Q&A for How to Drive Uphill

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  • Question
    What gear is best if I'm driving uphill?
    Ibrahim Onerli
    Ibrahim Onerli
    Driving Instructor
    Ibrahim Onerli is a Driving Instructor and the Manager of Revolution Driving School in New York City. His mission is to make the world a better place by teaching safe driving. Ibrahim trains and manages a team of over eight driving instructors. He specializes in teaching defensive driving and stick shift driving.
    Ibrahim Onerli
    Driving Instructor
    Expert Answer
    You'll want to switch to a lower gear whenever you go uphill. If it's really steep, shift a manual all the way to first or second gear. If you have an automatic vehicle, you can switch to D1 or D2 if you have those options on your gear shift.
  • Question
    What does it mean if my automatic struggles when going uphill?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    There are several reasons this could happen. If your car tends to lose power when going uphill, you could have a clogged exhaust filter or a bad fuel filter. It could also be a problem with your camshaft position sensor, or you might have low cylinder compression. Take your car to a mechanic to figure out what’s at the root of the problem.
  • Question
    How do you keep from rolling back when you’re driving uphill in an automatic?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Many automatic transmission cars have hill assist to keep this from happening. If your car doesn’t have hill assist, put your left foot on the brake, shift into Drive, and smoothly accelerate with your right foot while easing your left foot off the brake at the same time.
  • Question
    What gear should I use when driving downhill in an automatic?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Your options may vary depending on the car. Try shifting into “2,” “3,” or “L,” whichever is available.
  • Question
    What does it mean if my car doesn't want to take gas going up hill, but runs fine when it is on level ground?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Sounds like a fuel or carburation problem. Go and see a mechanic if changing down gears doesn't help you climb the hill.
  • Question
    How do I back down a steep grade with automatic transmission?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    When you are in a complete stop, move your gear to reverse (R) (your feet must be on the foot brake the entire time), and just gently back down by releasing the foot brake. You don't need to use gas.
  • Question
    How do I drive an automatic car downhill?
    Davis Chia
    Davis Chia
    Community Answer
    Brake down your car deliberately to the desired speed and then open the brake completely so it can cool down. If the road happens to be really steep, it may be necessary to shift down to second or first gear. Then you will go downhill quite slow (with an engine revving on high revs).
  • Question
    Can I shift from D to L in a car with an automatic transmission while driving uphill to provide more power and get up the hill faster?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Most likely the transmission will perform that shift for you without your having to do anything, but you could make the shift if you wanted to, as long as you weren't driving at high RPM's at the time.
  • Question
    Do I keep my foot on the accelerator when trying to change to a low gear going up a steep hill in an automatic?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, preferably Not. As in a manual transmission, you need to let off the gas. Otherwise you start grinding gears, which is bad. So ease off, make a quick switch, and give it some gas.
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