Automatic Transmission Operation Base

If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, the shift lever is located on the console between the seats.

There are several different positions for the automatic transmission.

PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.

Caution: It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park . If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer .

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes first and then press the shift lever button before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear. See Shifting Out of Park .

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is stopped.

To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .

NEUTRAL (N):  In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.

Caution: Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed.

Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving with the automatic transmission. It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If you need more power for passing, and you are:

Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of Control .

MANUAL (M): This position allows you to change gears similar to a manual transmission. If your vehicle has this feature, see Manual Shift Mode.

Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

Manual Shift Mode (MSM) (Automatic Transmission)

To use this feature, do the following:

1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) rearward to the MANUAL MODE (M).

The six-speed transmission will downshift to a lower gear and the instrument panel will display the gear range selected. If equipped with a 4-speed transmission it will display a three (3) for third gear range.

When coming to a stop in the manual position, the vehicle will automatically shift to FIRST (1) gear.

2. Press the plus (+) button to upshift or the minus (-) button to downshift.

While using the MSM feature the vehicle will have sportier performance. You can use this when driving hilly roads to stay in gear longer or to downshift for more power or engine braking.

The transmission will only allow you to shift into a gear range appropriate for the vehicle speed.

If the vehicle does not respond to a gear change, or detects a problem with the transmission, the range of gears may be reduced and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp will come on. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp .

Automatic Transmission Operation Uplevel

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift lever is located on the console between the seats.

There are several different positions for the automatic transmission.

PARK (P): This position locks the front wheels. It is the best position to use when starting the engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.

Caution: It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park . If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer .

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. The regular brakes must be applied first and then the shift lever button pressed before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear. See Shifting Out of Park .

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is stopped.

To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging the transmission, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .

NEUTRAL (N):  In this position, the engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.

Caution: Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed.

Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving with the automatic transmission. It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If you need more power for passing, and you are:

Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of Control .

Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

Manual Shift Mode (MSM) (Automatic Transmission)

To use this feature, do the following:

1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) to the left into the manual gate.

While driving in manual shift mode, the transmission will remain in the driver gear selected. When coming to a stop in the manual position, the vehicle will automatically shift to FIRST (1) gear.

2. Push the shift lever forward toward the plus (+) to upshift or rearward toward the minus (-) to downshift. The instrument panel will display the actual gear selected.

In manual shift mode all six forward gears can be selected.

While using the MSM feature the vehicle will have operation similar to a manual transmission. You can use this for sport driving or when driving hilly roads to stay in gear longer or to downshift for more power or engine braking.

The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears appropriate for the vehicle speed:

If the vehicle does not respond to a gear change, or detects a problem with the transmission, the range of gears may be reduced and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp will come on. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp .

SECOND (2) and THIRD (3) Gear Start Feature

When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy and icy conditions, you may want to select SECOND (2) and THIRD (3) gear. A higher gear, and light application of the gas pedal, may allow you to gain more traction on slippery surfaces.

With the Manual Shift Mode, the vehicle can accelerate from a stop in SECOND (2) or THIRD  (3).

1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) into the manual gate.
2. With the vehicle stopped, move the shift lever forward to select SECOND (2) or THIRD (3). The vehicle will start from a stop position in SECOND (2) or THIRD (3).
3. Once the vehicle is moving select the desired drive gear or move the shift lever to the DRIVE (D) position.

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift lever is located on the console between the seats.

There are several different positions for the automatic transmission.

PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.

Caution: It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park . If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer .

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes first and then press the shift lever button before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear. See Shifting Out of Park .

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is stopped.

To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .

NEUTRAL (N):  In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.

Caution: Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed.

Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving with the automatic transmission. It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If you need more power for passing, and you are:

Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of Control .

MANUAL (M): This position allows you to change gears similar to a manual transmission. If your vehicle has this feature, see Manual Shift Mode.

Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

Manual Shift Mode (MSM) (Automatic Transmission)

To use this feature, do the following:

1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) rearward to the MANUAL MODE (M).

The display will show a 3 for third gear.

When coming to a stop in the manual position, the vehicle will automatically shift to FIRST (1) gear.

2. Press the plus (+) button to upshift or the minus (-) button to downshift.

While driving in MSM, the vehicle will have sportier performance. Use this when you want the vehicle to stay in gear longer or to downshift for more power or engine braking.

The transmission will only allow you to shift into a gear range appropriate for the vehicle speed.

If the vehicle does not respond to a gear change, or detects a problem with the transmission, the range of gears may be reduced and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp will come on. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp .