2008 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 104

3. The paddles are located on the steering wheel. They are used to up-shift or down-shift the transmission. For more information, see Up-Shift Light on page 3-45 The up-shift light will only appear in the instrument panel cluster if the HUD is off or if the vehicle does not have HUD. This prompt to up-shift, as needed, will be given throughout acceleration. If up-shifting does not occur when prompted, the vehicle speed will be limited to protect the engine. The gear position will display on the DIC and HUD, if equipped, when in manual mode. 4. Push either paddle once to up-shift to the next gear. Pull either paddle once to down-shift to the next gear. The vehicle will begin moving in first gear upon acceleration. For better control in icy or slippery conditions, the vehicle may start out in SECOND (2), rather than FIRST (1). This will only occur if you have "tapped up" to second gear. The up-shift light on the instrument panel cluster, or the up-shift symbol on the HUD, if equipped, is given as a prompt to use the TAP-Shift® paddle. Pressing the accelerator while driving in the highest gear (FOURTH (4)) between 20 mph (32 km/h) and 50 mph (80 km/h), will make the transmission automatically downshift. As your speed gets closer to 50 mph (80 km/h), you will need to increase accelerator pedal travel to get the vehicle to downshift. At 50 mph (80 km/h), even with the accelerator fully depressed, the transmission will always remain in FOURTH (4). The transmission will also automatically downshift as the vehicle decelerates and comes to a stop. If a paddle is pushed or pulled and the vehicle cannot respond to a transmission gear change, a chime will sound. The system will not allow either an up-shift or a down-shift if the vehicle speed is too fast or too slow, nor will it allow a start from THIRD (3) or higher gear. 2-32