2009 Chevrolet Equinox Owner's Manual - Page 102

D (Drive): This position is for normal driving with the automatic transmission. It provides the best fuel economy. If you need more power for passing, and you are: • Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the accelerator pedal about halfway down. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. • Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the accelerator all the way down. Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of Control on page 4-12. I (Intermediate): This position is also used for normal driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed without using the brakes for slight downgrades where the vehicle would otherwise accelerate due to steepness of grade. If constant upshifting or downshifting occurs while driving up steep hills, this position can be used to prevent repetitive types of shifts. You might choose I (Intermediate) instead of D (Drive) when driving on hilly, winding roads and when towing a trailer, so that there is less shifting between gears. L (Low): This position reduces vehicle speed more than I (Intermediate) without actually using the brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is placed in L (Low), the transmission will not shift into L (Low) until the vehicle is going slowly enough. 2-26 Transmission Overheating If the transmission fluid temperature rises above 284°F (140°C) or rises rapidly, the Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light will flash. See Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 3-32 for more information. When the transmission overheats it will go into a protection mode and will default shift into fifth gear if in the D (Drive) position, or second gear if in the L (Low) position. Continue driving the vehicle in either position depending on the required vehicle speed and load. Once the fluid temperature lowers to the normal temperature range, the transmission will return to the normal shift patterns. Towing or driving on long hills can cause the transmission fluid temperature to be higher than normal. If the transmission fluid temperature will not cool, you may need to pull over and check the transmission fluid level. You should also check the engine coolant temperature. If it is hot, see Engine Overheating on page 5-28.