# Shifting an automatic

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [November 15, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115 "2008-11-15T18:27:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![williamlex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f07891/32.png) [@williamlex](https://community.cartalk.com/u/williamlex)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/1 "2008-11-15T18:27:39Z")

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I have a 2007 Honda Accord with automatic transmission and live in an area where there are a lot of hills. Is it okay to manually shift from D to 3 or 2 when the car is in motion to slow its speed going downhill or when coming to a stop or will it cause premature wear and tear?

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/2 "2008-11-15T18:30:24Z")

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Look In Your Owner’s Manual !

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/3 "2008-11-15T18:39:24Z")

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Downshifting is ok to manage your speed on long hills, but its not something to do as you come to a stop.

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**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/4 "2008-11-15T19:38:37Z")

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Downshifting is fine, just dont drop it down if you are doing 80 mph

transman

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**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/5 "2008-11-16T02:23:29Z")

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Exactly, Texases

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/6 "2008-11-16T03:55:11Z")

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texases is right. The only reason to do it is on long downhills or very steep, slow downhill runs. Gearing down to stop is not advisable. About only time I used the shifter in an automatic is to gear down in preparation for blasting out of a low speed turn when I am in a hurry. It is particularly useful to avoid the awkward lurch on uphill tight turns.

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**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shifting-an-automatic/22115/7 "2008-12-10T04:13:13Z")

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And it is a good idea to lock out the overdrive while driving in hills. I don’t mean on the freeway.