I have a simple qestion about the gear selector on auto boxes. Why do early Mini’s show gear numbers 1 to 4 on the selector, but later Minis only show 1 to 3?
Cost saving or are the gearboxes different? Or engine size related?
Cheers!
The gearboxes are slightly different, a little bit to do with the engine, but basically small bores, 850,998 and 1098 have the auto boxes with RN1234 (or D) where as the 1300’s have PRN123D, with the addition of the Park, they both still have 4 gears.
> The gearboxes are slightly different, a little bit to do with the engine, but basically small bores, 850,998 and 1098 have the auto boxes with RN1234 (or D) where as the 1300’s have PRN123D, with the addition of the Park, they both still have 4 gears.
Thanks for the info )
I haven’t driven one yet, but can you shift through the gears ‘manually’ fairly often without putting much stain on the 'box? Or is it best to do that in moderation? Just curious.
The ‘gears’ on an automatic are for holding the car in a particular gear, eg when going up and down hills, ideally no automatic should be used in such a manner you propose.
Fair enough, thought it might have been the case, I.e. to hold a gear in certain conditions. (Rest assured I wouldn’t mistreat a Mini!)
I thought I heard something different about how the Mini auto box operates, may have been my imagination, or duff info (from somewhere else of course!).
Anyway, thanks all for the info. (It was for curiosity more than anything else.)
Guess-Works, I’m sure that in the car’s manual, they say that you can use the automatic box just like you use a manual (eg. shift through 1-2-3-D manually)… Just that you must be careful when changing downgear at the correct speed for the gear or you’ll risk ruin the box…
Can you shed some light on that?
Oh, and if I’m not mistaken, very early Auto Minis do have the 4th gear option, making the selector read RN1234D…
