What is the -+ on my shift gear for?
The -+ symbol on your vehicle's shift gear is a common feature that indicates the direction of gear shifting. This symbol provides a visual cue to help you navigate the gearbox and ensure smooth gear changes while driving.
What Does the -+ Symbol Represent?
The -+ symbol on the shift gear is a standard representation used in manual and some automatic transmission vehicles. The "-" symbol indicates a downshift, while the "+" symbol indicates an upshift. This visual guide helps you understand the direction you need to move the shift lever to change gears effectively.
- The "-" symbol means you should move the shift lever down or towards you to downshift to a lower gear.
- The "+" symbol means you should move the shift lever up or away from you to upshift to a higher gear.
This simple yet intuitive design helps drivers, especially those new to manual transmissions, to quickly grasp the proper shifting technique and avoid accidentally shifting into the wrong gear.
Why is the -+ Symbol Important?
The -+ symbol on the shift gear serves several important purposes:
- Gear Shifting Guidance: The symbols provide a clear visual cue to indicate the direction you need to move the shift lever to change gears, making the process more intuitive and reducing the risk of shifting errors.
- Improved Driving Experience: Proper gear shifting is crucial for maintaining engine performance, fuel efficiency, and overall driving smoothness. The -+ symbols help you execute gear changes more confidently and efficiently.
- Safety Considerations: Accurate gear shifting is essential for maintaining control of the vehicle, especially in challenging driving conditions or when performing maneuvers like overtaking or hill climbing. The -+ symbols can help you shift gears correctly and safely.
Understanding the meaning and purpose of the -+ symbol on your shift gear can greatly enhance your driving experience and help you navigate your vehicle's transmission with ease.
What is the +/- on my gear shift?
The plus (+) and minus (-) symbols on your gear shift allow you to manually change gears in a semi-automatic mode, giving you more control over the car. The minus sign (-) is used to downshift to a lower gear, which is useful for gaining acceleration or for engine braking on steep descents. The plus sign (+) is used to upshift to a higher gear.
You can watch this video to learn how to use the plus and minus symbols on your gear shift: 59sWLWTYouTube · Jan 13, 2018
How to use the manual mode
- Enter manual mode: Move the gear selector from "D" (Drive) into the position with the plus/minus symbols. The current gear will often appear on your dashboard.
- Downshift (-): To shift to a lower gear, push the lever forward (or towards the "-"). This can be helpful for:
- Overtaking: Quickly gain acceleration by downshifting.
- Going downhill: Use a lower gear to control your speed and avoid overheating the brakes.
- Slippery roads: Start in a lower gear (like 1st or 3rd) for better traction.
- Upshift (+): To shift to a higher gear, pull the lever back (or towards the "+"). This can be useful for:
- Saving fuel: The transmission will shift to higher gears to conserve fuel when you don't need maximum power.
- Maintaining momentum: Manually select a gear to keep the car from shifting up or down unnecessarily when following other vehicles.
- Exit manual mode: The shifter will usually return to the center position after you've made a gear change, and the car will continue to shift automatically.
Important notes
- The car will often have a rev limiter to prevent you from damaging the engine by shifting into too low a gear.
- Always check your owner's manual, as features and their exact operation can vary by vehicle model.
Should I drive with paddle shifters?
Advantage of paddle shifters
In an automatic transmission car, sensors determine whether to shift gears or not. However, with paddle shifters, you can drive and shift gears as you want while you see and anticipate the things to come next, enjoying a sportier and smoother driving experience.
How to use plus minus in automatic car?
+ / - (Manual Mode) Purpose: Allows manual shifting without a clutch. Action: Use "+" to upshift and "-" to downshift.
What does +/- mean in a car?
Usually, the shifter must be pushed to one side from D into the +/- section. This puts the transmission into a manual override mode. In this mode, moving the shifter towards the '+' will go up one gear, moving it to '-' will go down one gear.
