Overdrive????

[mango388]

This is my first post. I just bought my first Honda. It is a 2004 LXG (Canada) automatic. The gears are D, 3, 2, and 1. When should I be in 3 or 2? Do I just stick with D through city and highway conditions??? Any info would be great. Thanks.:blush: :blush: :blush:

[BenjiBoy650]

Just leaving it in D is fine for most conditions. If you are on a steep slope going either way, then possibly you might want to use 3 or 2 depending on speed. If you're going up the hill and notice that the transmission is shifting up and down a lot, especially on the highway, then you should consider using 3 (or 4 if you have one). If you're going down, you can use 3 to get additional engine braking so you don't overheat the brakes. The 2004 Accord is a 5 speed auto, I wonder why there isn't a 4 on that select lever? 2 or even 3 seems a bit high on the RPM range if you use it on the highway.

[mango388]

Tnx for the info. The console doesn't have a 4. From what I remember, the 2003 has the same console. Isn't 2003 also a 5 speed auto??? I'm gonna go back to the dealership and double check this.

[BenjiBoy650]

Yes all 7th gens are 5-speeds (manual and auto). Is there some sort of overdrive button on the shifter itself where you don't have to move the lever, just press the button? That might be the missing 4.

Also the transmission is supposed to have "grade logic control" so that it doesn't hunt for gears and it will downshift on a steep downgrade. I don't know if it works, but just be aware. Could be another reason why it's missing that 4, because it's supposed to know when to use that gear "automatically."

[princess]

The sticks are now 6 speeds from what I've read.

The 5 speed auto is fine in D, even if going uphill & down. Putting it in another gear can save the brakes going down hill. As a general rule if you're going the speed limit, it can handle it. If you're pushing it on mountain roads it feels more in control if you put it in a lower gear.

Most people put it in drive & go, never using the other spots on the shifter...:)

[BenjiBoy650]

Originally posted by princess
The sticks are now 6 speeds from what I've read.

You're half right and I'm half wrong. Only the EX V6 Coupe is a 6-speed :D Forgot about that hehe

[princess]

I guess that's why the "red badge" people are so special!:D

[BenjiBoy650]

Originally posted by princess
I guess that's why the "red badge" people are so special!:D

Yup but it's just a badge :)

[princess]

By the way....welcome mango!

Hey, to the ones that have them, those are VERY special badges!!;)

[Accord9404]

I guess that's why the "red badge" people are so special!

What's this about a "red badge"? Something new to the Honda's?

[Inspector1]

Red Badge = 6 Speed Coupe.....

I1:)

[Accord9404]

Thanks Instpector 1.

Do you think that a 6 speed is the max we will see in standard tranys?

[princess]

Nah, they're always looking for something different...... it may stay at 6 speed for a while, then 7 will come along. They think they have to keep changing them to keep us buying.:)

[Inspector1]

They have CVT trannys out now... it will always change ratios depending on power needs...
I've driven 21 speed in class 8 trucks and twin transmission in off-road capable trucks.. 3 speed in one and 10 speed in other so you could say 30 spd... It's was funny when the 1st time I jumped in one of those beast and saw two sticks:scratch:
It was a experience one never forgets....

I1:)

[Accord9404]

The shape of things to come:?

Audi TT 3.2 Quattro DSG production car equipped with the dual-clutch, automated manual transmission that we believe will soon become the transmission of choice across a broad swath of the automotive landscape.(Car & Driver)

This will be interesting to see if it becomes mainstream.

[Inspector1]

Clutchless manual...... check out this article....

http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/46873/article.html

I1:)

[BenjiBoy650]

Originally posted by Accord9404
The shape of things to come:?

Audi TT 3.2 Quattro DSG production car equipped with the dual-clutch, automated manual transmission that we believe will soon become the transmission of choice across a broad swath of the automotive landscape.(Car & Driver)

This will be interesting to see if it becomes mainstream.

I hope not, because then I'd probably rather just drive an auto due to questionable durability.

Also I guess you could say that some of the SUV's on the road are 8-10 speed. 2 speed transfer case with 4-5 tranny gears. Just that it would probably be unadvisable to shift the transfer case while moving on the road hehe.