2006 Pontiac Torrent Owner's Manual - Page 91

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving with the automatic transaxle. If you need more power for passing, and you are: • Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or LOW FOUR (L4) as much as possible. Do not shift into LOW TWO (L2) unless you are going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h) or you can damage your engine. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. • Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator all the way down. LOW FOUR (L4): This position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose LOW FOUR (L4) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): Transaxle Overheating If the transaxle fluid temperature rises above 284°F (140°C) or rises rapidly, the Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light will flash. See Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 3-31 for more information. When the transaxle overheats it will go into a protection mode and will default shift into fifth gear if in the AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) position, or second gear if in the LOW TWO (L2) position. Continue driving the vehicle in either position depending on the required vehicle speed and load. Once the fluid temperature lowers to the normal temperature range, the transaxle will return to the normal shift patterns. Towing or driving on long hills can cause the transaxle fluid temperature to be higher than normal. If the transaxle fluid temperature will not cool, you may need to pull over and check the transaxle fluid level. You should also check the engine coolant temperature. If it is hot, see Engine Overheating on page 5-23. 2-21 • When driving on hilly, winding roads. • When going down a steep hill. LOW TWO (L2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). You can use LOW TWO (L2) 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: Do not drive in LOW TWO (L2) for more than 25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.