2004 Buick Century Owner's Manual - Page 90

Notice: Driving your vehicle if you notice that it is moving slowly or not shifting gears as you increase speed may 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 AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds until then. AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X): This position is for normal driving. If more power is needed for passing, and the vehicle is: • When going down a steep hill. • When driving in no-highway scenarios such as city streets. Notice: Driving in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h) may damage the transaxle. Also, shifting into SECOND (2) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) can cause damage. Drive in THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2). SECOND (2): This position gives the vehicle more power than THIRD (3) but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control the speed going down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. FIRST (1): This position gives the vehicle even more power but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). It can be used on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle will not shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. 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 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. By doing this the vehicle will shift down to the next gear and have more power. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X). Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X): • When driving on hilly, winding roads. • When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears. 2-24