Driving the tC in 3=D
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5
From: Studio City, CA
Driving the tC in 3=D
I just bought my Scion tC on Friday and just realized today that on my automatic transmission the "3" and the "D" are not the same even though there in the same slot. If you push the stick left it will go to 3 and if you push it right it will go to "D" I've been accidently driving it in 3 on the freeway not going past 65 mph. Do you guys think I damaged the transmission by doing this?
Senior Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
From: Chicago, IL
no, you didn't hurt it.
It's actually the way you work the overdrive on that car. If you are ever passing on the highway or up a big hill and feel you need some more boost just kick it over from the D into the 3....don't make a habit of driving in the 3 at too low or too high speeds for very long though, it could cause some wear and tear but it would take quite a bit to actually damage the tranny.
I wouldn't worry.
It's actually the way you work the overdrive on that car. If you are ever passing on the highway or up a big hill and feel you need some more boost just kick it over from the D into the 3....don't make a habit of driving in the 3 at too low or too high speeds for very long though, it could cause some wear and tear but it would take quite a bit to actually damage the tranny.
I wouldn't worry.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 16
No...no damage. that's what it's for. Just don't use the lower gear to slow down the car....that's what the brakes are for.
Taking it into 3rd in"manual"mode helps when you are 'at speed' but need a boost of torque to make a passing maneuver or get up an incline. Just don't forget to upshift again. Work's pretty well in the tC.
Taking it into 3rd in"manual"mode helps when you are 'at speed' but need a boost of torque to make a passing maneuver or get up an incline. Just don't forget to upshift again. Work's pretty well in the tC.
Senior Member
SL Member
Scinergy
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 307
From: Denver, CO
the "3" selection is the upper limit for the tranny... not a locked in gear... you can safely start in "3"... it is like having a 3 speed tranny...
D is just a 4 speed tranny...
now, in a manumatic, sportomatic... ya know, automatic with a gate... the shifting auto... whatever gear you are in is the gear you are in... but those don't let you break the rules... in my bimmer, I can't get past second unless I am moving.... no starting from a stand still in 3rd... and you can't blow the engine when downshifting... it has it's own limits.... so at 80mph... I can shift down to 2nd... it just ignores me...
much like my ex-wife...
D is just a 4 speed tranny...
now, in a manumatic, sportomatic... ya know, automatic with a gate... the shifting auto... whatever gear you are in is the gear you are in... but those don't let you break the rules... in my bimmer, I can't get past second unless I am moving.... no starting from a stand still in 3rd... and you can't blow the engine when downshifting... it has it's own limits.... so at 80mph... I can shift down to 2nd... it just ignores me...
much like my ex-wife...
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