5-7
Driving your vehicle
Manual transaxle operation
The manual transaxle has 6 forward
gears.
This shift pattern is imprinted on the shift
knob. The transaxle is fully synchronized
in all forward gears so shifting to either a
higher or a lower gear is easily accom-
plished.
To shift gears, press the clutch pedal
down fully, select the desired gear with
the gearshift lever, and release the clutch
pedal slowly.
If your vehicle is equipped with an igni-
tion lock switch, the engine will not start
when starting the engine without
depressing the clutch pedal.
The shift lever must be returned to the
neutral position before shifting into R
(Reverse). The button (1) located at the
bottom front of the shift knob must be
pressed and held in while moving the
shift lever to the R (Reverse) position.
Make sure the vehicle is completelystopped before shifting into R (Reverse).
Never operate the engine with thetachometer (rpm) in the red zone.
MANUAL TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
ORB051001N
The shift lever can be moved into any of
the forward gears without pressing the
button (1).
You should press the button (1) when
moving the shift lever into reverse.
CAUTION
When downshifting from fifth gear to fourth gear, cautionshould be taken not to inadver- tently press the shift lever side-ways in such a manner that thesecond gear is engaged. Such a drastic downshift may cause theengine speed to increase to the point that the tachometer willenter the red-zone. Such over- revving of the engine andtransaxle may possibly causeengine damage.
Do not downshift more than 2 gears or downshift the gear whenthe engine is running at high speed (5,000 RPM or higher).Such downshifting may damage the engine, clutch and thetransaxle.
Driving your vehicle
5-30
Active ECO operation
Active ECO helps improve fuel efficiency
by controlling the engine and transaxle.
But fuel-efficiency can be changed by the
driver's driving habits and road condi-
tions.
When the Active ECO button ispressed the ECO indicator (green) will
illuminate to show that the Active ECO
is operating.
When the Active ECO is activated, it does not turn off even though the
engine is restarted again. To turn off
the system, press the active ECO but-
ton again.
If Active ECO is turned off, it will return to the normal mode.
Limitation of Active ECO
operation:
If the following conditions occur while
Active ECO is operating, the system
operation is limited even though there is
no change in the ECO indicator.
When the coolant temperature is low:
The system will be limited until engine
temperature becomes normal.
When driving up a hill: The system will be limited to gain
power when driving uphill because the
engine torque is required.
When using Sport Mode: The system will be limited according to
the manually selected gear.
When the accelerator pedal is deeply pressed for a few seconds:
The system will be limited, judging that
the driver desires additional accelera-
tion. Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where you
drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how many
miles (kilometers) you can get from a gal-
lon (liter) of fuel. To operate your vehicle
as economically as possible, use the fol-
lowing driving suggestions to help save
money in both fuel and repairs:
Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moder-
ate rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit" starts
or full-throttle shifts and maintain a
steady cruising speed. Don't race
between stoplights. Try to adjust your
speed to that of the other traffic so you
don't have to change speeds unneces-
sarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever
possible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you can
avoid unnecessary braking. This also
reduces brake wear.
Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your car uses.
Driving at a moderate speed, especially
on the highway, is one of the most effec-
tive ways to reduce fuel consumption.
Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This can increase fuel consumption and also
increase wear on these components.
In addition, driving with your foot rest-
ing on the brake pedal may cause the
brakes to overheat, which reduces
their effectiveness and may lead to
more serious consequences.
ACTIVE ECO SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
ORB050017
ECONOMICAL OPERATION
