Operation of the A/T
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CAUTION
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Before selecting a gear with the engine
running and the vehicle stationary, fully
depress the brake pedal to prevent the ve-
hicle from creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as soon as
the gear is engaged, especially when the
engine speed is high, at fast idle or with
the air conditioning operating, the brakes
should only be released when you are
ready to drive away.
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Depress the brake pedal with the right
foot at all times.
Using the left foot could cause driver move-
ment delay in case of an emergency.
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To prevent sudden acceleration, never
race the engine when shifting from the
“P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
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Operating the accelerator pedal while the
other foot is resting on the brake pedal
will affect braking efficiency and may
cause premature wear of brake pads.
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Use the selector lever in the correct shift
position in accordance with driving condi-
tions.
Never coast downhill backward with the
selector lever in the “D” (DRIVE) or
sports mode position or coast forward
with the selector lever in the “R” (RE-
VERSE) position.
The engine may stop and the unexpected
increase in brake pedal effort and steer-
ing wheel weight could lead to an accident.
CAUTION
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Do not race the engine with brake pedal
pressed when the vehicle is stationary.
This can damage the A/T.
Also, when you depress the accelerator
pedal while holding down the brake ped-
al with the selector lever in the “D”
(DRIVE) position, the engine revolutions
may not rise as high as when performing
the same operation with the selector lever
in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
Passing acceleration
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To gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE) posi-
tion, push the accelerator to the floor. The A/T will
automatically downshift.
NOTE
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In sports mode, downshifts do not take place
when the accelerator is depressed all the way
to the floor.
Uphill/downhill driving
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DRIVING UPHILL
The transmission may not upshift to a higher gear
if the computer determines the current speed can-
not be maintained once a higher gear is engaged.
For smoother vehicle performance, if you release
the throttle while climbing a steep grade, the trans-
mission may not upshift.
This is normal, as the computer is temporarily pre-
venting shifting. After reaching the top of the hill,
normal gear shift function will resume.
DRIVING DOWNHILL
When travelling down steep grades, the computer
may automatically select a lower gear. This func-
tion assists engine braking efforts, reducing the
need for using the service brakes.
Waiting
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For short waiting periods, such as at traffic signals,
the vehicle can be left in gear and held stationary
with the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the engine running,
place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) po-
sition and apply the parking brake, while holding
the vehicle stationary with the service brake.
CAUTION
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Never hold the vehicle stationary while in
gear on a hill with the accelerator, always
apply the parking brake and/or service
brake.
Parking
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To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete
stop, fully engage the parking brake, and then
move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position.
If you are going to leave the vehicle unattended, al-
ways switch off the engine and carry the key.
Starting and driving
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