Manual transaxle

Manual Transmission Operation

The manual transmission has 6 forward gears.

This shift pattern is printed on the shift knob. All forward gears are fully synchronized, so shifting to a higher or lower gear is easy.

Fully depress the clutch pedal when shifting gears, then slowly release it.

If your vehicle is equipped with a clutch interlock switch, the engine will not start unless the clutch pedal is depressed when starting the engine. (if equipped)

The shift lever must be returned to the neutral position before shifting into R (Reverse).

Press the button located directly below the shift lever knob, pull the shift lever far enough to the left, and then shift into reverse (R).

Before shifting into R (Reverse), make sure the vehicle is completely stopped.

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

CAUTION

• Use caution when shifting from 5th to 4th gear so that you do not accidentally push the shift lever sideways and engage 2nd gear. Such an abrupt downshift may cause engine speed to increase until the tachometer enters the red zone. Such excessive engine and transmission speed may cause damage to the engine.
• Do not downshift more than 2 gears at once, and do not downshift when the engine is running at high speed (5000 rpm or above). Such downshifting may damage the engine, clutch, and transmission.

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

• 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, release the clutch pedal, then depress the clutch pedal again, and then shift into 1st or R (Reverse).

CAUTION

• To prevent premature wear and damage to the clutch, do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal. Also, do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle on a hill, while waiting at a traffic light, etc.
• Do not use the shift lever as a armrest while driving, as this may cause premature wear of the shift forks.
• To avoid possible damage to the clutch system, do not start off 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 transmission is in 1st gear when the vehicle is parked on a level surface or uphill, or in R (Reverse) when parked downhill. Unexpected and sudden 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

Before shifting, the clutch pedal must be fully depressed to the floor, 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 quickly and repeatedly.

CAUTION

When depressing the clutch pedal, depress the clutch pedal fully. If you do not fully depress the clutch pedal, this may cause clutch damage or noise.

Downshifting

If you need to reduce speed in heavy traffic or when driving up steep grades, downshift before the engine begins to labor. Downshifting reduces the likelihood of stalling and provides better acceleration when you need to increase speed again. When driving down steep grades, downshifting helps maintain a safe speed and extends brake life.

Good Driving Practices

• Never turn off the engine and coast down a hill. This is extremely dangerous. Always leave the vehicle in gear while driving.
• Do not "ride" the brakes. This may cause them to overheat and fail. Instead, when driving down a long hill, downshift to a lower gear. When you do this, engine braking will help slow the vehicle.
• Slow down before downshifting. This helps prevent excessive engine speed that may cause damage.
• Reduce speed when encountering crosswinds. This gives you much better control of your vehicle.
• Before attempting to shift gears, make sure the vehicle is completely stopped. Shifting in the wrong order may damage the transmission.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving on slippery surfaces. Be especially careful when braking, accelerating, or shifting gears. On slippery surfaces, a sudden change in vehicle speed may cause the driving wheels to lose traction with the road and the vehicle to go out of control.

WARNING

• Always wear your seat belt! In a collision, an unbelted passenger is much more likely to suffer serious injury or death than a properly belted passenger.
• Avoid high speeds when driving through curves or turns.
• Do not make sudden steering movements, such as quick lane changes or rapid, sharp turns.
• The risk of rollover increases significantly if you lose control of your vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of control often occurs when two or more wheels slip off the paved surface and the driver steers to return to the road.
• If your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply. Instead, brake gently before returning to the traffic lane.
• Never exceed the posted speed limits.