Car Repair Skills Everyone Should Have

[KRonn]

In the old days, we tossed kids into the back of the pickup truck. Now you gotta protect them. Pfft.

Old days we can remember fondly, with nostalgia. 

[Grey Fox]

I thought of a new skilll...not really a repair skill, and not one that is strictly needed, but it would be good for everyone to know how to drive a manual transmission.

All my vehicles are manual transmission. I wont own an auto.

Why do you like inefficiency?

How is it inefficient?

What fahdiz said a couple of pages back. Modern Auto transmissions now out perform manual transmissions.

Altho, I guess that doesn't apply to your 1988 Transam.

[DontSayBanana]

If I remember correctly, my automatic has the following transmissions: P, R, N, D, 2, L.

I think I've only ever used P, R and D.  The rest are meaningless to me.  I don't even know what they do.

L (low) and 2 are lower gears with higher torque for towing or extremely poor road conditions, N (neutral) is for moving your car while it's off/inoperable, need to push it out of a rut, having the car towed with its wheels still rolling on the ground, etc.

[Admiral Yi]

I thought 2 was higher gear/lower torque, like when starting on ice.

[DontSayBanana]

I thought 2 was higher gear/lower torque, like when starting on ice.

Yeah, you're right about that.  I oversimplified.  Either way, virtually unnecessary, but good to have.

[11B4V]

I thought of a new skilll...not really a repair skill, and not one that is strictly needed, but it would be good for everyone to know how to drive a manual transmission.

All my vehicles are manual transmission. I wont own an auto.

Why do you like inefficiency?

How is it inefficient?

What fahdiz said a couple of pages back. Modern Auto transmissions now out perform manual transmissions.

They do. He should prove that claim.

That's not what he said.

[Admiral Yi]

Crop your fucking quotes you goddamn gearhead.

[Iormlund]

If I remember correctly, my automatic has the following transmissions: P, R, N, D, 2, L.

I think I've only ever used P, R and D.  The rest are meaningless to me.  I don't even know what they do.

L (low) and 2 are lower gears with higher torque for towing or extremely poor road conditions, N (neutral) is for moving your car while it's off/inoperable, need to push it out of a rut, having the car towed with its wheels still rolling on the ground, etc.

Do you use those for engine braking as well?

[DontSayBanana]

Do you use those for engine braking as well?

In theory, it could, but it'd be extreme- on American roads, AT vehicles are usually in 4th gear by 35-40MPH, so engine braking that way would probably drop you from 4th to 2nd and redline far too much for my taste.

[Ed Anger]

I have no time for manuals as I'm too busy stuffing my face with a Mickey D's sausage and egg biscuit(NO CHEESE) with one hand and smacking kids with the other.

[Iormlund]

Do you use those for engine braking as well?

In theory, it could, but it'd be extreme- on American roads, AT vehicles are usually in 4th gear by 35-40MPH, so engine braking that way would probably drop you from 4th to 2nd and redline far too much for my taste.

So what do you do in prolonged descents? You just pray your brakes won't overheat?

[Monoriu]

If I remember correctly, my automatic has the following transmissions: P, R, N, D, 2, L.

I think I've only ever used P, R and D.  The rest are meaningless to me.  I don't even know what they do.

L (low) and 2 are lower gears with higher torque for towing or extremely poor road conditions, N (neutral) is for moving your car while it's off/inoperable, need to push it out of a rut, having the car towed with its wheels still rolling on the ground, etc.

Good to know that I didn't miss anything.  Thanks 

[Caliga]

I shift my Honda to '2' when starting out in snowy/icy conditions (typically my driveway and if the subdivision hasn't been plowed well).

[Monoriu]

So what do you do in prolonged descents? You just pray your brakes won't overheat?

Like I said, there is no problem that can't be solved by stepping harder on the brake/accelerator.  I am not aware that brakes can overheat.

[Caliga]

Yes, yes they can.  It happened to me once about 12 years ago.