2001 Pontiac Aztek Owner's Manual - Page 118
2001 Pontiac Aztek Manual
Page 118 highlights
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you're: Warm-Up Shift Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle designed to warm up the engine faster when the outside temperature is 35_F (2_C) or colder. You may notice that the transaxle will shift at a higher vehicle speed until the engine is warmed up. This is a normal condition designed to provide heat to the passenger compartment and defrost the windows more quickly. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): D Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. accelerator all the way down. D Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the You'll shift down to the next gear and have more power. NOTICE: If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster, something may be wrong with a transaxle system sensor. If you drive very far that way, your vehicle can be damaged. So, if this happens, have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then, you can use SECOND (2) when you are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds. D When driving on hilly, winding roads. D When towing a trailer (so there is less shifting between gears). D When going down a steep hill. SECOND (2): This position gives you more power, but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. 2-34