What do P, R, N, D, L, S and O/D mean on an automatic?

TSS parts: JF414E filter for the Versa and March, JF011E CVT filter and overdrive band

In short

L (or 1) is a low gear: it's for engine braking on steep downgrades and for climbing slowly, in snow, sand or mud, as every owner's manual says.
2, 3 or D3 limit the gears for climbing, descending or towing; S varies by maker (sport on VW, engine braking on Toyota) and B is maximum engine braking.
Use P and R only when stopped: shifting into them while rolling can damage the transmission, and P is no substitute for the parking brake.
A lit O/D OFF light means someone turned overdrive off; press the button again to clear it. If it flashes, Ford says there's a fault.
Using L doesn't damage the transmission, but it's not for everyday or high-speed driving; and never coast downhill in neutral.

An automatic shifter has more letters and numbers than P, R, N and D, and each maker uses its own: L, 1, 2, 3, D3, S, B, M, + and −, plus buttons like O/D OFF or Hold. This article covers what each one does according to Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen and Ford owner's manuals, when to use them, which myths not to believe and which light signals a fault.

What does each letter on the shifter mean?

Letter	What it's for
P (Park)	For parking. Only with the car fully stopped and the parking brake set: P is no substitute for the parking brake
R (Reverse)	For backing up. Only with the car stopped: shifting into it while moving forward can damage the transmission
N (Neutral)	The engine doesn't drive the wheels and there's no engine braking. It's used to restart an engine that stalled while rolling
D (Drive)	Normal driving, with the best fuel economy
L, 1, 2, 3 or D3	Low gears: more engine braking downhill and more pulling power uphill, in snow, sand, mud or towing
S	Depends on the maker: sport program on VW, engine braking on Toyota, acceleration and engine braking on Honda
B	Maximum engine braking, on Toyota CVTs and hybrids
M, + and −	Manual mode: you choose the gear (Tiptronic on VW, SelectShift on Ford)
O/D OFF	Button that turns overdrive off: the transmission won't use its top gear
HOLD	Button on some Chevrolets, such as the Aveo: it locks the gear for starting on slippery roads

What is L for on an automatic car?

L (Low) or 1 keeps the transmission in its lowest gear. It's for engine braking on steep downgrades, climbing very steep grades slowly and driving in snow, sand or mud. Nissan's Versa manual says to use it when slowly climbing steep grades, driving slowly in deep snow, sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking on steep downgrades. Chevrolet adds, for the Onix, that it gives more engine braking but less fuel economy than D.

Why use engine braking? Because brakes heat up on a long downgrade. Honda explains that using the brake pedal constantly on a long descent builds up heat and reduces braking effectiveness, and recommends lifting off the throttle and shifting to a lower gear. Chevrolet says engine braking can extend the life of your brakes.

On a Nissan CVT, L has a narrower use: the Sentra manual says to use it for maximum braking when climbing or descending steep grades or approaching sharp curves, and in no other situation.

What do 2 and L (or 3 and D3) mean?

2: the transmission uses only 1st and 2nd. On the Aveo, Chevrolet recommends it for more power uphill and engine braking on steep downgrades; on the F-150, Ford recommends it for starting on slippery roads.
3 or D3: the transmission uses 1st through 3rd. Honda recommends it for towing in hilly terrain, engine braking on steep downgrades and to keep the transmission from cycling between 3rd and 4th in stop-and-go traffic.
There are speed limits: on the automatic Versa, Nissan says not to shift into 1 above 55 km/h (34 mph) or into 2 above 100 km/h (62 mph), because the engine can over-rev.
Many transmissions protect themselves: on the Aveo, if you select 1 at very high speed, the transmission stays in its current gear until the car slows down.

What do S and B mean?

S doesn't mean the same thing on every brand. On VWs it's the sport program: according to the manual, the transmission upshifts later and downshifts earlier than in D, to use the engine's power. On the Corolla, the S position is for engine braking, and B for maximum engine braking. On the Honda City, S is for better acceleration, engine braking and hills. On Toyota hybrids such as the Prius, B applies engine braking when you lift off the throttle, and Toyota warns that driving in B all the time lowers fuel economy, so normally select D.

Manual mode: M, + and −

In manual mode you choose the gear with the shifter or the paddles. But each maker programs it differently: VW (Tiptronic) and Toyota shift by themselves if the engine reaches its rpm limit, while Ford warns that SelectShift won't upshift on its own even near the limit. On the X-Trail, Nissan notes that in manual mode the transmission may not shift into the gear you ask for, to protect the car. We explain it in detail in What is Tiptronic?.

What does O/D OFF mean on an automatic?

O/D is overdrive, the top gear that lowers rpm on the highway. If the O/D OFF light is on, it isn't a fault: someone pressed the button on the shifter and turned overdrive off. Nissan's manual explains that the light comes on when the overdrive function is switched off.

When should you use it? According to Nissan, on long uphill and downhill grades where engine braking is needed, and when the transmission keeps shifting in and out of overdrive at low speeds or on gentle climbs; Ford adds city traffic, heavy loads and towing. But don't drive the highway for long with O/D OFF: it burns more fuel.

How do you turn O/D OFF off? Press the button again. Also, on the Nissans, Toyotas and Fords that have it, overdrive turns back on by itself every time you start the car.

And if the O/D OFF light flashes? Then it may be a fault. Ford says so in its owner's manuals: if the light doesn't come on or flashes steadily, have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible, as damage to the transmission could occur. Note: no manual we checked lists the famous "overdrive fuse" as a fix. If it flashes, scan the transmission; we explain what to check in Why won't my automatic transmission shift?.

What is the HOLD button for?

Some Chevrolets have it, such as the automatic Aveo. According to its owner's manual, Hold mode keeps the transmission in one gear: in D4 it locks 3rd, and in 2 or 1, that gear. It's for starting on slippery surfaces, because the car pulls away in 3rd, greatly reducing wheel slip and loss of traction. Press the button again to cancel it, and if the Hold indicator flashes, Chevrolet says to have the vehicle checked right away.

A flashing shifter light signals a fault

Several makers use a shifter light to warn of a fault: Ford, a flashing O/D OFF; Honda, a "D" that flashes while driving; Toyota, an "M" that flashes on its CVTs; and Chevrolet, the Hold indicator. In every case, the manual says to have the transmission checked soon or right away. If it also won't shift or shifts hard, read Why does my automatic transmission slip or shift hard?.

Shifter myths

"Using L or 2 damages the transmission": false. Every manual we checked says when to use them. They're not for everyday or high-speed driving, though, and Toyota warns on some models that climbing or towing for a long time in 2 or L can overheat the transmission: for that it recommends D.
"Put it in neutral at red lights to protect the transmission": no maker asks for this. Honda allows it for brief stops; if you do it, go back to D with your foot on the brake and without revving, because engaging a gear with the engine revved can damage the transmission.
"Coasting downhill in neutral saves fuel": don't. Without a gear there's no engine braking, and VW forbids it: never let the car roll downhill in neutral.
"You can shift into P if you're rolling slowly": false. Nissan, Toyota, Honda, VW and Chevrolet all say to stop completely before shifting into P or R.

See TSS parts

TSS parts for your transmission

If your transmission is already acting up, the TSS catalog has filters, bands such as the 4R70W overdrive band, solenoids, plates and Rojo and Dorado overhaul kits for the most common transmissions. Not sure which transmission your car has? Look it up in our guides for Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford and Volkswagen.

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