SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
The shift lever position display (lo-
cated in the instrument panel cluster)
indicates the transmission gear range.
You must press the brake pedal to
move the shift lever out of the PARK
position (refer to “Brake/
Transmission Shift Interlock System”
in this section). To drive, move the
shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL
to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled trans-
mission provides a precise shift sched-
ule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first
few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will de-
velop within a few hundred kilome-
ters.
Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or RE-
VERSE should be done only after the
accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep
your foot on the brake pedal when
moving the shift lever between these
gears.The transmission shift lever has
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL,
DRIVE, and AutoStick® shift posi-
tions. Manual shifts can be made us-
ing the AutoStick® shift control (refer
to “AutoStick®” in “Starting And
Operating” for further information).
Moving the shift lever to the left or
right (-/+) while in the AutoStick®
position (below the Drive position)
will manually select the transmission
gear, and will display the current gear
in the instrument cluster as 6, 5, 4, 3,
2, 1.
GEAR RANGES
DO NOT race the engine when shift-
ing from PARK or NEUTRAL into
another gear range.
PARK
This range supplements the parking
brake by locking the transmission.
The engine can be started in this
range. Never attempt to use PARK
while the vehicle is in motion. Apply
the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you
may place the shift lever in the PARK
position first, and then apply the
parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake before placing the shift
lever in PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism
may make it difficult to move the shift
lever out of PARK. As an added pre-
caution, turn the front wheels toward
the curb on a downhill grade and
away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
Shift Lever
137
WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as asubstitute for the parking brake.
Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and
possible injury or damage.
Your vehicle could move and in-
jure you and others if it is not
completely in PARK. Check by
trying to move the shift lever rear-
ward (with the brake pedal re-
leased) after you have placed it in
PARK. Make sure the transmis-
sion is in PARK before leaving the
vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
It is dangerous to move the shift
lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if
the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly pressing on the brake
pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle
and hit someone or something.
Only shift into gear when the en-
gine is idling normally and your
foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
Unintended movement of a ve-
hicle could injure those in or near
the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Be-
fore exiting a vehicle, always ap-
ply the parking brake, shift the
transmission into PARK, and re-
move the ignition key. Once the
key is removed, the shift lever is
locked in the PARK position, se-
curing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the key fob and lock your
vehicle. Never leave children
alone in a vehicle, or with access
to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing
children to be in a vehicle unat-
tended is dangerous for a number
of reasons. A child or others could
be seriously or fatally injured.
Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the shift lever.
Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle, and do not leave the
ignition in the ACC or ON/RUN
position. A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
138
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever outof PARK, you must turn the igni-
tion switch from the LOCK/OFF
position to the ON/RUN position,
and also press the brake pedal.
Otherwise, damage to the shift le-
ver could result.
DO NOT race the engine when
shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL
into another gear range, as this
can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be
used to ensure that you have engaged
the shift lever into the PARK position:
When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever all the way forward and
to the left until it stops and is fully
seated.
Look at the shift lever position dis- play and verify that it indicates the
PARK position.
With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever will not move out
of PARK. REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when vehicle is stand-
ing for prolonged periods with engine
running. The engine may be started in
this range. Set the parking brake and
shift the transmission into PARK if
you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and
never turn off the ignition to coast
down a hill. These are unsafe prac-
tices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions.
You might lose control of the vehicle
and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or
driving for any other reason with the
transmission in NEUTRAL can re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in
What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It provides
the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts
through underdrive first, second,
third, and fourth gears, direct fifth
gear and overdrive sixth gear. The
DRIVE position provides optimum
driving characteristics under all nor-
mal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting
occurs (such as when operating the
vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into
strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the AutoStick®
139
mode (refer to “AutoStick®” in
“Starting And Operating” for further
information) to select a lower gear.
Under these conditions, using a lower
gear will improve performance and
extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During cold temperatures, transmis-
sion operation may be modified de-
pending on engine and transmission
temperature as well as vehicle speed.
This feature improves warm up time
of the engine and transmission to
achieve maximum efficiency. Engage-
ment of the torque converter clutch is
inhibited until the transmission fluid
is warm (refer to the “Note” under
“Torque Converter Clutch” in this
section). During extremely cold tem-
peratures (27°C or below), operation
may briefly be limited to third gear
only. Normal operation will resume
once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage,Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion remains in third gear regardless
of which forward gear is selected.
PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL
will continue to operate. The Mal-
function Indicator Light (MIL) may
be illuminated. Limp Home Mode al-
lows the vehicle to be driven to an
authorized dealer for service without
damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem,
the transmission can be reset to regain
all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If
the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal op-
eration.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be
reset, we recommend that you visit
an authorized dealer at your earli-
est possible convenience. Your au-
thorized dealer has diagnostic
equipment to determine if the
problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset,
authorized dealer service is required.
Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes
an electronically controlled Overdrive
(sixth gear). The transmission will
automatically shift into the Overdrive
gear if the following conditions are
present:
the shift lever is in the DRIVE po-
sition,
the transmission fluid has reached an adequate temperature,
the engine coolant has reached an adequate temperature,
vehicle speed is sufficiently high, and
the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
140
SHALLOW STANDING
WATER
Although your vehicle is capable of
driving through shallow standing wa-
ter, consider the following Caution
and Warning before doing so.CAUTION!
Always check the depth of thestanding water before driving
through it. Never drive through
standing water that is deeper than
the bottom of the tire rims
mounted on the vehicle.
Determine the condition of the
road or the path that is under
water and if there are any ob-
stacles in the way before driving
through the standing water.
Do not exceed 8 km/h when driv-
ing through standing water. This
will minimize wave effects.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Driving through standing water
may cause damage to your vehi-
cle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids
(i.e., engine oil, transmission,
axle, etc.) for signs of contamina-
tion (i.e., fluid that is milky or
foamy in appearance) after driv-
ing through standing water. Do
not continue to operate the vehicle
if any fluid appears contami-
nated, as this may result in further
damage. Such damage is not cov-
ered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehi-
cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine.
Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
Driving through standing waterlimits your vehicle’s traction ca-
pabilities. Do not exceed 8 km/h
when driving through standing
water.
Driving through standing water
limits your vehicle’s braking ca-
pabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after
driving through standing water,
drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to
dry the brakes.
Getting water inside your vehi-
cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
Failure to follow these warnings
may result in injuries that are se-
rious or fatal to you, your passen-
gers, and others around you.
143
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure
that the parking brake is fully ap-
plied. Also, be certain to leave the
transmission in PARK.
The parking brake lever is located in
the center console. To apply the park-
ing brake, pull the lever up as firmly
as possible. To release the parking
brake, pull the lever up slightly, press
the center button, then lower the lever
completely.
When the parking brake is applied
with the ignition switch ON, the
“Brake Warning Light” in the instru-
ment cluster will illuminate.NOTE:
When the parking brake is ap-
plied and the transmission is
placed in gear, the “Brake Warn-
ing Light” will flash. If vehicle
speed is detected, a chime will
sound to alert the driver. Fully
release the parking brake before
attempting to move the vehicle.
This light only shows that the parking brake is applied. It does
not show the degree of brake ap-
plication.
When parking on a hill, it is important
to turn the front wheels toward the
curb on a downhill grade and away
from the curb on an uphill grade.
Apply the parking brake before plac-
ing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to
move the shift lever out of PARK. The
parking brake should always be ap-
plied whenever the driver is not in the
vehicle.
WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the parking brake.
Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and
possible injury or damage.
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the key fob from the igni-
tion and lock your vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a
vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Allowing children
to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of rea-
sons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the shift lever.
Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle. A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
Be sure the parking brake is fully
disengaged before driving; failure
to do so can lead to brake failure
and a collision.
(Continued)
Parking Brake
145
WARNING!(Continued)
Always fully apply the parking
brake when leaving your vehicle
or it may roll and cause damage or
injury. Also, be certain to leave the
transmission in PARK. Failure to
do so may cause the vehicle to roll
and cause damage or injury.CAUTION!
If the “Brake Warning Light” re-
mains on with the parking brake
released, a brake system malfunc-
tion is indicated. Have the brake
system serviced by an authorized
dealer immediately.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM (ABS)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
provides increased vehicle stability
and brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system oper-
ates with a separate computer to
modulate the hydraulic pressure to
prevent wheel lock-up and avoid
skidding on slippery surfaces.
WARNING!
Pumping of the anti-lock brakes will diminish their effectiveness
and may lead to a collision.
Pumping makes the stopping dis-
tance longer. Just press firmly on
your brake pedal when you need
to slow down or stop.
The ABS cannot prevent the natu-
ral laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condi-
tion of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
The ABS cannot prevent colli-
sions, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of an ABS-
equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner, which could jeopar-
dize the user's safety or the safety
of others. The
“Anti-Lock Brake
Warning Light” monitors
the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem. The light will come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position and may stay on for
as long as four seconds.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” remains on or comes on while
driving, it indicates that the anti-lock
portion of the brake system is not
functioning and that service is re-
quired. However, the conventional
brake system will continue to operate
normally if the “Brake Warning
Light” is not on.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” is on, the brake system should
be serviced as soon as possible to re-
store the benefits of anti-lock brakes.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” does not come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position, have the bulb repaired as
soon as possible.
If both the “Brake Warning Light”
and the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” remain on, the Anti-Lock
146
Brake (ABS) and Electronic Brake
Force Distribution (EBD) Systems are
not functioning. Immediate repair to
the ABS system is required. See your
authorized dealer.
When the vehicle is driven over
11 km/h, you may hear a slight click-
ing sound as well as some related mo-
tor noises. These noises are the system
performing its self-check cycle to en-
sure that the ABS system is working
properly. This self check occurs each
time the vehicle is started and accel-
erated past 11 km/h.
ABS is activated during braking un-
der certain road or stopping condi-
tions. ABS-inducing conditions can
include ice, snow, gravel, bumps, rail-
road tracks, loose debris, or panic
stops.
You also may experience the following
when the brake system goes into anti-
lock:
The ABS motor running (it maycontinue to run for a short time
after the stop),
the clicking sound of solenoid valves, brake pedal pulsations,
and a slight drop or fall away of the
brake pedal at the end of the stop.
These are all normal characteristics of
ABS.
WARNING!
The Anti-Lock Brake System con-
tains sophisticated electronic equip-
ment that may be susceptible to in-
terference caused by improperly
installed or high output radio trans-
mitting equipment. This interfer-
ence can cause possible loss of anti-
lock braking capability. Installation
of such equipment should be per-
formed by qualified professionals.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be
the same size and type, and tires must
be properly inflated to produce accu-
rate signals for the computer. ELECTRONIC BRAKE
CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle may be equipped with an
optional advanced electronic brake
control system that includes Anti-
Lock Brake System (ABS), Traction
Control System (TCS), Brake Assist
System (BAS), and Electronic Stabil-
ity Control (ESC). All systems work
together to enhance vehicle stability
and control in various driving condi-
tions and are commonly referred to as
ESC.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM (ABS)
This system aids the driver in main-
taining vehicle control under adverse
braking conditions. The system con-
trols hydraulic brake pressure to pre-
vent wheel lock-up and help avoid
skidding on slippery surfaces during
braking. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System” in “Starting and Operating”
for further information.
147