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Overdrive is a function of the transmission which changes the final drive ratio of your vehicle. It is used to save fuel while driving at medium to high speeds, generally on fairly flat roads. Most modern automatics have an overdrive that is automatically engaged when a certain speed is reached, provided that the lower engine rpm of the overdrive can sustain that speed. As an example, many cars shift into overdrive around 45 mph, and will remain in OD as long as there is no significant demand placed upon the engine for increased speed. If such a demand is placed upon the engine, the car will automatically shift out of overdrive, and into a lower ratio gear in order to gain the needed speed more easily. Some vehicles from the early 90's or prior may have an OD button which is engaged when traveling on the freeway/expressway at a constant speed. This was an early attempt to increase mpg, and such a button is now an automatic function of modern transmissions.
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∙ 14y ago
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When do you use overdrive in an automatic car?
If an automatic car is in off overdrive does it save fuel
What would cause the overdrive light to flash on a ford expedition?
if you have overdrive in that car it means that your about to go into overdrive
Do you use overdrive in the snow?
Yes, you can use overdrive in your car when driving in the snow. Using overdrive helps the car maintain better traction in slick and icy conditions.
Is it better to have the over drive button switched off or on in an 88 Camry?
The car needs to go into overdrive unless you are towing something heavy which makes it shift between overdrive and non overdrive. It is better to allow the car to shift into overdrive.
In a 92 dodge ram 350 van does a lit overdrive mean that it is in overdrive or that it is not in overdrive?
Light being on means overdrive is inactive
What would cause your overdrive switch to not work on a 1995 Mazda Protege when passing a car and the overdrive switch is off it won't automatically shift down to accelerate?
If the overdrive switch is turned off then the car will not go into overdrive. As it is not in overdrive, then it will not downshift out of overdrive as it normally would. It also will not shift to 3rd gear above a certain factory preset speed. Turn th overdrive on and see if it operates normally.
What does it mean when the OD off light is on?
You might have accidentally clicked the overdrive button on your gearshift. The OD off indicates that your car will not shift into overdrive. It is useful to turn your overdrive off if you need to use engine braking to drive in hilly areas. Otherwise, it just wastes gas.
Will a car start with a disabled overdrive?
yes it will start it just wont go into overdrive when you are driving it drrba
What old car feature starts with an o?
Overdrive?
What is the function of an overdrive?
Overdrive just lets the car use the lowest gear. Without overdrive you are probably only using 3 gears, and with it you are probably using 4.
What does OD off mean in a car?
It means that the overdrive is turned off. most likely someone hit the overdrive button by mistake or pushed the button while using the vehicle to tow and never pushed the button again to turn overdrive back on. On most cars the button is at the end of the shift handle.
Does overdrive make your car move faster?
Overdrive lets the engine run slower at highway speeds. This saves on gas.
