2009 Acura RL Owner's Manual - Page 415

Main Menu Table Of Contents Driving with the Paddle Shifters Downshifting with the paddle shifter allows you to increase the engine braking when going down steep or long hills, and provides more power when climbing uphills. You can upshift the transmission manually to reduce the rpm. Driving in the higher gear helps fuel economy. The transmission also shifts automatically as the vehicle comes to a complete stop. It downshifts to first gear when the vehicle speed reaches 9 mph (15 km/h) or less. The automatic transmission will not allow you to shift up or down if: You downshift before the engine speed falls below the upper limit of the lower gear. If you try to do this, the gear position indicator will flash the number of the lower gear several times, then return to a higher gear. Also, you cannot upshift with the paddle shifter before the engine speed reaches the lower limit of the higher gear. You try to shift to third or a higher gear when the vehicle is stationary. You pull both paddle shifters at the same time. You pull one of the two paddle shifters with another paddle shifter being pressed. Here are the speed ranges for upshifting and downshifting. To Shift from 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5 Speed range over 0 mph (0 km/h) over 9 mph (15 km/h) over 17 mph (27 km/h) over 38 mph (60 km/h) Speed range To Shift from 5 4 3 2 4 under 131 mph (210 km/h) 3 2 1 under 94 mph (150 km/h) under 63 mph (100 km/h) under 31 mph (50 km/h) 412 2009 RL