2000 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 142

142 Starting and driving P R N D 3 2 1 IB1280 Selector lever 1 Catch 2 Button for SPORT position 3 Button for WINTER position IB865 Indication of gear position on the main instrument panel When the car is stationary, the engine must be idling when the selector lever is moved. You must have your foot on the brake pedal to move the lever out of park. If the accelerator is depressed while the lever is moved, this will result in abnormal wear in the transmission. Detent positions for selector movement The detent button on the selector lever has to be pressed before the selector can be moved between certain positions. Three modes for the automatic transmission can be selected: Normal, Sport and Winter. The Normal mode, which provides the best fuel economy, is the default setting when the engine is started. Sport mode alters the angle of the throttle valve for increased power compared to the same accelerator position in Normal mode. This means gear changes are made to optimize the car's performance. The SPORT indicator light is shown on the main instrument panel; see page 147). The Winter mode is intended for use when pulling away and driving on icy roads. In this mode, the transmission starts in 3rd gear, to The electronic control module for the automatic transmission receives information on engine torque and road speed. It also controls the hydraulic pressure in the transmission to ensure that gear changing is as smooth as possible. The position of the selector lever is shown by the symbols adjacent to the lever and also by an indicator on the main instrument panel. The ignition key can only be removed when the selector lever is in the P position. NOTE After selecting a drive position, pause briefly to allow the gear to engage (the car starts to pull a little) before you accelerate. IB866