Automatic Transmission Confusion

Ilpav

Ilpav

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GTA, Ontario, Canada
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'04 Toyota Corolla LE
Ok. As you all know, automatic transmission-equipped cars have the gear selection in this order: P R N D 2 1.

Obviously I know what P, R, N, and D stand for, but what about L1 and L2. I know what it does (1 won't let transmission to shift out of 1st gear, and 2 will only shift between the 1st and 2nd gears), but I don't know what they are used for. I read somewhere that they are for driving on snowy and icy road conditions.

Please give me some examples of where and how they're used.

Thanks.
 
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Low gears in an auto are useful for limiting speed (going downhill), or when smoother torque application during acceleration is required (towing).
 
It used to be P-R-N-D-2-1 - which should help make a little more sense. The "general" standard these days is P-R-N-OD-D-3-2-1 or some variation thereof.

The L2/L1 thing is something your car's maker came up with.
 
Yeah, but most automatics don't use "L1" or "L2" to designate a low gear.

They might do P-R-N-D-2-L, for example, but not L1/L2.
 
I don't know where I got L1 and L2 from, but I just checked on my car and it's actually PRND3L.
 
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In some car I drive (not listed to the left) it goes PRND2L.
L meaning low gear.

Also, history lesson time!
Once upon a time, cars had the PNDLR or thereabout layout.
This was discontinued for safety reasons, because you could quite easily shift into reverse or low gear.
I want to say Chrysler built a transmission in the current standard some time in the 60s, but I can't remember.
 
what they said : used for engine braking on steep downhill sections so you don't cook your brakes
 
Ilpav said:
Please give me some examples of where and how they're used.
Click to expand...

You would use them in pretty much the same situations you would leave a manual transmission in a lower gear. It really is that simple.
 
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