2002 Pontiac Aztek Owner's Manual - Page 113

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 selector lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle won't downshift into first gear until the vehicle is going slow enough. Shift Lock Release This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock release system. The shift lock release is designed to: D Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift lever is in PARK (P) (with the shift lever button fully released), and NOTICE: If your front wheels won't turn, don't try to drive. This might happen if you were stuck in very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid object. You could damage your transaxle. Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position on a hill. D prevent movement of the shift lever out of PARK (P) unless the ignition is in a position other than OFF. The shift lock release is always functional except in the case of a discharged or low voltage (less than 9V) battery. If your vehicle has a discharged battery or a battery with low voltage, there is an override access slot that will allow you to override the shift lock release. 2-36