2009 Honda Element Owner's Manual - Page 224

Main Menu Table Of Contents Automatic Transmission If you have done all of the above and still cannot move the lever out of Park, see Shift Lock Release on page 221. To avoid transmission damage, come to a complete stop before shifting into Park. You must also press the release button to shift into Park. The shift lever must be in Park before you can remove the key from the ignition switch. Reverse (R) － Press the brake pedal and press the release button to shift from Park to reverse. To shift from reverse to neutral, come to a complete stop, and then shift. Neutral (N) － Use neutral if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop briefly with the engine idling. Shift to the Park position if you need to leave your vehicle for any reason. Press on the brake pedal when you are moving the shift lever from neutral to another gear. Drive (D) － Use this position for your normal driving. The transmission automatically selects a suitable gear (1 through 5) for your speed and acceleration. You may notice the transmission shifting up at higher engine speeds when the engine is cold. This helps the engine warm up faster. Drive (D3) － To use D3, press the D3 button when the shift lever is in the ''D'' position. This position is similar to D, except only the first three gears are selected instead of all five. Use D3 when towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to provide engine braking when going down a steep hill. D3 can also keep the transmission from cycling between third and fourth gears in stop-and-go driving. 220 2009 Element