2012 Dodge Caliber Owner Manual - Page 314

312 STARTING AND OPERATING using a lower gear will improve performance and extend AUTOSTICKா - IF EQUIPPED transmission life by reducing excessive shifting and heat AutoStick௡ is a driver-interactive transmission that offers six manual ratio changes to provide you with more buildup. control. AutoStick௡ allows you to maximize engine brakDuring sustained high speed driving or trailer towing up ing, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and long grades on hot days, the automatic transmission oil improve overall vehicle performance. This system can may become too hot. If this happens, the transmission also provide you with more control during passing, city overheat indicator light will come on, and the vehicle will driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, slow slightly until the transmission cools down enough trailer towing, and many other situations. Automatic to allow a return to the requested speed. This is done to ratio changes upward will only occur to protect the prevent transmission damage due to overheating. If the Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT) high speed is maintained, the overheating may reoccur, and/or the engine from overspeed. Changes down will as before, in a cyclic fashion. only happen at minimum engine speed to prevent stallLOW - IF EQUIPPED ing. This range should be used for engine braking when Operation descending very steep grades. In this range, the transmission will downshift for maximum engine braking, NOTE: AutoStick௡ is not available until the CVT warms and upshifts will occur only to prevent engine overspeed. up in cold weather.