2007 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 112

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If the vehicle needs more power for passing, and it is: • Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the accelerator pedal about halfway down. • Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator pedal all the way down. The vehicle will shift down to the next gear and have more power. Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding under Loss of Control on page 301. Notice: If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly or not shift gears when you go faster, and you continue to drive your vehicle that way, you could damage the transaxle. Have your vehicle serviced right away. You can drive in SECOND (2) when you are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and DRIVE (D) for higher speeds until then. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears, when going down a steep hill and when driving on non-highway scenarios (i.e. city streets etc.). SECOND (2): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than THIRD (3) without using your brakes. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control the vehicle's speed as it goes down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use the brakes off and on. Notice: Driving in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h), can cause damage to your engine and/or transaxle. Also, shifting into SECOND (2) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) can cause damage. Drive in DRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2). 112