Range Selection Mode

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 GMC Yukon XL, 2018 GMC Yukon, 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and 2018 Cadillac Escalade. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fig 1: Transmission Gear Shift Lever Plus/Minus Button

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY

The plus/minus button is hard wire and interface with the Body Control Module. The upshift and downshift commands are sent out on the serial data line from the Body Control Module to the Transmission Control Module and Engine Control Module.

To use this feature:

Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).
Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).

Hold the plus/minus buttons on the shift lever to select the highest or lowest range available for the current vehicle speed.

When the shift lever is moved from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a number displays next to the L, indicating the current transmission range.

This number is the highest gear that the transmission will command while operating in L (Manual Mode). All gears below that number are available. As driving conditions change, the transmission can automatically shift to lower gears. For example, when 5 (Fifth) is selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are automatically shifted by the transmission, but 6 (Sixth) cannot be used until the plus/minus button on the shift lever is used to change to the range.

When the shift lever is moved from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a downshift may occur. The gear that the transmission is operating in when the shift lever is moved from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode) determines if a downshift occurs. See the following chart:

Gear before shifting from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode)	10th	9th	8th	7th	6th	5th	4th	3rd	2nd	1st
Range after shifting from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode) - Tow/Haul not engaged	L7	L7	L7	L6	L5	L4	L3	L3	L2	L1
Range after shifting from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode) - Tow/Haul engaged	L7	L7	L6	L5	L4	L3	L3	L3	L2	L1