hey guys, ive search the forum and read the threads but i still dont understand how to work the gears work AT ALL!

so basically i have D --> 4 -->3 -->2 -->L

so how does any of that work i always drive on D so in the noobiest way can someone explain step by step how i can learn this shifting.

 

D is 5
4=4
3=3
2=2
L=1

 

^ basically what lexusscturbo said. its pretty simple.

 

And when you are in 2 it'll drive from 1st to 2nd gear but never go into 3rd
in 3rd it'll go from 1st, 2nd and stay in 3rd
4th; it'll go 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and finally 4th
in D its like 4th gear but with Over Drive

If you don't want Over Drive just leave it in 4th.
It won't let you over rev the engine either. when manually gating through the gears.

 

sorry guys i dont have a manual so im asking questions...

anyways what is a ETC power thanks in advance and where is the over drive switch thanks in advance CL

 

ETC power alters the shift points on the transmission, (IE) it allows for later shifts for better acceleration, not economy.

 

can i shift when im not putting any gas and just letting it roll? or i have to be at a stop?

ok lets say i start the car and want to start driving.. i normally put it to D and drive.. so now your saying i should shift all the way down to first gear (foot still on brake) then put gas then shift again to 2 (w/ or w.o stepping on gas?) and then again to 3 then to 4 and itll go faster than normal D?

and we dont got a overdrive button is that correct? sorry my car didnt come with a manual and i tried researching

 

You can change forward gears while driving, you have to stop to go to reverse. There is no overdrive button because the (D) position allows the car to go into overdrive automatically depending on speed and throttle position.

 

I got a 98 Manual booklet F/S if you're interested...I think ..I need to search my garage lol..
buutyeah 98GS430 is right
D=over drive on
and 4=OD off
OD basically means the gear is not a 1:1 gear

 

after reading this thread...im completely lost! You can manually shift gears with your automatic gs? Also, does it really make a difference changing gears like driving a stick, or just leave it in D?

 

You can row through the gate (aka shift the gears from L-D) you're better off leaving it the ECT in power and letting the auto transmission do its job

 

I'm hearing two diff things... I hear from one friend that overdrive wastes more gas and coranother friend that it doesn't so which is correct?

Lets say I totaly don't want to use D anymore and I just start my car do I start on L(1) and work up the gears or do I start with gear 4 and work down the gears thx

 

What is wrong with you guys?! You don't drive an automatic like a stick shift unless you have a a tiptronic or paddle shifting. And if you don't know how to drive stick then don't try to attempt it.

GS300s have the paddle shifting on the steering wheel with buttons on the face of the wheel labeled "DOWN" and on the backside of the steering for "UP".

 

Overdrive saves gas because the engine will be reving at a lower rpm. If u drive in 4, then at higher speeds your engine will rev higher than it will if u had it in D. The higher the engine revs the more fuel u are burning. That is why there are different gears to cut down on the engine rev while increasing speed.

 

98-00 GS400's and only 01-05 GS300's have this feature
I think its the same transmission unit so harm wont be done.