first time automatic owner with a 2.4 surf

[PIP H]

With a baby on the way I have recently had to sell the sports car and buy something bigger. So I have bought a 1993 surf and have enjoyed it alot, but I have always had a manual car and this is the first time I have ever had an automatic transmission on a car and also the first 4x4 I have owned. Most of the selections on the gears are self explanatory but when would I ever use the 2 and L settings. Also what type of terrain would I use the 4x4 settings. I would love to get into off roading in a larger scale so to know when these settings would be used would be a good start. Sorry for being naive but not Knowing what these are for is annoying.

[da SLUG man]

L keeps it in low gear (1st)

2 is second gear.. i.e won't change to 3rd

4wd engages the front wheels for driving on slippery surfaces.

[PIP H]

Cheers slug man but what do the H, N, and L4 do?

[TonyN]

N is neutral, H is the normal gear range for driving around, L4 is low range four wheel drive in extreme conditions, H with the 4WD button pressed is the normal 4wd mode.

Don't use 4WD in hard surfaces, its not nessesary, and will put extra strain on the drivetrain.

[PIP H]

Thanks Tony. Living in the country I have alot of opertunities to off road and now I can try it in the right gears. Cheers

[Silversurfer]

With a baby on the way I have recently had to sell the sports car and buy something bigger. So I have bought a 1993 surf and have enjoyed it alot, but I have always had a manual car and this is the first time I have ever had an automatic transmission on a car and also the first 4x4 I have owned. Most of the selections on the gears are self explanatory but when would I ever use the 2 and L settings. Also what type of terrain would I use the 4x4 settings. I would love to get into off roading in a larger scale so to know when these settings would be used would be a good start. Sorry for being naive but not Knowing what these are for is annoying.

The attachment is a translation of the notice found on the sun visor of a lot of Surfs at import.

[deggers]

So what happens if you drive in normal gears, but when you press the 4wd button in, nothing happens?

The 4wd light does not come on? But in 4L it does.

[BUSHWHACKER]

So what happens if you drive in normal gears, but when you press the 4wd button in, nothing happens?

The 4wd light does not come on? But in 4L it does.

To make the 4wd light come on, you have to release the gas pedal, then press it again.

When you shift the lever into l4, 4wd is automaticaly engaged.

[Flannelmeister]

Leaving aside the four wheel drive, it is best to learn how to use an automatic first. Sure, you can just bung it into drive and leave it there but that doesn't make full use of the gearbox.

If you select the 2 setting going down a steep hill, when you brake to below a certain speed, the gearbox will change down and stay there until you move the selector back to the D position. This means that you can take advantage of the engine braking and reduce the wear on your brakes. For a REALLY steep hill you may want to go all the way down to 1 on the gearbox.

You also have an overdrive button on the side of the gear selector. It is advisable to knock the overdrive off on going up steep hills as it will keep the engine in a lower gear for longer and the engine will labour less.

[BUSHWHACKER]

You also have an overdrive button on the side of the gear selector. It is advisable to knock the overdrive off on going up steep hills as it will keep the engine in a lower gear for longer and the engine will labour less.[/QUOTE]


In addition to this, press the ECT button.

[da SLUG man]

mine only has a dummy ECT... don't do a thing to the engine!