Uphill, how can i drive my 1.4 Automatic Car uphill without damaging the engine?

Question

I just got a new job, i have to drive 900 yards uphill, it is a nightmare, cars behind keep beeping and fastly overtaking in single line country roads.

My car makes so much noise if i push it over the limit to try to pull my car faster.

My car Gear is like this (1, 2, D, N, R, P)

I always drive on D.

I tried driving in 1 & 2, the engines makes too much noise.

Answer 1

If your new job is only 900 yards away, why don't you save the planet and walk?

ZZA: Well, it sounds like the engine is blown. Driving it uphill will make the noise worse because the engine is working harder. In 1 & 2 you are making the engine work harder, and that's why it's noisier.

Only solution - take it to a garage. May be something else that's making the noise - fanbelts, exhaust etc.

Answer 2

Your top speed of at least 90mph should be available in "D", your top gear.  I think you may have a problem if the car struggles with hills, either one with your auto box, or your engine.  If your engine needs to, it should change down into a lower gear to get up a steep hill.

    If you have a rev-counter, keep the engine speed to at least 2500 rpm to avoid 'labouring' the engine while you are climbing - youi can move the lever to a lower gear yourself.  Think of an autobox as something to use intelligently.

Answer 3

sounds to me like you over revved the engine and broke something internely have it checked out before more damage is done i had a race car that i only drove in low gear but i still had to watch the rpms on the engine over reving is not a good thing for a engine expecialy if its constant it beats the heck out of the valve train this is were in racing most engine problems accure  

Answer 4

Same as any other basically.  When you reach the hill give it a little more accelerator and if it needs to change down it will.

Answer 5

It's a simple matter of physics & for the engine in your car to do what you're asking it to do, it's going to have to work very hard and will be operating very near its peak output.

My first suggestion is to turn off the air conditioning, if used, while on the hill.

If you keep the car in 'D' it's not going to over rev the motor and the noise is the consequence for running at peak output. If you can't live with the noise, you might use the extra cash from the new job to buy a car with a bigger motor.

Just my opinion.  

Answer 6

put it into D and put your foot on the gas.

2 is for gradients, but generally ONLY if your puliing a trailer...

i would suggest theres nothiing wrong with your car, its just the way you drive...

failiing that, there is something wrong, chech the torque converter fluid level, which is a primary reason for losing power uphill on automatics...

to check it, start the car, select prndl21 and go bacl to P and then forward into drive. (put the car against a wall or put the brakes on.

then check the fluid levels...  

Answer 7

Such a small engine pulling on auto is going to struggle if the hill is very steep , a car like you discribe is realy for the ladies to go shopping in not for serios motoring  

Answer 8

I don't understand what you mean - you should always be in 'D', and if you floor the accelerator your car will change down to the lowest gear available - I have serious worries if you don't know how to drive an automatic - how & when did you pass your test?

Why is it a nightmare going uphill? If your car is slowing down with your foot to the floor over such a distance, I suggest there's something wrong with it.

Answer 9

J G is absolutely right here.  The "D" should allow you to just drive along without the need to change gear.  It does it for you and if everything is ok then there should not be this noise.  Would suggest you run in to your local independant garage and ask if they would roadtest it with you and show them what it is doing.  Take them up the same hill that you describe here

Good luck