Honda 2007 Element Online Reference Owner's Manual page 159

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
page 158 .
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.
156
Neutral (N)
−
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
on 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.
Use neutral if you 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 (D ) − To use D , press the
3 3
D button when the shift lever is in
3
the ''D'' position. This position is simi-
lar to D, except only the first three
gears are selected instead of all five.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
3
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission from
cycling between third and fourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
3