Overdrive, What is it and whats it for? Options

[LewFX]

Does anyone use their overdrive button?? Is there any advantages? I hear its suppose to act like a 5th gear..any comments?

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

My buddy had one of those on his sunfire. What it was, was pretty much a different way of shifting. When its off, the car says in gear longer and uses more gas. And I dought it 5 gears, it probably just lets you use 4th. Turn it off when you race, but leave it on whenever your not. Someone else will reply to conferm or disprove what I said, but I'm pretty sure its right.

[celicasupra209]

my impression is that overdrive is automatic version of downshifting since its an automatic it shifts gears automattically but if your in a manual and you down shift you get the same results as using and overdrive button maybe im wrong but thats what happens when my uncle uses his od button on his 240 auto its accelerate faster and rpm jumps same thing like down shifting you accelerate faster .. just do use od when going like 60+ mph i dont think its a good idea especiall if its on a celica lolz

[latinomasfino]

my impression is that overdrive is automatic version of downshifting since its an automatic it shifts gears automattically but if your in a manual and you down shift you get the same results as using and overdrive button maybe im wrong but thats what happens when my uncle uses his od button on his 240 auto its accelerate faster and rpm jumps same thing like down shifting you accelerate faster .. just do use od when going like 60+ mph i dont think its a good idea especiall if its on a celica lolz
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i alwasy thought overdrive off gives off a higher compression that y u can accelerate faster but then dies off at about 60MPH

[celicasupra209]

meant dont ... use after 60+ lolz i was like what you talking about lolz

[XxAxnCelica95xX]

od accelerate faster but low rmp
od off accelerate fast tooo but with high rmp...
if u want to hear ur exhuast loud i recommend u turn od off and u can hear it..but i think when u step on the gas it goes kinda slow gettin up to the speed u want,...when u at 70 with the od on ur rpm should be at 3000...if the od is off..then it would be 4000 or slightly a lil more...if u race i say use od on...not off...that wat i think...

[BlackSTX]

My car didn't come with a Users Manual but the Corolla's user manual says to turn O/D off when passing. If you turn it off and stomp on the gas around 40 mph it gets rid of that big dead spot in the powerband. I turn it off all the time on the Highway, going faster than 60. Your RPM's jump and you speed up without even giving more gas. It's also much better to turn it off when climbing hills.

[Rjb23]

With overdrive you use 3 gears in your tranny instead of 4. It also stays in lower gears longer than if you have OD on.

This post has been edited by Rjb23: Feb 23, 2005 - 5:12 PM

[Jdog1385]

yea you use overdrive on highways to conserve gas

[shid]

.. lotta wrong information in this thread

Overdrive is your 4th gear; turn overdrive off and it will only shift through 1-3. Turn On overdrive and you'll have a 4th gear.

If you're drag racing, turn OD off until you're ready to shift into 4th, otherwise it will short shift out of 3 to save gas.

[Rjb23]

Whoops thats what I meant, with OD off is 3 gears lol.

[Jdog1385]

yea you use overdrive on highways to conserve gas

.. lotta wrong information in this thread

not i

[Hanyo]

over drive also has to do with how your transmission reacts to throttle postion. With over drive on, it would be more tollerent to changes in throttle postion. When over drive is ON, a slightly less of a throttle depression will cause the transmission to down shift into a lower gear. With our smart trannys, you dont need to turn od on/off when passing cars.. just push down harder on the gas pedel will make the tranny down shift.

Another thing OD will do is help create some engine braking. With over drive off, it will help slow the car down when you completely released the throttle. Take a note of this when you are driving.. accelerate to 40 mph with OD on, and release the gas.. look at your RMP and notice how the car slows down. Try this experiment again with OD OFF, notice your rpm will be higher and you will decelerate quicker incomparison to OD on.

With od on in city driving. the tranny will shift sooner.. with over drive off the tranny will shift later.. (around 3-4k rpm).

Over drive should not make a car faster in a drag race, because the ecu will shift at redline when the throttle is wide open.