So why am I doing this?

[Rockettman]

I turn my OD off while driving on anything but the highway.

I read ages ago on here something about the 2nd gear band being engaged while OD is on...or something to that effect.

Please refresh me as to why we do this again? :confused:

[CBT]

Which woud be easier on your legs; jumping from the 4th floor to the 1st floor or taking an elevator? Your transmission does not like dropping down from highway cruising speed to passing gear. That's the best way me, not a mechanic, can 'splain it.

[Rockettman]

^^^ but isn't that what every transmission is supposed to do? That's why it's called "passing gear" (I do know that it's just a drop to 2nd)?

[CBT]

Not all transmissions that can kick down into passing gear have an overdrive band to burn out. I'm positive my old '77 Chevy does not have overdrive.

[SC Cheesehead]

^^^ but isn't that what every transmission is supposed to do? That's why it's called "passing gear" (I do know that it's just a drop to 2nd)?


IIRC, it's the forced downshift from OD to 2nd under acceleration that's the problem, the OD bad is the weak link in the tranny.

[Rockettman]

^^^ Ok that makes scense too.

So what about on the highway then. When I have the OD on; should I be much more careful NOT to kick it down into 2nd? Make sure I'm only dropping into 3rd? Or does it matter much at that point?

[ctrlraven]

If I'm not cruising at 50 or faster my OD is always off, I even turn it off as I am slowing down around 40-30 mph to come to a complete stop or turning.



^^^ Ok that makes scense too.

So what about on the highway then. When I have the OD on; should I be much more careful NOT to kick it down into 2nd? Make sure I'm only dropping into 3rd? Or does it matter much at that point?
If you turn OD off while cruising it will kick down to 3rd. Given enough throttle but not WOT you can get it to kick down to 3rd while OD is still on. If you go WOT while OD is on and above a certain speed it will kick down to 2nd which is bad and wears on the OD band. The car is a 4-speed automatic, 3 forward driving gears and 1 cruising gear (OverDrive).

[Rockettman]

^^^ ok...but why? If you're just, say, going for groceries; why worry about turning it off? I mean, it is there to save some gas too.

[ctrlraven]

^^^ ok...but why? If you're just, say, going for groceries; why worry about turning it off? I mean, it is there to save some gas too.
Just personal preference I suppose. After I turn my MM on I always turn traction control and OD off before even putting it in Drive. In some vehicles the OD gear won't engage until it reaches a certain MPH speed. My Taurus only goes into 6th gear above 44 mph.

You can drive your car however you like, only thing to really remember is if you are already at a cruising speed in 4th gear and you need to get up and go turn off OD before hitting the gas so it will not shift from 4th to 2nd, 4th to 3rd or 3rd to 2nd is fine.

I rarely turn off OD to creep past someone on the highway as my rpms are above 2k and my PI 3500 stall converter does what it's suppose to when locked, transfer more power through.

This is a 4th to 3rd downshift
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltmToO8ApqI
ltmToO8ApqI

3rd then converter locks then 4th to 3rd downshift and 3rd to 4th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59LbWaetYA
-59LbWaetYA

[Rockettman]

So it won't hurt the trans at all to be crusing at 120 km/hr (75 mph); then turn off the OD with the button (which puts it back in 3rd); then kick it down (into 2nd)? This is the idea you're mentioning?

If this is correct; the next problem I have is I don't feel the difference between going into 4th (OD) and when the converter locks up. They feel the same to me.

[SC Cheesehead]

^^^ ok...but why? If you're just, say, going for groceries; why worry about turning it off? I mean, it is there to save some gas too.

No issue there. I generally turn my OD off when driving around town, but that's just habit.

Over 50 mph, I turn the OD back on, but if I'm going to pass, I'll click it off to prevent a forced OD to 2nd downshift (which is easy to do when you punch it with a S/C).

[Rockettman]

Ok this is making sense.

I'll repost this from above replying to Chris:
"If this is correct; the next problem I have is I don't feel the difference between going into 4th (OD) and when the converter locks up. They feel the same to me."

[CBT]

I turn overdrive on at 65-70mph. Below that, it is always off. I ain't trying to hear that traction control noise either, it's the second button I push after turning the key.

[Ozark Marauder]

After reading most all the posts on this subject. My procedure:

Start car...T/C off....OD off....for driving around town. Enter highway.... down the ramp, merge, ...OD on....

Passing...OD off...pass....O/D on. Only use T/C in the winter on snow, or during rain....

Interested to hear how others use the T/C.

OZ

[ctrlraven]

After reading most all the posts on this subject. My procedure:

Start car...T/C off....OD off....for driving around town. Enter highway.... down the ramp, merge, ...OD on....

Passing...OD off...pass....O/D on. Only use T/C in the winter on snow, or during rain....

Interested to hear how others use the T/C.

OZ

That's exactly what I do as well. I leave T/C off during winter unless I know I am not going to have traction on a take off.

[CBT]

After reading most all the posts on this subject. My procedure:

Start car...T/C off....OD off....for driving around town. Enter highway.... down the ramp, merge, ...OD on....

Passing...OD off...pass....O/D on. Only use T/C in the winter on snow, or during rain....

Interested to hear how others use the T/C.

OZ

I used it once that I can remember on purpose, a few years back. I guess it's nice to know the option is there, that's about it.

[Panther]

I see everyone talking about OD and on and off switches. I don't see a switch on my 04 plus my shifter just has D 2 1 no OD. Does this mean I can't lock the OD out.

[justbob]

I rarely fumble with switches :) I just had Zack set my OD to not engage to 53 MPH.. But now with the 4.30's it engages at 41 which is fine with me as the gearing would be kinda high in town if it didn't. Mine won't do 4-2 at anything over 65 anywho. Hit the gas at 70 and it is embarrasing for a second or two, hit it at 65 and HELLLLO.

Sent from my Ally using Tapatalk 2

[Blown3.8]

I'm pretty sure the OD band only engages in 2nd gear when you put the shifter in 2nd (manual 2nd). And in OD obviously. But i've been wrong before.

[Blown3.8]

I see everyone talking about OD and on and off switches. I don't see a switch on my 04 plus my shifter just has D 2 1 no OD. Does this mean I can't lock the OD out.

The shifter lable has 1 2 and a D with a circle around it. Your OD off switch is on the left side of the handle.

[fastblackmerc]

I see everyone talking about OD and on and off switches. I don't see a switch on my 04 plus my shifter just has D 2 1 no OD. Does this mean I can't lock the OD out.

You need to check your owners manual.......

I'll give you a hint..... press the small button on the gearshift knob.....

[Panther]

Oh wow I will check that out tomorrow I learn new things every day thanks. Lol

[breeze]

Forget all that pressing buttons, I JUST DRIVE!!!

[Rockettman]

I'm pretty sure the OD band only engages in 2nd gear when you put the shifter in 2nd (manual 2nd). And in OD obviously. But i've been wrong before.

I don't know either...that's why I started this post. :confused:

[RF Overlord]

I can't understand why anyone would turn TC off when driving in clear weather on paved surfaces. TC won't engage unless one rear wheel is spinning sufficiently faster than the other.

I'm also a little confused about everyone turning OD off regularly. When I press down on the gas, the car turns off OD and unlocks the torque converter for me, as needed.

[SC Cheesehead]

I can't understand why anyone would turn TC off when driving in clear weather on paved surfaces. TC won't engage unless one rear wheel is spinning sufficiently faster than the other.

I'm also a little confused about everyone turning OD off regularly. When I press down on the gas, the car turns off OD and unlocks the torque converter for me, as needed.

Try doing a burnout with the TC on and see what happens... ;)

[CBT]

Try doing a burnout with the TC on and see what happens... ;)

Someone on these boards a few years ago got their Marauder stuck in snow and absolutely fried thier rotors and back pads from trying to get it unstuck with the traction control on. Said the rotors and pads were glowing cherry red and smoking in the daylight, lol. And no it wasn't me.

[Marauderman]

No issue there. I generally turn my OD off when driving around town, but that's just habit.

Over 50 mph, I turn the OD back on, but if I'm going to pass, I'll click it off to prevent a forced OD to 2nd downshift (which is easy to do when you punch it with a S/C).

^^^^^^^^^^exactly what I was gonna SAY-------------The whole point of all this is------IF YOU KNOW YOUR GONNA PUNCH IT WHEN IN OVERDRIVE---THEN TURN IT OFF BEFORE DOING DO---

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Try doing a burnout with the TC on and see what happens... ;)

OOoops....:o

(I did this shortly after buying mine and before knowing that TC is always on unless you turn it off..) :o


^^^^^^^^^^exactly what I was gonna SAY-------------The whole point of all this is------IF YOU KNOW YOUR GONNA PUNCH IT WHEN IN OVERDRIVE---THEN TURN IT OFF BEFORE DOING DO---

You said doing do....:lol: