Five-Speed Automatic Transaxle Operation

There are several different positions for the automatic transaxle.

PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.

Caution: It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the 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 the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park . If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer .

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an brake-transmission shift interlock. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN. See Shifting Out of Park .

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

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, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .

NEUTRAL (N):  In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when 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 the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the 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.

Notice: Shifting to a drive gear from NEUTRAL (N) while the vehicle is moving could damage the transaxle. Make sure the vehicle is stopped before shifting from NEUTRAL (N) into a drive gear.

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you are:

INTERMEDIATE (I): This position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D). You should use INTERMEDIATE (I) when:

LOW (L): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use LOW (L) 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: If you drive in LOW (L) for more than 25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h), you could damage your engine and/or transaxle. Use DRIVE (D) or INTERMEDIATE (I) as much as possible. Shift into LOW (L) only if your vehicle is going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h).

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.

VTi Variable Transaxle Operation (If Equipped)

There are several different positions for the shift lever.

PARK (P): This position locks your wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.

Caution: It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the 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 the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park . If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer .

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an brake--transmission shift interlock. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN. See Shifting Out of Park .

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

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 VTi variable transaxle, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .

NEUTRAL (N):  In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.

Caution: Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the 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.

Notice: Shifting to a drive gear from NEUTRAL (N) while the vehicle is moving could damage the transaxle. Make sure the vehicle is stopped before shifting from NEUTRAL (N) into a drive gear.

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you are:

INTERMEDIATE (I): This position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and but lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose INTERMEDIATE (I) :

LOW (L): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy than Intermediate (I). You can use LOW (L) 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: If you drive in LOW (L) for more than 25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h), you could damage your engine and/or transaxle. Use DRIVE (D) or INTERMEDIATE (I) as much as possible. Shift into LOW (L) only if your vehicle is going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h).

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.