Can someone please tell me what this is used for?? Ive heard so many different stories and uses... I just wanna know what its used for. Thanks!

 

OD OFF = Car only has 3 speeds.
OD ON = Car has 4 speeds.

Clear ?

 

The O/D button does ONLY TWO THINGS!!! (It does not affect 1st and 2nd gear in any way!!!)

1) Like everyone says, having O/D off will eliminate 4th gear. Your max speed will be whatever your rev limit is in 3rd gear.

2) NOT EVERYONE MAY KNOW THIS -

O/D OFF will LOCK the torque converter in 3rd gear. Therefore, your car will shift like this with O/D OFF: unlocked 1st -> unlocked 2nd -> locked 3rd

O/D ON will UNLOCK the torque converter in 3rd gear. Therefore, your car will shift like this with O/D ON: unlocked 1st -> unlocked 2nd -> unlocked 3rd -> unlocked 4th -> then if you ease off the gas, the tranny will drop to a LOCKED 4th & the RPMs will drop a bit.

(Your transmission will always lock the torque converter in the highest gear for better fuel efficiency.)

If you don't believe me, try this. With O/D OFF, go WOT on the freeway making sure the car is in 3rd gear (anything above 70mph will suffice). With your foot still mashed to the ground in 3rd gear, turn O/D ON while looking at your RPMs. You WILL see your RPMs jump a few hundred RPMS & it'll feel like a lil' boost. THIS IS YOUR TORQUE CONVERTER UNLOCKING.

To me, it seems that the engine revs faster in 3rd with the torque converter unlocked (O/D on); however, others feel that 3rd gear with a locked torque converter (O/D off) is faster. I guess the only way to really tell which one is faster is to do timed 3rd gear runs with O/D on & off.

Also, you know when you're cruising in 4th gear on the freeway and you accelerate & the RPMs jump up but the tranny hasn't downshifted into 3rd? THIS TOO, IS YOUR TORQUE CONVERTER UNLOCKING.

 

Thanks man, very informative. my main question is should i leave the o/d off for speeds under 40?? I hear that city driving with o/d on is bad for the tranny?? is this true? thanks in advance

 

I just leave OD off most of the time. Only if I'm on the highway I would turn OD on. If I want to pass someone on the highway, I would turn OD off, let it rev up for a second, then slam on the gas. I found it worked best for me this way.

 

Hey thanks for reminding me , i forgot i even had that dam button..

Ah the quest for a fast Max is endless.
Roger

 

I notice this alright! I even thought at first that the car had 5 gears (2 overdrives) as i'm sure i'm on 4th but when i hit the gas again while cruising it feels like i just downshifted. But when i try shifting to 3rd it downshifts!

Indeed! I've almost perfected this technique to the point that i always throw myself to the seat everytime i do this. Makes it feel like driving a manual again - to an extent

Btw, added tip. The 2k2's don't have OD buttons. You basically just move the gated shifter to the left to hit 3rd. (Which at the same time turns OD off)

 

O/D off get you 10hp at the wheels. Everyone knows this

 

In light of everyone's technical description of the o/d (thanks Calsonic), I thought I'd share what I most commonly use mine for:

1) Decelerating on the highway if I plan on stopping ahead.
2) Twisty, hilly roads where speed is constantly changing and I want to stay out of 4th gear.
3) Downhill grades to reduce the speed if coasting is making me go too fast.

Tony

 

Is it ok to use OD OFF to slow down?? cause i do it too sometimes...