2009 Malibu Automobile Owner's Manual

2. Press the + (plus) paddle located on top of
the steering wheel controls forward to upshift,
or push the backside of the shift paddle rearward
to downshift.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) in the instrument
cluster will change from the currently displayed message
to the letter “M”, For Manual position, and a number
indicating the requested gear range when moving
the shift lever forward or rearward.
While using the DSC feature the transmission will have
firmer shifting and sportier performance. You can use
this for sport driving or when climbing 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 higher gear if the vehicle speed or engine
RPM is too low.
• The transmission will not allow shifting to the next
lower gear if the vehicle speed or engine RPM is
too high.
Second or Third Gear Start Feature
When accelerating the vehicle from a stop in snowy and
icy conditions, you may want to shift the gear select tap
switch into Second or Third gear. A higher gear allows
you to gain more traction on slippery surfaces.
With the DSC feature, the vehicle can be set to pull
away in Second or Third gear.
1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) into the
M (Manual Mode).
2. With the vehicle stopped, press (+) end of the
button to select Second or Third gear. The vehicle
will start from a stop position in Second or Third gear.
3. Once moving select the desired drive gear.
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