Is it bad to drive an automatic in 2nd gear

Q--During a recent trip throughout the western mountainous states and Canada, I had to pass slow-moving RVs and trucks on steep roads whenever a passing lane presented itself. Naturally, the transmission would shift into second gear while the car was accelerating at 65 to 70 m.p.h.

Other times while going downhill, I would manually shift into second gear, but would forget to shift it back to drive, and keep driving on a flat road on second gear at speeds of 65 to 70 m.p.h. Does all that high-speed driving on second gear cause any damage to the transmission and/or engine .M., Glenview

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A--Unless you over-revved the engine, it is probably fine. Ditto for the transmission. However, the automatic transmission fluid probably got quite hot, and heat is the bane of ATF. Have the transmission fluid and oil changed as soon as possible to avoid future problems.

Q--I have been saving this question for a long time and would appreciate an answer. What is the purpose of the series of black dots on the periphery of automobile windshields and rear windows? This is not really a technical question but I am sure that you know the answer. In my estimation, you are the font of all information automotive.P.D., Schererville

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A--And they say that college is a fountain of knowledge where everybody goes to drink. Modern cars don't have the chrome garnish around windshields like they did in the '60. And, you would be able to see the car's body and the glue used to retain the windshield if it were not for the blackened area around its circumference. The dots just break up the abrupt line so that it fades from view.

Q--When cold weather sets in, I have difficulty getting my key out of the ignition. I also have difficulty shifting the gears on my 1990 Honda Accord. What are your thoughts .S., Chicago

A--If your car has an automatic transmission, we think the two may be related. The transmission-ignition switch interlock may be binding.

Q--I drive a 1990 Lexus. The new brake pads squeak when stopping the car. The squeaking returned after they have been serviced by Lexus dealer. Solution? E.O., Chicago

A--The pads are probably a hard compound that will give good service life. Ask your dealer to install pads with a softer compound to eliminate the noise. But be prepared to replace them in fewer miles than you would expect from the hard compound. Also expect them to leave more brake dust on your wheels.

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Bob Weber is an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. Address your technical questions about cars and trucks to Motormouth, 17717 Silcott Springs Rd., Purcellville, Va., 20132. Send e-mail, with name and town, to [email protected]. Answers will be supplied only through the newspaper.

Once again, I agree with Mr. Meehan. While keeping your transmission in 2nd gear will help to keep your speed down, it also increases the amount of torque that is being delivered to the drive wheels. Thus, when you apply the gas (as you must do periodically, even when driving slowly on ice or snow), you are much more likely to reduce the traction of those drive wheels, as compared to if you just left your gear selector in the “D” position.

Years ago, I worked with a woman who insisted on driving this way on slippery surfaces, and nothing that I could do ever convinced her that she was actually increasing her odds of losing traction. Even after she had a few very close calls, she continued to drive this way. Luckily for everyone else on the road, she usually didn’t drive at all when the roads were really slippery.

In the past we’ve talked about the differences between a manual and an automatic transmission. For the manual, you get that visceral feeling of changing gears, and the effort to find the perfect one for every driving situation. Automatic transmissions take that challenge away. But that begs the question why we have more than drive, park, reverse and neutral on an automatic transmission. When do you use gear two or three when driving an automatic? We’re going to look at a few of the answers to these questions below.

When do you use gear two or three when driving an automatic?

When drivers are in an automatic vehicle, park and drive will get a lot of play, and reverse is important when parking, but what about the second and third gears? Or “L”? Each of these is designed for out-of-the-ordinary driving, including driving up or down steep inclines (think: mountains) or towing. If you drive a large SUV like the Chevy Suburban or Chevy Tahoe, or a hard-working truck, then you may already be more familiar with these gears.
The automatic transmission will not always know that you need to be in a lower gear to tackle a mountain pass, or that you need more power and less acceleration while towing a boat. But because you, the driver, know these things, you can adapt to them and use one of the lower gears.

When to Use Lower Gears

L/Low – Driving slowly on steep hills

Second – Driving on steep hills at a steady pace (somewhat faster than Low)

Third – For cruising at a slow and steady pace, especially while towing or in bad weather

When driving around Austin, especially in urban areas, you aren’t going to need any of these very much. However, if you are taking a vacation with a trailer, or tackling a road trip to some mountains, then these could definitely come in handy and help you keep control of your vehicle.

Can you drive an automatic in 2nd gear?

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Is it bad to move the car in 2nd gear?