2003 Chevrolet Venture Owner's Manual - Page 148

Warm-up Shift Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle designed to warm up the engine faster when the outside temperature is 35°F (2°C) or colder. You may notice that the transaxle will shift at a higher vehicle speed until the engine is warmed up. This is a normal condition designed to provide heat to the passenger compartment and defrost the windows more quickly. See Climate Control System onpage 3-25 for more information. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): When driving on hilly, winding roads. When towing a trailer (so there is less shifting between gears). When going down a steep hill. SECOND ( ) This position gives you more power, but 2: lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) 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: Don't drive in SECOND (2j for more than 25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (90 k d h ) , or you can damage your transaxle. Use THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) as much as possible. Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going slower than65 mph (105 km/h) or you can damage your engine. Notice: If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster, something may be wrong with a transaxle system sensor. If you drive very far that way, your vehicle can be damaged. So, if this happens, have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then, you can use SECOND (2) when you are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and THIRD (3) for higher speeds. FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (I), the transaxle won't downshift into first gear until the vehicle is going slow enough. Notice: If your front wheels won't turn, don't try to in drive. This might happen if you were stuck very deep sand or mud or were against a solid up object. You could damage your transaxle. Also, hold if you stop when going uphill, don't your *--L:..lVelllLlt: L I I C l t * V l C I l+ kl l y the acce!eratcr peds!. This V * ~ -nl\l ul could overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your brakes to hold your vehicle in position on a hill. +--t.- 2-37