AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION! Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow- ing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine is at idle speed.
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CAUTION! (Continued)
• Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
WARNING! It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter- lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK prior to rotating the key to the LOCK position. The key can only be removed from the ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK position and once removed the shift lever is locked in PARK.
Brake/Transmission Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the PARK position when the ignition switch is in the LOCK position. To move the shift lever out of the PARK position, the ignition switch must be turned to any other switch position (ACC, ON, or START) (engine running or not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
Automatic Transmission
The electronic PRNDL on the instrument cluster indicates the transmission gear selected. The shift lever is mounted
on the right side of the steering column. To drive, move the shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to the desired drive position. Pull the shift lever toward you when shifting into REVERSE, SECOND, FIRST or PARK, or when shifting out of PARK.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL position into another gear range.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range. Always apply the parking brake first, then place the shift lever into the PARK position.
WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle movement and possible injury or damage.
• It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
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WARNING! (Continued)
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is running. Before exiting a vehicle, you should always shift the transmission into PARK, remove the key from the ignition, and apply the parking brake. Once the key is removed from the ignition, the shift lever is locked in the PARK position, securing the vehicle against unwanted movement. Furthermore, you should never leave unattended children inside a vehicle.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Use only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
This range is used when vehicle is standing for pro- longed periods with engine running. Engine may be started in this range. Set the parking brake and shift the transmission into PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
DRIVE
This range is for most city and highway driving.
2 (Second)
This range is for driving slowly in heavy city traffic or on mountain roads where more precise speed control is desirable, use second gear. Use it also when climbing long grades, and for engine braking when descending moderately steep grades. To prevent excessive engine speed, do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) in this range.
1 (First)
This range is for driving up very steep hills and for engine braking at low speeds, 25 mph (40 km/h) or less,
when going down hill, use first gear. To prevent excessive engine speed do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h) in this range.
Overdrive Operation
The Overdrive automatic transmission contains an electronically-controlled fourth and fifth (if equipped) gear (Overdrive). The transmission will automatically shift from Drive to Overdrive, if the following conditions are present: • the shift lever is in DRIVE; • the engine coolant has reached normal operating tem-
perature; • vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph
(48 km/h); • the TOW/HAUL switch has not been activated;
• transmission has reached normal operating temperature.
NOTE:
• If the vehicle is started in extremely cold temperatures,
the transmission may not shift into Overdrive and will automatically select the most desirable gear for opera- tion at this temperature. Normal operation will re- sume when the transmission fluid temperature has risen to a suitable level. Refer to “Torque Converter Clutch” in this section.
• If the transmission temperature gets extremely hot, the transmission will automatically select the most desir- able gear for operation at this temperature. If the transmission temperature becomes hot enough, the “Transmission Temperature Warning Light” may illu- minate and the transmission may downshift out of
Overdrive until the transmission cools down. After cool down, the transmission will resume normal operation.
The transmission will downshift from Overdrive to DRIVE if the accelerator pedal is fully pressed at vehicle speeds above approximately 35 mph (56 km/h).
When to Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc- curs, press the TOW/HAUL switch. This will improve performance and reduce the potential for transmission overheating or failure due to excessive shifting. When operating in TOW/HAUL mode, top gear is disabled and some shift patterns are modified. On vehicles with five- speed transmissions, shifts into Overdrive (fourth gear) are allowed during steady cruise (for improved fuel
economy), and automatic closed-throttle downshifts to third gear (for improved braking) will occur during steady braking.
The “TOW/HAUL Indicator Light” will illuminate in the instrument cluster to indicate when the switch has been activated. Pressing the switch a second time restores
normal operation. If the TOW/HAUL mode is desired, the switch must be pressed each time the engine is started.
Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy is included in all automatic transmissions. A clutch, within the torque converter, engages automatically at a calibrated speed at light throttle. It engages at higher speeds under heavier acceleration. This may result in a slightly differ- ent feeling or response during normal operation in high gear. When the vehicle speed drops below a calibrated speed, or during acceleration, the clutch automatically and smoothly disengages. The feature is operational in Overdrive and in Drive.
NOTE:
• The torque converter clutch will not engage until the
transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm (usu- ally after 1-3 miles [1.6 - 4.8 km] of driving). Because
TOW/HAUL Switch
the engine speed is higher when the torque converter clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmis- sion is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is normal. Pressing the TOW/HAUL switch, when the transmission is sufficiently warm, will demonstrate that the transmission is able to shift into, and out of Overdrive.
• If the vehicle has not been driven in several days, the first few seconds of operation after shifting the trans- mission into gear may seem sluggish. This is due to the fluid partially draining from the torque converter into the transmission. This condition is normal and will not cause damage to the transmission. The torque con- verter will refill within five seconds of shifting from PARK into any other gear position.
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