Drive with Grade Assist - Transmission Control (TC) Switch
Grade assist is activated when the transmission control (TC) switch is pressed. The TC switch is located on the selector lever knob. When the TC switch is pressed, the 6th gear or overdrive (O/D) upshift is prevented or the transaxle shifts down to 5th gear. The TC switch is meant to be used when driving conditions cause excessive shifting from 6th to other gears such as hilly terrain, mountainous areas or when engine braking is required. The transaxle returns to O/D when the TC switch is pressed again or anytime the key is turned OFF.
D (Drive) with O/D Cancel and Grade Assist
Pressing the TC switch on the side of the selector lever activates 2 features at the same time:
- O/D Cancel
- O/D will be deactivated.
- Transaxle operates in gears 1 through 5.
- O/D OFF lamp in the instrument cluster (IC) is illuminated.
- Grade Assist
- Improves driving experience in hilly terrain or mountainous areas by providing additional grade (engine) braking and extends lower gear operation on uphill climbs.
- Additional engine braking is provided through the automatic transmission shift strategy which reacts to vehicle inputs (vehicle acceleration, accelerator pedal, brake pedal and vehicle speed).
- The transmission will select gears that will provide the engine braking desired, based on the vehicle inputs mentioned above. This will increase engine rpm during engine braking.
O/D cancel with Grade Assist is designed to provide optimal gear selection in hilly terrain or mountainous areas, thus it is recommended to return to O/D on flat terrain to provide the best fuel economy and transmission function.
To return to O/D, press the transmission control switch again.
- The O/D OFF lamp in the IC will not be illuminated.
- The transmission will operate in gears 1 through 6.
O/D is automatically returned each time the key is turned off.