Does a YN-460 speedlite flash work on auto for a nikon d40?

I bought a YN-460 speedlite and I was wondering does it work with my nikon D40 in auto mode

If it's designed for Nikon cameras specifically it probably will. Try it and see.

I would imagine it works for it

Since the advent of dSLR's, trigger voltage has become an important factor when buying generic flash units.

I would call Nikon and see if there are any known issues with the YN-460 electronic flash units when used on Nikon dSLR's, specifically your fine D40

As a rule, I only use Nikon SB flash unites because they work and because they have features that work specifically with all the Nikon cameras

Yes, however there's a BUT. The YN460 is a manual only flash, that means it will fire like normal, but because it doesn't work with iTTL, the flash power will be at whatever power you've set it to. This means that in auto you may well get regular overexposure.

If you mean iTTL auto, no. There's no auto mode on that flash. You set the power on the flash, set your camera manually for the exposure, and fire away. You can't use an automatic mode on your camera either, since the camera doesn't know the flash is even there, it will not know how to expose for the flash, and every shot you take will be blown out.

The YN-460 is a digital-ready flash with 6 volt trigger, you don't need to call stinking Nikon and ask.

As long as you can shoot manually, the flash will work just fine. If you use the green box auto mode, or Program mode, the flash will be of no use.

Yes it will work but you will have to set the flash output (power) manually, it won't automatically meter & set the flash power (TTL flash).

No worries over trigger voltage - it's a modern digital flash - trigger voltage of 6V.