Manual Transmission Operation

The manual transaxle has 5 forward gears.

The shift pattern is printed on the shift knob. The transmission is fully synchronized in all forward gears so that upshifting or downshifting is performed easily.

Fully depress the clutch pedal when shifting, then slowly release it. If your vehicle is equipped with an ignition interlock switch, the engine will not start unless the clutch pedal is depressed. (If equipped) The shift lever must be returned to the neutral position before shifting into R (Reverse).

Make sure the vehicle has come to a complete stop before shifting into R (Reverse).

Never start the engine with the tachometer (rpm) in the red zone.

CAUTION

• When downshifting from 5th gear to 4th gear, be careful not to accidentally push the shift lever in such a way that 2nd gear is engaged. Such an abrupt downshift may cause the engine speed to increase to the point that the tachometer enters the red zone. Such over-revving may cause damage to the engine and transaxle.
• Do not downshift more than 2 gears at once or downshift when the engine is running at high speed (5000 rpm or above). Such downshifting may damage the engine, clutch, and transaxle.

• In cold weather, shifting may be difficult until the transaxle fluid warms up. This is normal and does not harm the transaxle.

• If you have come to a complete stop and have difficulty shifting into 1st or R (Reverse), leave the shift lever in the N (Neutral) position and release the clutch pedal. Depress the clutch pedal again, then shift into the 1st or R (Reverse) gear position.

CAUTION

• To avoid premature clutch wear and damage, do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal. Also, do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle on a grade, while waiting for traffic lights, etc.
• Do not use the shift lever as an armrest while driving, as this may cause premature wear of the shift fork.
• To avoid possible damage to the clutch system, do not start in 2nd (second) gear except when starting on a slippery road.

WARNING

• Before leaving the driver's seat, always fully apply the parking brake and turn off the engine. Then make sure the transaxle is in 1st gear when the vehicle is parked on level ground or uphill, and in R (Reverse) when parked downhill. Unexpected vehicle movement may occur if these precautions are not followed in the specified order.
• Do not use engine braking (downshifting from a higher gear to a lower gear) abruptly on slippery road surfaces. The vehicle may skid, which may result in an accident.

Using the Clutch

The clutch pedal must be fully depressed to the floor before shifting, then released slowly. The clutch pedal must always be fully released while driving. Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. This may cause unnecessary wear. Do not partially engage the clutch to hold the vehicle on a slope. This causes unnecessary wear. Use the foot brake or parking brake to hold the vehicle on a slope. Do not depress the clutch pedal too quickly or repeatedly.

CAUTION

When depressing the clutch pedal, fully depress the clutch pedal. If you do not fully depress the clutch pedal, the clutch may be damaged or noise may occur.

Downshifting

When you need to slow down in heavy traffic or while driving down steep grades, downshift before the engine labors. Downshifting reduces the likelihood of stalling and provides better acceleration when you need to increase your speed again. When the vehicle is traveling down steep grades, downshifting helps maintain a safe speed and extends brake life.