Greetings,
New owner here with a question about the W (winter) mode for the automatic transmission. Will using the W mode on dry roads cause any damage to the transmission? From what I read in the user manual, the Winter setting launches the car in second gear and will upshift sooner than normal (S) mode. I have found this to be a lot smoother shifting than the normal setting, due in part from bypassing the granny first gear.

 

Part of the following is from earlier posts of mine.
The "S" stands for summer or sport--take your pick. Depending on your car model and year, the gearbox is driver adaptive and it "remembers" your driving style and adjusts the automatic shifting to your style. In reality, it picks one of several pre-mapped shift sequences (6 or 7 programs) and uses it on an ongoing basis. If you change your style or someone else shares the driving, the program will change accordingly. It won't change instantly but will "adapt" over time. It always starts in first gear.
The "W" stands for winter mode. It always starts in second gear to help in snowy / slippery conditions or lack of traction situations. It is not driver adaptive and only uses one program for all situations and all driving styles. It also makes for a smoother start from a stop, IMO
While I believe you can change on the fly I suggest you only change when fully stopped. It doesn't matter if you use "W" in summer or vice versa.
"W" mode will not affect your transmission if used in any type of weather or road surface. Its just a different program.

 

Thanks Gilgorm. I agree, W mode makes for a smoother launch in stop and go traffic. I guess, I need to give the S mode a chance to learn my driving style and see if things smooth out a bit. I suspect the previous owner had a bit heavier right foot than I have.