Over Drive???

[tatooine315]

Hello, I know this is a topic that has been discussed in other threads, and I read them as well as the manual...but I am new to the car world and my new VIBE...call me an idiot but what is overdrive and what does it do??? My car seems to idle faster when it is off??? Sorry if this is an old subject..I am a true novice to the car world...Thanks any help is appreciated...

[ragingfish]

You should find your answer in these threads:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... ad?id=1667

[Stang2Vibe]

overdrive is just a generic term for any gear whose final drive ratio is less than 1:1. It's just a high gear that is used primarily at highway speeds to reduce engine noise and increase fuel economy. Your car should idle no different whether you are in 3rd or OD. It WILL run at lower RPM's when driving at highway speeds in OD, though.With the automatic transmission on the Vibe, OD is 4th gear. With the 5-speed manual, it is 5th gear, and with the 6-speed both 5th and 6th gears are overdrive gears.

[joatmon]

like stang said, the overdrive on or off should have no effect on your idle speed, . Seems like idle speed is most affected by engine temperature. If you are driving along at highway speeds and take your foot of the gas pedal, then the engine speed will be higher with OD off because you are in a lower gear, which means the engine has to turn faster for the same wheel speed. The momentum of the car is forcing the engine to turn faster, and you will slow down faster. That's not really "idle" though, but would be normal.If you are in Park with foot off the gas pedal and turn OD on and off, do you see a change in engine speed?I've turned OD off in auto tranny cars when going up a long hill if the tranny keeps shifting back and forth between 3rd and OD, and also when coming down a long hill to use the engine to slow the car instead of riding the brakes. Other than that, leave it on for best fuel economy.

[tatooine315]

Thanks for all the info as I said I am a ignoramos on car issues.....But I failed to mention that I have an automatic..and I think I was just paranoid I now see that there is no differance in the idle speed...so I a just going to leave it on all the time...do you think that is the best solution???Thanks to all..I really have learned so much on this web-site I have had my VIBE for 2 months and I LOVE IT!!!!!!

[ragingfish]

As previously stated, the O/D is automatically engaged when the car is on, regardless of whether it was on or off when the car was last run. There is no reason to turn O/D off unless you (A) need extra power for passing or hill climbing, or (B) need to step down a gear to engage engine braking.In most cases, there is NO need to turn it off.

[Stang2Vibe]

Or, like joatmon said, if the transmission keeps "gear hunting" when climbing a long hill. If you are towing something or have the car really loaded down with cargo, you should probably also shut off the O/D. When the engine is strained for extended periods of time under heavy load, the transmission will get excessively hot and can prematurely wear when O/D is used. There should be more about this in the Vibe's owner's manual.