Opel Insignia: Automatic Transmission

The mode or selected gear is shown in the instrument cluster.

P : This position locks the drive wheels. It is the best position to use when starting the engine because the vehicle cannot move easily.

Warning: It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is running. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park).

Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before starting the engine.

This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock release system.

The regular brake must be fully applied first and then the shift lever button must be pressed before shifting from P (Park) when the ignition is on. If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever, then push the shift lever all the way into P (Park) as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear.

Without the brake pedal applied, the control indicator will be on.

If the shift lever is not in P (Park) when the ignition is turned off, the control indicator and P will flash.

R : Use this gear to back up.

Caution: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is stopped.

To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see If the Vehicle Is Stuck.

N : In this position, the engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only with the brake pedal applied.

Warning: Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could move very rapidly.

You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed.

Caution: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.

Caution: A transmission hot message may display if the automatic transmission fluid is too hot.

Driving under this condition can damage the vehicle. Stop and idle the engine to cool the automatic transmission fluid. This message clears when the transmission fluid has cooled sufficiently.

D : This position is for normal driving. It provides the best fuel economy. If more power is needed for passing, and the vehicle is:

• Going less than 56 km/h (35 mph), push the accelerator pedal about halfway down.
• Going about 56 km/h (35 mph) or more, push the accelerator all the way down.

Caution: If the vehicle does not shift gears, the transmission could be damaged. Have the vehicle serviced right away.

Operating Modes

The transmission may operate in a lower gear than normal to improve vehicle performance. The engine speed may be higher and there may be an increase in noise during the following conditions:

• When climbing a grade
• When driving downhill
• When driving in hot temperatures or at high altitude

Manual Mode

Driver Shift Control (DSC)

Caution: Driving with the engine at a high rpm without upshifting while using Driver Shift Control (DSC), could damage the vehicle. Always upshift when necessary while using DSC.

DSC allows you to shift an automatic transmission similar to a manual transmission. To use the DSC feature:

1. Move the shift lever to the left from D (Drive) into the side gate marked with (+) and (-).

2. Move the shift lever forward to upshift or rearward to downshift.

While using the DSC feature, the vehicle will have firmer, quicker shifting. You can use this for sport driving or when climbing or descending hills, to stay in gear longer, or to downshift for more power or engine braking.

The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine revolutions per minute (rpm). The transmission will not automatically shift to the next lower gear if the engine rpm is too high, nor to the next higher gear when the maximum engine rpm is reached.

While in the DSC mode, the transmission will automatically downshift when the vehicle comes to a stop. This will allow for more power during take-off.

When accelerating the vehicle from a stop in snowy and icy conditions, you may want to shift into second gear. A higher gear allows the vehicle to gain more traction on slippery surfaces. Vehicles with a turbocharged engine may also start in third gear.

Drive Systems

All-Wheel Drive

If equipped, this feature transfers torque to the rear wheels as required. It is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for road conditions.

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) performance is automatically reduced when you use the compact spare. To restore full AWD performance, and prevent excessive wear to the clutch in the AWD system, replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as possible.

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