2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO Owners Manual

2-24
Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several different
positions for the shift
lever that is located
between the front seats
on the center console.
PARK (P): This position locks the front wheels.
It's the best position to use when you start the 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).
See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº
in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system.

2-25
You have to fully apply your regular brakes 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
-- press the button on the
front of the shift lever and push the shift lever all the
way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then press the button on the front of the shift lever
again 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 transaxle.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
has stopped.
Also use this gear to rock your vehicle back and forth
to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your
transaxle. See ªIf You're Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snowº in the Index for additional information.NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the 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 transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn't covered by your warranty.

2-26
OVERDRIVE (
): This position is for normal driving.
If you need more power for passing, and you're:

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

Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transaxle will shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly,
or if it doesn't seem to shift gears as you
accelerate, something may be wrong with a
transaxle system sensor. If you drive very far
that way, your vehicle can be damaged. So if this
happens, have your vehicle serviced right away.
Until then, you can use SECOND (2) when you
are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and
OVERDRIVE (
) for higher speeds.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower
fuel economy than OVERDRIVE (
).
Here are examples for using THIRD (3) instead
of OVERDRIVE (
):

When driving on hilly, winding roads.

When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.

When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power than
THIRD (3). 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), or you
can damage your engine.

2-27
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (1), the transaxle won't shift into gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.)
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can't turn, 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 transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could cause overheating and
damage the transaxle. Use your brakes to
hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located to the left of
the regular brake pedal,
near the driver's door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the BRAKE indicator light
should come on. If it doesn't, you need to have
your vehicle serviced.

2-28
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.
If the parking brake has not been fully released and
you try to drive with the parking brake on, the BRAKE
indicator light comes on and stays on. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº in the Index for more information.
When you move out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N),
if the engine is running, the parking brake should release.
If it doesn't, you can manually release the parking brake.
CAUTION:
Always shift to PARK (P) before pulling the
manual release lever. If your hand or arm is in
the way of the pedal you could be hurt. The pedal
springs back quickly. Keep your hand and arm
away when you use the manual release lever.
Be sure to turn off the ignition and put the vehicle
in PARK (P) before manually releasing the brake.
Reach under the driver's side of the instrument panel
and pull on the manual release lever, which is located
above the parking brake pedal. If the parking brake does
not release, you should either drive to the nearest service
station or have your vehicle towed.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. This section
shows what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

2-29
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be 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.
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,
use the steps that follow. If you're pulling a
trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
To move the shift lever into PARK (P), do the following:
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:

Press and hold the button on the front of the
shift lever as you push the shift lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.

With your right foot still holding the brake pedal
down, set the parking brake. See ªParking Brakeº
in the Index.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-30 Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
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 PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pressing
and holding the button on the front of the shift lever.
If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn't fully
locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
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 ªShifting Into
PARK (P)º in the Index.
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 parking pawl in the transaxle,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

2-31
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), try applying
pressure to the brakes and push the shift lever all the
way into PARK (P) (pressing and holding the button
on the front of the shift lever) as you maintain brake
application. Then move the shift lever into the gear
you want. If you ever hold the brake pedal down but
still can't shift out of PARK (P), try the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Open and close the
driver's door to turn off the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Take your vehicle to an authorized service center
as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.