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NOTICE:
THIRD (3): This is like D, but you never go into
Overdrive.
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting Here are some times you might choose THIRD instead
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL [N) with the of OVERDRIVE:
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty. - When driving on hilly, winding roads.
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
AUTOMATIC OVERDWE (D) between gears.
This position is for normal driving. If you need more
power for passing,
and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 kmk), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 kmk) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more
power.
- When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go dowri-:.steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want-to use
’,
your brakes off and on.
4
!
1
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If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill: See“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section
shows what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
To release the parking brake:
L
Hold the brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever
up until you
can push in the release button. Hold the
release button in as you move the brake lever all the way
down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have to
replace them,
and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
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2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like
this:
Hold in the button on the lever, and push the
lever all the way toward the front of your car.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
walk away from your car with the ignition key in
your hand, your car
is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission Models
Only)
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pushing the button. If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
before you release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the transmission,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P).
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Shiftiqg out of PARK (P)
(Authmatic .. .. Transmission)
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Your Pontic has a brake-transmission shift interlock. Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
You hqve to hlly apply your regular brake before you transmission in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
ca~ shjft from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the parking brake.
RUN position. See “Automatic Transmission” in the
Index.
If yov cmot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever - push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button
and move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
If you per hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn @e key to OFF.
If your vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
2, Apply and hold the brake.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. St& the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can,
ww!.
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Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic Transmission)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
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A green arrow on the instrument panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the green arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until
you complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the green arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see“Fuses” in the Index).
Headlamp High/Low Beam
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or high
to low,
pull the turn signal lever all the way toward you.
Then release
it. When the high beams are on, this blue
light on the instrument panel also
will be on.
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Then push on the release handle to unlatch the panel.
Lift the outer edge
of the panel and pull it toward you. Open the close-out panel completely. Place the panel in
the correct slot
(DRIVER) or (PASSENGER) in the rear
area
of your vehicle. Make sure the handle is open and
facing you when you put it
in the storage slot.
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To remove the close-out panel:
1. Close the panel. If the close-out panel is not closed
and resting on the trim panel, it cannot be removed.
2. Pull the panel toward you to unsnap it. Then slide the
close-out panel along the groove in the trim panel.
Reverse the steps to install the panel.
When carrying large or heavy items, it is a good idea to
open the panel and place the items in the rear area.
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