clutch and accelerator together. With that sad, you're right brother, I was overthinking this quite a bit as automatic transmissions are something that are quite alien to me, I haven't even been in an automatic car, just heard people talk about it here and there and did some broken research about it on the internet. Combined with the fact that cars are quite expensive.

[Sumedik]

Originally Posted by alpha1

3) Couldn't find any dipstick arrangements (this is for 2012 Elantra AT) - how does one go about checking the quality of transmission fluid?

Originally Posted by TheCamShaft

For AT boxes without dipstick, checking ATF quality is not easy. It can only be checked by pulling off the drain plug

Removing drain plug to check ATF quality is TOTALLY wrong approach. The right way is to locate the "filling nut" of that particular model and syring out some ATF.

Originally Posted by Thinking_Slow

Have noticed that when right speed is reached and I lift the foot from pedal, upshift happens before 2K RPM. It feels as if the car needs a nudge to upshift and that is to release foot from pedal. But, what is the point of AT if we have to semi-manually control upshifts.

Have noticed somewhat similar behavior in XUV700 and Innova Hycross. Is this normal AT upshift behavior in all cars?

This is completely normal behavior of ATs without manual options.

[RaghuVis]

A very good Analysis of the world of Automatics by Autocar India Editor/MD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHerZLC9yeY&t=569s

[RS01]

I’ve recently bought an e-CVT automatic after 25 years and lakhs of kilometers of happily driving manual shifting cars. The transition was neither due nor planned but happened out of a favorable development leading me to upgrade from my current sedan to a bigger SUV, which was only available in the automatic configuration.

Having driven all types of vehicles and automatics occasionally, I did not think twice moving full time to an automatic. However, the muscle memory is trained to reach out to the clutch and gear lever every time there is an overtake/sudden braking/etc. I’ve also got paddle shifters and an S-mode, but I’m yet to figure out how to use them properly. Although the engine is powerful enough to not require my human inputs and supposedly intelligently decides which gears to deploy and when, I still feel I can add value to the car’s already intelligent engine. I have a few queries which I look forward to the forum for guidance:

1. Stopping on the traffic lights – do I use the Hold function/brakes and leave the gear shifter in D or should I shift to N with Hold or to move to P?

2. Pressing the accelerator after deploying Hold for brakes in the stationary vehicle, moves it with a slight jerk. Does putting vehicle on Hold wear out the brakes?

3. Going Downhill, I have been trained to shift to a lower gear for engine braking. Now since I don’t have gears anymore in the normal D mode, I’m worried if enough engine braking is available automatically or should I be doing something about it.

4. I’m not sure if the +/- gears in D or S even work the same way as a manual. One of the Toyota’s video says e-CVT has infinite gears. Should I shift to manual or let the engine do its thing while going downhill/ overtaking/ normal traffic/ highway driving.

5. Any suggestions or resources on how to make best use of S mode.

Some years back, even if you bought a 10k Microwave oven, a week of free classes were offered to educate and acclimatize the user with the new machine. I so wish if something similar could’ve been offered when anyone bought a new car or shifted from manual to automatic or vice versa.

Look forward to guidance from the forum. Thanks in advance.

[riteshritesh]

Answering a few questions.

Originally Posted by RS01

1. Stopping on the traffic lights – do I use the Hold function/brakes and leave the gear shifter in D or should I shift to N with Hold or to move to P?

3. Going Downhill, I have been trained to shift to a lower gear for engine braking. Now since I don’t have gears anymore in the normal D mode, I’m worried if enough engine braking is available automatically or should I be doing something about it.

4. I’m not sure if the +/- gears in D or S even work the same way as a manual. One of the Toyota’s video says e-CVT has infinite gears. Should I shift to manual or let the engine do its thing while going downhill/ overtaking/ normal traffic/ highway driving.

5. Any suggestions or resources on how to make best use of S mode.

1. If the wait is longer than a minute, I go to N and pull the handbrake to rest, else in D with foot brake pressed.

3. Put in D for anything and everything and forget about the rest. The car is smart to choose wisely.

4. Put in D for anything and everything and forget about the rest. The car is smart to choose wisely.

5. In my 15 years of CVT/TC usage on Hondas, Toyotas, Mitsubishi and a sole Audi I have never used the paddle shifter/ S mode. D mode works fine for everything.