I let my brother drive my car the other day, i have a automatic 96 eclipse. Well he asked me if the overdrive was suppost to be left on all the time. I didn't know the answer cuz i just assumed it should left on. So my question is about the overdrive, should if be left on all the time or taken off. I heard that you only suppost to use it while climbing hills. Thanks.

It just lets the car use 4th gear if it decides that it is necessary. Its not for climbing hills or anything. If you think you are smarter than the TCU (transmission computer), then use the OD switch, 2, and L to keep your car in the right gear. I often use the gear selector to lock out higher gears when I am cruising around town.

Corbin

'95 ESI-T
HRC+FMIC+ETC...



Gimme fuel...Gimme fire...Gimme that which I desire

i thought OD added a 5th gear, for lower rpms and high cruising speeds

manual says to only use the o/d when going over 45 mph.
later

The manual says a lot of things:D

But yea, its not good for the tranny of a long period of time to use OD. And OD doesnt add a 5th gear, but allows the tranny to go into 4th or to not go into 4th depending on the setting, like Corbin said. I dont like driving around with o/d off. Car has a weird feel when I do it.

my car in 1st and 2nd feels slower with OD on

i keep my od off all the time, unless im on the highway doing like 80.

cant u hurt the tranny if u drive over 45 with the od switch off...(meanin that u cant switch into fourth gear).....i know its not good drivin around tachin like 3000-4000 all the time......right?

dfresh

the tranny is electronically controlled. If u max out 3rd, O/D will still engage. Floor it sometime and leave it in L. It'll shift up. I click in O/D like my 5th gear if it were a stick. You basically have a 5 speed. It's 4 gears, with converter lock-up dropping the rpm's like an additional shift.

Thats true...if you max it out. But if you're cruising around in "2nd" or "3rd" at like 50+...that puts a strain on your transmission as well as your engine. Not to mention gas mileage. I figured out last night if you stick it in 2nd it will indeed go to 3rd. But it will redline :). The growl of a stock 420A at 3500-4500 is unmistakeble:)

3 SPEED WITH PLANETARY OVERDRIVE