P : This position locks the drive wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the engine because the vehicle cannot move easily.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before starting the engine. The vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. With the ignition on, fully apply the regular brake, then press the button on the shift lever before shifting from P (Park). If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever, then push the shift lever all the way into P (Park) as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear. See Shifting out of Park 0 205.
R : Use this gear to back up.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0 196.
N : In this position, the engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
D : This position is for normal driving. If more power is needed for passing, press the accelerator pedal down.
If the vehicle is stopped on a hill, with your foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle may roll. This is normal and is due to the torque converter designed to improve fuel economy and performance. Use the brake to hold the vehicle on a hill. Do not use the accelerator pedal.
L : This position gives you access to gear ranges. This provides more engine braking but lower fuel economy than D (Drive). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. See Manual Mode 0 208.
Operating Modes : The transmission may operate in a lower gear than normal to improve vehicle performance. The engine speed may be higher and there may be an increase in noise during the following conditions:
. When climbing a grade . When driving downhill . When driving in hot temperatures, or at high altitude
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Mode
ERS mode allows you to choose the top-gear limit of the transmission and the vehicle's speed while driving downhill or towing a trailer. The vehicle has an electronic shift position indicator within the instrument cluster. When using the ERS mode a number will display next to the L, indicating the highest gear available for the range selected.
To use this feature:
1. Press the shift lever button and move the shift lever to L (Low).
2. Press + (Plus) or − (Minus) on the shift lever to increase or decrease the gear range available.
When you shift from D (Drive) to L (Low), the transmission will shift to a pre-determined lower gear range. The highest gear available for this pre-determined range is displayed next to the L in the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base and Midlevel) 0 118 or Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel) 0 120. The number displayed in the DIC is the highest gear that the transmission will be allowed to operate in. This means that all gears below that number are available. For example, when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to the L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are automatically shifted by the vehicle. The transmission will not shift into 5 (Fifth) until the + (Plus) button is used or you shift back into D (Drive).
If the transmission is in 9 (ninth) gear when L (low) is selected, a downshift to 7 (seventh) will be commanded. If in 8 (eighth) through 2 (second), a single downshift will occur.
While in L (Low), the transmission will prevent shifting to a lower gear range if the engine speed is too high. You have a brief period of time to slow the vehicle. If vehicle speed is not reduced within the time allowed, the lower gear range shift will not be completed. You must further slow the vehicle, then press − (Minus) to the desired lower gear range. Automatic Engine Grade Braking is not available when the ERS is active. It is available in D (Drive) for both normal driving and Tow/Haul Mode. While using the ERS, cruise control and the Tow/Haul Mode can be used. See Driver Mode Control 0 214.
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