Dodge 2009 Dakota - Manual (Page 247)

Gear
Selec-
tion
6 to 5 5 to 4 4 to 3 3 to 2 2 to 1
Maxi-
mum
Speed
85 mph
(135
km/h)
75 mph
(120
km/h)
55 mph
(88
km/h)
35 mph
(56
km/h)
20 mph
(32
km/h)
Reverse Shifting
To shift into REVERSE, bring the vehicle to a complete
stop. Depress the clutch and pause briefly to allow the
gear train to stop rotating. Beginning from the NEUTRAL
position, move the shift lever in one quick smooth
motion straight across and into the REVERSE area (the
driver will feel a firm “click” as the shifter passes the
“knock-over”). Complete the shift by pulling the shift
lever into REVERSE.
The “knock-over” prevents the driver from accidentally
entering the REVERSE shift area and warns the driver
that they are about to shift the transmission into RE-
VERSE. Due to this feature, a slow shift to REVERSE can
be perceived as a high shift effort.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
• Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
(Continued)
STARTING AND OPERATING 245
5