Hi. I know crap about launching. I have a 2000 automatic Maxima. I was wounderin if turning the Overdrive off would help in launches? Or are you never supposed to use over drive while racing? I did a few experiments just wondering what you guys think.

 

overdrive will make any difference in launching. when you turn the overdrive off(dash od light on) your car will not shift into 4th gear until you press the button (overdive on). in a normal 1/4 mile run your car shouldnt shift into 4th gear, as at wot your car wont shift into 4th until over 100mph.

 

Uhh. Ok. I'll try both ways see what happens. thanks.

 

Overdrive does nothing while launching. The only time overdrive will do anything for you is racing from a roll, it will lock out 4th gear and since our cars like to mozy along in 4th gear at basically any crusing speed to save gas, if you don't manually shift this can hurt you badly from a roll.

LEMAR

 

ok. Thanks

 

1 = limited in first gear
2 = limited in second gear
D + OD OFF = limited in 3rd gear
D + OD ON = 4th gear

if you are WOT then it doesn't matter. you can still red line every gear. because it's a automagic...

the only thing that will affect launching on an automatic transmission is called "torque braking"

 

I know about break tourqing. I've done it up to a measly 2000 rpms. I should of phrased the question better. I also wanted to know about performance differences off a roll ay per say 40mph. Thanks for the additional info.

 

taking the OD off does make a difference. i have used this method multiple times and i pull harder off of the start. the OD not only shifts you into the 4th gear but it also drives the car more economical. you will use more gas if you have the OD off. this is the same in other cars too. but then you only should be doing this if you are racing, otherwise you will just be wasting gas.

 

locking out 4th gear has nothing to do with launching the car, in a 4 gen if you leave the car in D with od on at WOT your car should not shift into 4th gear until after 100mph, many people including myself feel that the car pulls harder off the start when manually shifting from 1st to 2nd

your on the mark with the gas thing though

 

well it seems that my car pulls harder with the overdrive off, not a whole lot but it does seem to. and anyway the transmission seems to want to be in 4th all the time. i know i can get up to 45 in first, and 75 in second...but the transmission will also put along in 4th for all of that. so it can be kind of helpful it up are starting while moving at lower speeds.

 

i agree there, good ole tranny ecu, never happy unless its in 4th gear

 

I think i agree with BadKarma99-4spd that the car does pull a little harder when started in 1st gear and then manually shifting to 2nd. I read on maximadriver.com to shut overdrive off when racing, but could really think of why that would help from a dead stop, so thats where i think some people got that idea. *sigh* wish i had a 5 speed.

 

Wow. Got some good replies while I've been gone. I too wish I had a manual ; but oh well. I'm just happy that I chose this automatic Max over a Celica and an RSX.

 

I know you guys think you may feel a difference between O/D on or O/D off.

However, from a dead stop, ie a 1/4 mile race (we are in the 1/4 & 1/8 mile racing forum) it makes absolutely NO difference if its on or off.

I leave mine on because I redline in 3rd before the end of the 1/4 as a result of the 22" slicks I use, by the time I hit the 1/4 line I am just over 5K RPM in 4th or O/D.

Be happy you have an automatic. I just bought a 2k2 Auto and had to go through a bunch of 6 spds for sale before I found the one I wanted. Seems like everyone has a 2k2 6spd for sale.

 

Whether O/D is on or off, you are still starting in the SAME 1st GEAR so it will make no difference whatsoever. It's a psychological trick.

 

Leave it in drive with O/D on. Hit it and get it. Power brake off the line of course.

 

im guessing by power break, that that is the same thing as a break stand?

 

yes also aka brake tourqing

 

glad that is cleared up