just wonder what the point of it was? i i searched but nothing came up. please shed me some light thanks.

 

D3 is for towing or city driving where you do not want the trans to gonstantly go from 3 to 4 to 3 (gear hunting). Newer cars have 5 speeds and I believe that 3rd is no longer accessable via the selector you would use 4th for towing instead.

 

D3 disables both 4th (overdrive) and the lock-up torque converter.
At 55mph, you'll be buzzing along at about 4500rpm rather than the 3000 you're used to. (and it can get noisy

P

 

on 5th gen cars with base engine and auto trans, 3K gets you 75MPH

 

In third???? I think not

 

no in 4th gear you get 75 In third 3K gets you 45 (trust me on this I have a 1994 LX and tow in 3rd gear)

 

hmm...my dealer said you get better gas mileage if you use D3 in surface streets...does this sound about right?

 

With the advent of overdrive Automatic transmissions, they were marketed as dual personality transmissions: One version for driving on city streets (no more than 35 mph) (D3), and open road transmissions (continuous speeds greater than 50 mph) (D4). This was true with the first generation Overdrive Automatics since (D3) was (in effect) a 1:1 final ratio and (D4) was (in effect) about 0.80:1 overdriven and included the lock-up torque converter. The recommendation was to use D3 in the city and D4 on the highways.
In Honda Overdrive transmissions, the first 3 selections (1,2, and D3) are underdriven with D4 being overdriven with the included lock-up torque converter.

The original recommendation to use D3 in the city and D4 on the highways for fuel economy reasons has never really proven out. In actuality, the real reason the manufacturers came up with this "urban myth" was to control shifting complaints from customers when they drove thru the city in D4. The earlier transmissions, because they relied on controls such as downshift cables, vacume modulators and mechanical linkages, were forever shifting - trying to maintain the correct engine/ vehicle speed.
With the advent of computer controlled transmissions, the point has become mute.

P

 

so what you're saying is that there is no point in using D3?

 

Hey, it's a great way to play around if you want. You will notice the car will accellerate quicker in D3 since it doesn't have to drop down from 4th overdrive and release the torque converter (it's like driving a manual in second, jumps when you punch it, but that's about it.

P

 

when your driving down a hill... its always a good idea to shift down into a lower gear... also if your breaks end up going out.. shifting into a lower gear will eventualy slow your car down much quicker than coasting

 

no, that is not right. What they should have told you was something like "using D3 when in city driving will save your tranny from gear hunting between 3rd and 4th. Driving at speeds above 32 (5th gen LX) will cause the trans to go into 4th gear when the engine load is right. In most cities the speed limit is between 25 and 35 on residental streets. Driving in 3rd gear when 4th gear is available will definately result in lower gas milage.

 

uh ok so basically stay out of d3? lol

 

I drive around town in D3 at speeds of 40 or less. I found that I got an extra 30 miles out of the tank doing so. I use D4 above 40 (traffic permitting) and on the highway. Works well for me.

 

Well, that answers that...... Lol