Pontiac Montana SV6 2008 Owner's Manual page 123

Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle.
If you need more power for passing, and you are:
•
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
•
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The vehicle will shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see Skidding under Loss of
Control on page 4-12.
Notice: If your vehicle seems to start up rather
slowly or not shift gears when you go faster, and
you continue to drive your vehicle that way, you
could damage the transmission. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. You can drive in SECOND (2)
when you are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h)
and DRIVE (D) for higher speeds until then.
Warm-Up Shift
Your vehicle has a computer controlled transmission
designed to warm up the engine faster when the outside
temperature is 35°F (2°C) or colder. You may notice that
the transmission 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. See Climate
Control System on page 3-23 and Dual Climate Control
System on page 3-26 for more information.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.
It reduces vehicle speed more than DRIVE (D) without
using your brakes. You might choose THIRD (3) instead
of DRIVE (D) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position reduces vehicle speed more
than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. 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.
Notice: Driving in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h)
may damage the transmission. Also, shifting into
SECOND (2) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h)
can cause damage. Drive in THIRD (3) or DRIVE (D)
instead of SECOND (2).
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