2008 CHEVROLET AVEO transmission

Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{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. SeeParking Brake on page 2-26for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing the
button on the shift lever and pushing the lever all
the way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
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).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{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. If the vehicle has
an automatic transmission, see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pushing
the shift lock release button. If you can, it means that
the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).
2-27

Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not 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, seeShifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-27.
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 transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your automatic transmission 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 is turned to ON/RUN.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-21.
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.
2-28

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.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before leaving your vehicle, do the following:
1. Hold the brake pedal down and firmly apply the
parking brake.
2. Fully press in the clutch pedal and place the shift
lever into the gear position as stated below:
•When parking on level ground, place the shift
lever into NEUTRAL.
•When parking downhill, place the shift lever in
REVERSE (R).
•When parking uphill, place the shift lever in
FIRST (1).
3. After shifting, turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF,
remove the key and release the clutch.
2-29

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-30.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 4-13.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not 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 will
not move, even when it is on fairly level
ground, always set the parking brake and
move the automatic transmission shift lever
to PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift
lever to NEUTRAL.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will
not move. If you have an automatic transmission,
seeShifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission)
on page 2-27.
2-31

Cruise Control
If your vehicle has cruise control, a speed of about
24 mph (39 km/h) or more can be maintained without
keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help
on long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds
below 24 mph (39 km/h).
When the brakes are applied, or the clutch pedal if you
have a manual transmission, the cruise control turns off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
The cruise control pad is
located on the inboard
side of the steering wheel.
1. Press the ON-OFF button to turn cruise control on.
2. Accelerate to the speed desired.
3-13

3. Press the SET button and release it. The cruise
control light will come on in the instrument panel
cluster to show that the cruise control is on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerate pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose the cruise control is set to a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied, or the clutch pedal
if you have a manual transmission. This shuts off
the cruise control. But it does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle is going about 24 mph (39 km/h)
or more, briefly press the RESUME button.
The vehicle returns to the chosen speed and
stays there.
If the RESUME button is held longer, the vehicle keeps
going faster until the button is released or the brake
pedal is applied. Do not hold in the RESUME button,
unless you want the vehicle to go faster.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
•Use the accelerator pedal to get to a higher speed.
Press the SET button, then release the button and
the accelerator pedal. The vehicle will now
cruise at the higher speed.
•Press the RESUME button. Hold it there until the
desired speed is reached, and then release the
button. To increase the vehicle’s speed in very small
amounts, briefly press the RESUME button and
then release it. Each time this is done, the vehicle
goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature only works after the cruise
control is turned on by pressing the SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce the vehicle’s speed while
using cruise control:
•Press the SET button until the lower speed desired
is reached, then release it.
•To slow down in very small amounts, briefly press
the SET button. Each time this is done, the vehicle
goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
3-14

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed
set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills depends upon
the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s speed. When
going downhill, you might have to brake or shift to a lower
gear to keep the vehicle’s speed down. Applying the
brake pedal will turn off the cruise control. Many drivers
find this to be too much trouble and do not use cruise
control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
•Step lightly on the brake pedal, or press the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transmission.
•Press the ON OFF button on the cruise control pad.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased, when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
Exterior Lamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has three positions:
3(Headlamps):Turn the band to this position to turn
on the headlamps, together with the following:
•Taillamps
•License Plate Lamp
•Instrument Panel Lights
•Parking Lamps
The headlamps automatically turn off when the ignition
key is turned to LOCK/OFF or ACC/ACCESSORY.Uplevel shown, Base similar
3-15

United States Automatic Transmission Sedan shown, Canada Manual Transmission Sedan similar
3-28