GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Whats the difference between driving with O/D on or off....Just was wondering...

Normally you should leave overdrive enabled. That lets the transmission shift into a higher gear so the engine turns slower when at highway speeds and is more fuel efficient and quieter. However in some conditions, especially when driving in hilly terrain or towing a heavy load, you may find that the transmission is frequently shifting back and forth which may be disconcerting. In that case disabling the overdrive gear will keep the transmission from shifting and result in more predictable behavior and less wear on the transmission.

under 80mph if I need to pass on the hwy or something along those lines it seems turning the O/D off helps a little.

my thumb is on the o/d button whenever I want more power, drive along at any speed and hit the o/dbutton (turn off overdrive, the litte light on the dash will come on) and you will notice the RPM's increase and you will have more power to pass ect... I will cruise on the interstate at around 60 hit the O/D button for an instant and have plenty of power to pass someone.no, it will not hurt the transmission to leave it off, you just won't have Overdrive and you will notice that there should be another shift point at around 45 to 50 MPH. If your the kind of person that doesn't put their foot on the gas all the time, use it when you need that extra oomph going up a hill ect...Overdrive" is the term for gear ratios that are lower than 1:1 – a situation where the engine is turning slower than the drive shaft. Overdrive gears are appropriate when very little torque is needed – the vehicle is no longer accelerating – and can deliver the best fuel economy. The six-speed transmission in the Ford Five Hundred has two overdrive gears, with a final ratio of 0.686:1.i used search and found this: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=15765

I use my O/D button to assist in slowing down or when I am in slow and go traffic. Helps me to use the brakes a little less.

I use the O/D when getting on a highway or passing below 80mph. Typically once I hit 80 I shut it off. But I too play with the button depending.Oh yes and O/D does two things. When switched off it will either increase the RPMs in that gear and hold you in a specific gear longer to get more power. Or drop down a gear to allow more power before switching. Those are the main advantages. Using it frequently will yield a decrease in fuel mileage figure 10-20 per tank.