External Controls: Introduction: Notes

The gear selector lever assembly is located in a central position on the transmission tunnel, between the front driver and passenger seats. A mounting plate is secured to the transmission tunnel and provides the mounting for the selector lever assembly.

The selector lever comprises a cast mounting plate which provides for the location of the selector components. The lever is connected to a gimbal mechanism which allows for the selection of P, R, N, D in a forward or backward direction and selection between automatic and manual/sport in a left/right transverse direction. When manual/sport mode is selected, the lever can be moved in a forward or backward direction to select + or - for manual (CommandShift) operation.

When the selector lever is moved to the M/S position, the Bowden cable to the transmission is mechanically disconnected at the shifter. If left in Sport mode all gear changes are performed automatically. If Manual (CommandShift) mode is selected, all gear changes are based on switched ground inputs received by the transmission control module (TCM) from the Manual +/- CommandShift switch.

The selector mechanism houses the following components:

• Manual +/- CommandShift switch
• Shift interlock solenoid
• High/Low range selector switch
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) switch
• Selector position light emitting diode (LED) display
• Selector lever position switch
• Manual/Sport switch
• Key interlock mechanism.

There are four selector lever positions and two additional positions for manual/sport operation:

• P (Park)  - Prevents the vehicle from moving by locking the transmission
• R (Reverse)  - Select only when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is at idle - selects reverse direction
• N (Neutral)  - No torque transmitted to drive wheels
• D (Drive)  - This position uses all six forward gears in high and low ranges
• M/S (Sport mode)  - This position uses all six forward gears as in 'D', but will upshift at higher engine speeds improving acceleration
• + and - ('CommandShift' mode)  - Movement of the selector lever in the +/- positions, when the lever is in the M/S position, will operate the transmission in manual (CommandShift) mode, allowing the driver to manually select all six forward gears.

  The selector lever position is displayed to the driver on the selector position light emitting diode (LED) display and in the instrument cluster. In 'CommandShift' mode, if a gear is selected, but the transmission control module (TCM) logic prevents selection of that gear, the requested gear is initially displayed. The transmission control module (TCM) will engage the next allowed gear and then display that gear.