Most drivers are familiar with the basic gears: Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Low. But what about other letters written on your shifter? “S” and “B” might seem like a mystery, but they represent important driving modes that can enhance your experience behind the wheel. So what do S and B mean in a car? Here is the answer:
What Do S and B Mean In A Car?
“S” and “B.” What do they mean? Are they secret codes for a hidden driving mode? Everything will be explained below:
What does S mean?
Look at the car gear, you will see the list of abbreviations and S is one of them. You may wonder what is the S gear in a car.
Many people think that the S on the gear shift stands for Speed, but actually, the S stands for Sport.
Since the CVT gearbox has virtually infinite ratios, in S mode, the ECM of the car adjusts the transmission to provide the best acceleration when the throttle is pressed hard.
Therefore the car can hold the gears longer than it does in the D position for more power. Here’s how it works:
- Higher RPMs: Sport mode encourages the engine to rev higher before shifting gears. This results in quicker acceleration and a more exhilarating driving experience.
- Sharper throttle response: The car becomes more sensitive to your input on the accelerator pedal, providing a more immediate and direct connection between your foot and the engine.
- Firmer suspension (in some vehicles): Some cars equipped with adjustable suspension systems will stiffen the ride in Sport mode, reducing body roll and improving handling during cornering.
If you feel a little sportier, put your car in S and see how the car responds to throttle and gear changes. But pay attention that you will hurt your fuel economy.
What Does the B mean on a gear shift?
The S stands for Speed, so what does B mean in a car? The B means Brake or engine brake in your gear shift. When you are going down on the gradient road, it is recommended to shift the car in B mode.
It engages the engine braking, and your car won’t free-fall down the slopes and increase the entire drag. Here’s how it works:
- Downshifting: When you lift off the accelerator pedal in “B” mode, the transmission automatically downshifts to a lower gear.
- Engine resistance: This downshifting increases engine resistance, creating a braking effect that slows the vehicle down.
- Reduced brake wear: Using engine braking will lessen the workload on your brake pads and rotors, potentially extending their lifespan.
The B mode also helps to prevent your car brakes from overworking since it takes a major load off of them by helping the car reduce the speed with gear ratios.
If you go uphill, brake mode will help you to do it easily. It makes sure the car will not start to crawl back. So do not hesitate to use Brake when you go upward or downward.
But you may find that your car does not have a B on the gear shift because you own Toyota cars. It will write L instead of B.
How About Other Letters On Gear Shift?
The P letter on the gear shift
The “P” on an automatic transmission stands for the PARK setting. When the gear shifter is in park, the transmission ‘gears’ are locked, which restricts the wheels from being able to spin forward or backward.
The park or P mode locks the transmission mechanically thus restricting the movement of the car in any direction.
In Drive mode the transmission will automatically shift through all the gears. In 2nd gear (2 or L2) mode transmission will only shift from Low to 2nd gear.
The R letter on the gear shift
The “R” stands for Reverse, or the gear selected to drive the vehicle backward. The reverse gear is represented on the gear lever by the letter ‘R’.
It can be in a different position depending on the model of the car that you’re driving. When you shift the gear lever from P to R, the automatic transmission’s reverse gear is engaged.
It spins the drive shaft backward, allowing the drive wheels to spin in ‘reverse’.
The N letter on the gear shift
N stands for neutral. In some cars, you have to shift to neutral mode with the engine warmed up to get an accurate reading of the fluid level in the transmission.
One more use for N, when the vehicle won’t start in park, put it in neutral to see if the issue is the park/neutral safety switch.
FAQs
Why does my car have P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2, 1 instead of P, N, D, S, L, R?
It’s because you own a new model car. When there were only three gears available, D meant the transmission would shift through all the forward gears depending on speed, load, etc.
S meant the transmission would shift through only first and second forward gears depending on speed, load, etc. L meant the transmission would lock in first.
Can you shift from drive to L (B) in automatic transmission while running?
The Brake mode forces your transmission to use a lower gear. If your gearbox is in a higher gear, it will shift down. If your gearbox is in a lower gear, shifting to L will prevent the gearbox from using higher gears.
The engine revs higher. It accelerates better. When you put your foot off the pedal, the engine brake effect is stronger – the car slows down.
Will using my car’s “sport” mode most of the time prematurely wear out my engine or automatic transmission?
Generally speaking, the harder you drive a car the faster its parts wear out. However, everything is relative.
If you use sport mode where it makes sense and don’t stand on the gas, then try to stomp the brakes through the floor, it won’t make a difference in wear on the vehicle. If you push the hell out of it and beat on the car, it definitely will.
Sum Up
The S and the B stand for Sport and Brake on the gear shift as we mentioned above. Each of them has its own function. Besides, there are some other letters on the gear shift such as P, R, N.
We hope that this article will be somehow useful for you.
Good to know we need more idears