Driving an automatic

[interele]

This may seem a bit silly but I've never driven an automatic before - When I am going down hill with my foot off the gas it occasionally changes down and the engine revs go up big time and it is like hitting the brake - 1) is this nornal 2) how do I stop this

Ta

[Richard1966]

Its normal but should only happen on very steep hills. You dont want to stop it, its a safety feature

[Panic Button]

If you drive the car regularly try to recognise the sort of situation where it may do it. If you don't want it to provide engine braking, then in that situation dab the throttle lightly.

[Caladon]

The car will automatically change down a gear when you no longer have your foot on the accelerator if it goes below a certain speed.
Obviously if you are doing 70 and take your foot off it won't drop down a gear.
Were you going around 30mph and it dropped into 3rd?

One of our cars is a Land Rover... if you are coasting at 30 and go down a hill and the car accelerates without ones foot on the pedal... the car will not go beyond 36mph no matter how steed the hill is. It doesnt' change down, like yours, brakes using the engine and limits the speed.
Very clever and very safe.

[interele]

Yes, I was doing just under 30 and it's a reasonable downhill - I was used to my old manual that the engine braking in 4th plus a very light pressure on the brake will keep it at 30. It took me a bit by surprise when I was expecting it to be the same and it changed down

M