Mazda 2002 MPV Owner's Manual page 129

J16L_EA.book Page 9 Friday, February 22, 2002 11:34 AM
M Transaxle Ranges
The shift lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
NOTE
When shifting the automatic transaxle
in extremely could temperature, the
shift pattern indicator will respond
more slowly than under normal
conditions.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
WARNING
Holding the Vehicle with P:
Setting the shift lever to the P position
without using the parking brake to
hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P
fails to hold, the vehicle could move
and cause an accident. To hold the
vehicle, set the shift lever to P AND
set the parking brake.
CAUTION
• Shifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage your
transaxle.
• Shifting into a driving gear or
reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transaxle.
Form No. 8Q44-EA-01K
Starting and Driving
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except as
explained under Rocking the Vehicle
(page 4-8).
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
Shifting from N or P:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P
into a driving gear when the engine is
running faster than idle. If this is
done, the vehicle could move
suddenly, causing an accident or
serious injury. If the engine is
running faster than idle, don't shift
from N or P into a driving gear.
Shifting into N while Driving:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury. Do not shift into N when
driving the vehicle.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transaxle will automatically shift
through a 5-gear sequence.
Driving Your Mazda
5-9