Gear selector positions for automatic transmissions

Updated 2020-03-19

In vehicles with an automatic transmission, the system selects the optimal gear for the current driving conditions. The transmission also has a manual mode.

P5-1507-gear shifter with gear shift modes

The instrument panel shows which gear is currently in use:

P, R, N, D or M.

For manual shifting, the gear indicator in the instrument panel displays the gear currently being used.

Gear selector positions

Park - P

In P mode, the transmission is mechanically locked.

Select P when the vehicle is parked or when starting the engine. The vehicle must be stationary when Park is selected.

To move to another gear from Park, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition in mode II.

When parking – apply the parking brake before shifting to Park.

Warning

Always apply the parking brake when parking on an incline. Selecting a gear or putting the automatic transmission in P may not be sufficient to keep the vehicle stationary in all situations.

Note

The gear selector must be in the P position before the vehicle can be locked and the alarm set.

Reverse - R

Select R when backing up. The vehicle must be stationary when Reverse is selected.

Neutral - N

No gear is selected and the engine can be started. Apply the parking brake if the vehicle is stationary with the gear selector in N.

To move the gear selector from Neutral to another gear, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition in mode II.

D drive mode

D is the normal driving gear position. The transmission shifts up or down automatically depending on acceleration and speed.

The vehicle must be stationary when the gear selector is moved from R to D.

Manual shifting mode - M

P5-1507-XC90- manual gear ind driver display

Manual shifting mode can be selected at any time during a drive. Engine braking will occur when the accelerator pedal is released.

Select manual shifting mode by moving the gear selector sideways from D to ±. The current gear will be displayed in the instrument panel.

Push the gear selector forward toward + (plus) and release to shift up one gear.
Pull the gear selector backward toward – (minus) and release to shift down one gear.
Push the gear selector to the side to the end position at D to return to D mode.

For smooth shifting and engine performance, the transmission will shift down automatically if the vehicle's speed becomes too low for the selected gear.