2008 Dodge Avenger Owner's Manual - Page 276

274 STARTING AND OPERATING AUTOSTICK - IF EQUIPPED AutoStick is a driver-interactive transaxle that offers six manual ratio changes to provide you with more control. AutoStick allows you to maximize engine braking, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and improve overall vehicle performance. This system can also provide you with more control during passing, city driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, trailer towing, and many other situations. AutoStick Operation By placing the gear selector lever one shift-level below the DRIVE position, it can be moved from side to side. This allows the driver to select a higher or lower range of gears. Moving the selector lever to the Left (-) triggers a downshift and to the Right (+) an upshift. The gear position will display in the instrument cluster on the transaxle range indicator. NOTE: In Autostick mode, the transaxle will only shift up or down when the driver moves the selector lever to the Right (+) or Left (-). AutoStick is deactivated when the gear selector lever is shifted from the AutoStick (+/-) position into the DRIVE position. AutoStick General Information • You can start out in first or second gear. The system will ignore attempts to upshift at too low of a vehicle speed. • The transmission will automatically downshift to first gear when coming to a stop. • Starting out in second gear is helpful in snowy or icy conditions. • Avoid using speed control when Autostick gaged. is en-