1996 Toyota Tercel Owners Manual - Page 70

Your automatic transmission has a shift lock system to minimize the possibility of incorrect operation. This means you can only shift out of "P" position when the brake pedal is depressed (with the ignition switch in "ON" position and the lock release button depressed). (a) Normal driving 1. Start the engine as instructed in "How to start the engine" in Part 3. The transmission must be in "P" or "N". 2. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the selector lever to "D". In "D" position, the automatic transmission system will select the most suitable gear for running conditions such as normal cruising, hill climbing, hard towing, etc. Always turn the overdrive switch on for better fuel economy and quieter driving. If the engine coolant temperature is low, the transmission will not shift into the overdrive gear even with the overdrive switch on. (b) Using engine braking To use engine braking, you can downshift the transmission as follows: S Turn off the overdrive switch. (This is effective only when you are driving in the "D" position.) The "O/D OFF" indicator light will come on and the transmission will downshift to the third gear. S Shift into the "2" position when the vehicle speed is lower than the maximum allowable speed for second gear. The transmission will downshift to the second gear and more engine braking will be obtained. S Shift into the "L" position when the vehicle speed is lower than the maximum allowable speed for "L" position. The transmission will downshift to the first gear and maximum engine braking will be applied. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEEDS "2" ...96 km/h (59 mph) "L" ...53 km/h (32 mph) NOTICE zBe careful not to overrev the engine. Watch the tachometer to keep engine rpm from going into the red zone. The maximum allowable speed (approximate) for each position is given above for your reference. zDo not continue hill climbing for a long time in the "2" or "L" position. This may cause severe automatic transmission damage from overheating. To prevent such damage, use "D" position for hill climbing or hard towing. (c) Backing up 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. 2. With the brake pedal held down with your foot, shift the selector lever to the "R" position. NOTICE Never shift into reverse while the vehicle is moving. ! CAUTION Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while shifting. 3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting. ! CAUTION Be careful when downshifting on a slippery surface. Abrupt shifting could cause the vehicle to spin or skid. 63