2007 CHEVROLET AVEO Owners Manual

Ensure that the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has
an automatic transaxle shift lock control system.
You have to apply your regular brakes before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the key is in ON.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P) while holding
the brake pedal down, seeShifting Out of Park (P)
on page 120.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
When shifting from NEUTRAL (N) to
REVERSE (R), you need to apply the regular
brake and push the release button on the front of
the shifter and then forward.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. 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
transaxle, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 248.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart while
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 your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at
high speeds when shifting your vehicle.
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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D4):This position is
for normal driving.
When operating your vehicle in severe cold
conditions, the transaxle may be prevented from
shifting into D4 gear until the transaxle fluid
has warmed up to it’s operational temperature.
Notice:If your vehicle seems to start up rather
slowly or not shift gears when you go faster,
and you continue to drive your vehicle that
way, you could damage the transaxle.
Have your vehicle serviced right away. You
can drive in SECOND (2) when you are driving
less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D4) for higher speeds until then.
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:Do not drive in SECOND (2) at speeds
over 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage the
transaxle. Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D4) as
much as possible. Do not shift into SECOND (2)
unless you are going slower than 65 mph
(105 km/h) or you can damage your engine.
FIRST (1):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 shift lever is put in FIRST (1),
the transaxle will not shift into first gear until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle. If
you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes, or parking
brake to hold the vehicle in place.
If there is a malfunction with the automatic
transaxle, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or
the HOLD indicator light will turn on or flash.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 180or
Hold Mode Light on page 180.
Have your vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
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Hold Mode
If your vehicle’s transaxle has hold mode, you can
select this mode to drive with some characteristics
of a manual transaxle. With hold mode turned
on, the automatic transaxle will stay in a specific
gear range.
Press the HOLD button on the shift lever console
to turn on hold mode. Press the button again
to turn off hold mode, and return to normal
automatic transaxle operation.For the Hatchback, the HOLD light will light up on
the secondary information center. For the Sedan,
the HOLD light will light up on the instrument panel
cluster. SeeHold Mode Light on page 180.
When hold mode is activated, the transaxle is
fixed in the gear selected.
Hold Mode Features
Winter Function
Select hold mode while in AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D4) to help the vehicle maintain
traction on slippery road surfaces, such as snow,
mud, or ice.
Manually Controlling Shift
Select hold mode to use your automatic transaxle
like a three-speed manual transaxle.
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Manual Transaxle Operation
Five-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here is how to operate your manual transaxle:
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 are going
less than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you have come to a
complete stop and it is 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).
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) and 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, lift up the ring on the shift lever and
shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
116

Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
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. Do
not shift down more than one gear at a
time when you downshift.
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the
bucket seats.
117

To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the
ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 163.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press 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
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
{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 rmly
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 will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow.
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the
parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing
the release button on the front of the shfiter.
3. Turn the ignition 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).
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transaxle)
{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 rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch re. You or
others could be injured. Do not leave your
vehicle with the engine running.
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 have 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). If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not 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 “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, seeShifting Into
Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) on page 118.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift
lever out of PARK (P)beforeyou 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 parking pawl
in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
119

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your automatic transaxle 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 turned to
ON. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on
page 112.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P) while holding
the brake pedal down, try this:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key.
3. Remove the cover over the shift-lock release
slot by prying it off using a small, flat object.
The shift-lock release slot is located at the top
of the shift lever.4. Insert the key into the shift-lock release slot
and press and hold the key.
5. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
6. Remove the key from the shift-lock release
slot, insert the key into the ignition and start
the engine.
7. Replace the shift-lock release slot cover.
8. Apply and hold the regular brake fully
and release the parking brake.
9. Shift to the gear you want.
10. Have the system fixed as soon as you can.
120