Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Manual Mode Control
By operating the manual mode switch to ON (tilting the shift lever to the left) in D range, the mode shifts to the manual mode and the combination meter indicates the current gear range and permission for upshift and downshift.
[+] operation of shift lever or paddle causes upshift and [-] operation causes downshift; and the shift is held in the selected gear range while driving.
- Upshift prohibition and auto downshift control
"Ξ" mark next to the SPORT indicator indicates permission for upshift, with which upshift occurs by each [+] operation. However, when the current vehicle speed is too low for higher gear range, "Ξ" mark lights off, prohibiting further upshift.
If the vehicle speed level becomes too low for the current gear range, the gear automatically shifts down to prevent engine stall. When the vehicle stops, the gear always downshifts to 1st except when the vehicle is in the 2nd hold control mode.
- Downshift prohibition control
" " mark next to the SPORT indicator indicates permission for downshift, with which downshift occurs by each [-] operation. However, when the current vehicle speed is too high for lower gear range, " " mark lights off, prohibiting further downshift. In this case, if downshift operation occurs, the alarm beeps to warn the driver.
When ATF oil temperature is extremely low, for instance, immediately after engine start in winter, upshift to 5th is prohibited to promote warm-up.
- Engine over speed preventive control
If the engine speed exceeds the specified level during acceleration in manual mode, the gear automatically shifts up to prevent engine over speed.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.