WARNING
CAUTION
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or downshifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift into the appropriate gear, then release the clutch slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever. If the clutch pedal is not fully depressed before the transmission is shifted, a gear noise may be heard. Transmission damage could occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd, 3rd, 4th up to 5th gear in sequence according to vehicle speed.
On the manual transmission, you cannot shift directly from 5th gear into R (Reverse). First shift into N (Neutral), then into R (Reverse).
The shift lever ring returns to its original position when the shift lever is moved to the N (Neutral) position.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R (Reverse) or 1 (1st), shift into N (Neutral), then release the clutch pedal. Depress the clutch pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1 (1st).
Suggested up-shift speeds
The following are suggested vehicle speeds for shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual upshift speeds will vary according to road conditions, the weather and individual driving habits.
For normal acceleration in low altitude areas (less than 4,000 ft [1219 m]):
For quick acceleration in low altitude areas and high altitude areas (over 4,000 ft [1219 m]):
Suggested maximum speed in each gear
Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is not running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed (shown below) in any gear. For level road driving, use the highest gear suggested for that speed.
Always observe posted speed limits, and drive according to the road conditions, which will ensure safe operation. Do not over-rev the engine when shifting to a lower gear as it may cause engine damage or loss of vehicle control.