2000 CHEVROLET TRACKER Owners Manual

2-16
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It's the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can't move easily.
CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your 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 your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll
-- even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P)
-- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, two
-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel
high (4H) or four
-wheel low (4L) -- not in
NEUTRAL (N). See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in
the Index. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing
a Trailerº in the Index.

2-17
Ensure 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 before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. If you cannot
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. See ªShifting Out
of PARK (P)º in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
ªStuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index.NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn't
connect with the wheels. To restart when you're
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is ªracingº (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don't shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn't covered by your warranty.

2-18
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving.
If you need more power for passing, and you're:

Going less than about 15 mph (25 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.

Going about 15 mph (25 km/h) or more, push your
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You'll shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
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 down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are
going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h) with the
transfer case in FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H),
or 35 mph (55 km/h) with the transfer case in
FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L) or you can damage
your transmission.
LOW (L): This position gives you even more power but
lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use it on
very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector
lever is put in LOW (L), the transmission won't shift into
low gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
Don't shift into LOW (L) at speeds above
40 mph (65 km/h) with the transfer case in
FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L), or you can damage
your transmission.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can't rotate, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.

2-19 Overdrive Off Switch (If Equipped)
The overdrive off switch is located on the left side of the
shift lever. By operating the overdrive off switch, the
four
-speed automatic transmission (three-speed plus
overdrive) can be converted to a three
-speed automatic
transmission. While in the three
-speed mode, the
transmission will not shift into the overdrive position.To convert the transmission to the three
-speed
mode, push in the overdrive off switch and release it.
The switch will come out and the OD/OFF indicator
light on the instrument panel cluster will come on. The
Overdrive Off switch is for normal driving, however, it
also offers more power and lower fuel economy than
driving in the overdrive position. Here are some times
you might choose to drive with the overdrive off
switch engaged:

When driving on hilly, winding roads.

When going down a steep hill.
To return the transmission to the four
-speed mode,
push in the overdrive off switch again. The switch will
remain in and the OD/OFF indicator light will go off.
Disengaging the Overdrive Off switch is for normal
driving with the four
-speed automatic transaxle.
If you need more power for passing, and you're:

Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.

Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator all the way down.
Please note that if the transfer case shift lever is in the
4L position, the four
-speed automatic transmission will
remain in the three
-speed mode.

2-20 Power Mode Selector Switch
A power mode selector
switch is included
with the four
-speed
automatic transmission.
When you need more power for climbing hills or
quicker acceleration, press the P (power) switch. The
POWER indicator light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on. For normal driving, press the N (normal)
switch. The POWER indicator light will go off.
Manual Transmission Operation
5-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here's how to operate
your transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you're going less
than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).

2-21
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then,
slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press
the brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift
to NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
You cannot go from FIFTH (5) into REVERSE (R).
If you try, you will be locked out. You must first shift
into NEUTRAL, move the lever to the left, back to the
right, and then shift into REVERSE (R). This is a
safety feature.
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your transmission.
Also, use REVERSE (R) along with the parking brake
for parking your vehicle.
Shift Speeds
CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of your vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Don't shift down more than
one gear at a time when you downshift.
If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.

2-22
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send
your engine's driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. To shift out of two
-wheel drive and into
four
-wheel drive, move the transfer case shift lever to
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or FOUR-WHEEL
LOW (4L) (see the following). You should use
TWO
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) for most normal driving.
NOTICE:
Driving in FOUR-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L) positions for a long
time on dry or wet pavement could shorten the
life of your vehicle's drivetrain.
Transfer Case
The transfer case shift lever is on the floor to the right
of the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out of
four
-wheel drive. An indicator light comes on when the
transfer case is in FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L).

2-23
TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H): This setting is for driving
in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is
not engaged in two
-wheel drive.
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H): This setting engages
your front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) when you need extra
traction, such as on wet or icy roads, or in most
off
-road situations.
NEUTRAL (N): Shift to this setting only when your
vehicle needs to be towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P), or if you have a manual
transmission, even if you are in gear. You or
someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure
to set the parking brake before placing the
transfer case in NEUTRAL (N). See ªParking
Brakeº in the Index.
FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L): This setting also engages
your front axle to give you extra traction and can be
used for driving downhill, uphill or on rocky terrain
when you're driving slower than 35 mph (55 km/h).
Remember that driving in FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
or FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel
economy. Also, driving in four
-wheel drive on dry
pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and make
your transfer case harder to shift.
You can shift from TWO
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or from FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) to TWO
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) at any speed
if your vehicle is going less than 60 mph (100 kph) and
your wheels are straight ahead. Your front axle will
engage faster if you take your foot off the accelerator
pedal for a few seconds as you shift.
Shifting Into or Out of FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L)
1. Stop your vehicle and shift your transmission
to NEUTRAL (N).
2. Shift the transfer case in one continuous motion.
Don't pause in NEUTRAL (N) as you shift from
FOUR
-WHEEL-LOW (4L) to FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H), or your gears could clash.