Opel Antara Owner's Manual page 118

118 Driving and operation
Kickdown
Depress accelerator pedal past the
pressure point and hold in position;
below certain speeds, the transmission
shifts down into a lower gear. Full engine
power is available for acceleration.
When the desired speed is reached, ease
off the accelerator; the transmission shifts
up into a higher gear.
For safety reasons, kickdown is available in
both automatic and manual mode.
Engine braking assistance
Automatic mode
The automatic transmission automatically
selects the driving programs with the best
possible braking effect.
If necessary, lower gears can also be
selected in manual mode to increase the
braking effect. 1st gear has the greatest
braking effect.
Manual mode
In order to utilize the engine braking effect
when driving downhill, select drive range 3,
2 or, if necessary, 1 in good time.
The braking action is most effective in drive
range 1. If drive range 1 is selected at too
high a speed, the transmission remains in
the current gear until the shift point for
drive range 1 is reached, e.g. as a result of
deceleration.
Use of the engine braking effect, as
opposed to the use of the foot brake when
driving downhill, can extend the life of the
brakes.
Stopping the vehicle
The selector lever can be left in the current
drive range when the engine is running.
In automatic or manual mode, once the
vehicle is stationary, first gear engages
automatically and the clutch opens.
In position R, reverse remains engaged.
When stopping on gradients, engage
hand brake or depress brake pedal. Do not
hold the vehicle in place with the
accelerator.
Switch off engine if stopping for a lengthy
period, e.g. in traffic jams.
Back to overview