I have started driving around town in D because I hate my car constantly going in and out of overdrive every time I touch the gas at around 40-45 mph. I noticed that the car only uses engine compression to brake when it is in D. Is that normal? Also does the converter not lock up when it is in 3rd gear if you are in D? Maybe I should just leave it in OD but I hear that the 3-4 clutch band is first to go in these cars and this might help?
Thanks
Dustin

 

I drive in 3rd/drive quite often, and a lot of other people do too. For city driving especially, it's going to be easier on the tranny, and besides, you'll have better throttle response, and you won't really save anything in terms of gas mileage for the difference OD makes in the city --- truthfully, using OD in city traffic could worse mileage if you're lugging the motor a lot.

I do believe though, that the converter locks up in 3rd and in 4th --- it's not as noticeable in 3rd, but I'm pretty sure it does.