What does this switch do?

dumb blonde · Post by **dumb blonde** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:10 pm

OK, I've got an automatic, two wheel drive, 1991 liberty gx. On the centre console just behind the handbrake is a switch marked "manual". What does it do? When I switch it on I notice the economy light goes out but nothing else seems to change. I don't have a glovebox manual so haven't been able to figure it out. Does anyone know?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:20 pm

is a guess that it is typical of the day power mode for the auto, changing gears differently in each mode. With eco light off may hang on to the gear longer before up shift ?

dumb blonde · Post by **dumb blonde** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:26 pm

Not sure about that as there is another button on the shifter for the power/economy mode.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:13 pm

I take it it's not an option for sequential shift?
Tap the gearstick up for change up, or the flappy paddles.
I know the 200 series have these and they will still work in auto when this happens.

Cheers Cam

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:33 pm

When the selector is in 3rd gear with the manual switch “ON,” the transmission
will start in 2nd gear and shift to 3rd. In 2nd gear manual, the transmission
starts and stays in 2nd gear, but will upshift to 3rd gear at 6500 RPM to prevent
damage to the engine. In 1st gear manual the transmission stays in 1st gear and
also will upshift to second at 6500 RPM to prevent damage to the engine.
These changes result in improved driveability on low friction road surfaces.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:57 pm

1st 2nd and 3rd range?
Never heard of such things. Just Hi and Lo.
Typo? or is this a (tom ate o) (tom art o) situation?

Cheers Cam

Post by **Alex** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:05 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:I take it it's not an option for sequential shift?
Tap the gearstick up for change up, or the flappy paddles.
I know the 200 series have these and they will still work in auto when this happens.

Cheers Cam

LOL......not on a 1991 GX mate.

Its just a power setting. Youll find the motor will rev out abit harder before changing gears.

alex

dumb blonde · Post by **dumb blonde** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:24 pm

Thanks guys, I'll have to try the 3rd gear, 2nd gear thing next time it's raining.

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:26 pm

Brumby Kid wrote:1st 2nd and 3rd range?
Never heard of such things. Just Hi and Lo.
Typo? or is this a (tom ate o) (tom art o) situation?

Cheers Cam

Its taken from an american manual - range = gear.

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:29 pm

Alex wrote:LOL......not on a 1991 GX mate.

Its just a power setting. Youll find the motor will rev out abit harder before changing gears.

alex

No its not - see my post above. It will hold it in gears (unless you over rev it and then it will change up to save the enginge) so if you rev it to near redline and then back off it won't automatically change up. and it also won't go down to first even if you come to a stop.

This is designed for driving in extremely slippery conditions ie: Snow.

Post by **Alex** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:17 pm

'hold' function in the newer subis? I can't see the benefit this will have in a FWD car.

I will have to try this in my sister's identical car.

Sent from my HTC Velocity 4G using Tapatalk 2

alang · Post by **alang** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:01 pm

sounds like a good reason to take a drive trip to the snow and try it out me thinks

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:12 pm

I think HOLD and MANUAL are pretty much the same. MANUAL button only came out in Liberty from 1990-93 (Gen 1), Impreza to 1994 and SVX.

Heres another excerpt about the HOLD button :

hold+2 will be permanent second,

hold+3 will start in second, change up to 3rd as soon as possible and then basically stay there, and

hold+D will start in second then drive normally other than not using 1st.

it's also known as "snow" switch...

basically in less than desirable weather ie: snow/ice you flick the hold switch in Drive... car starts in second and configures the gears to keep low rev range, high torque, low power... so that the wheels don't spin and you don't lose control so easily

Next time I go for a drive I will test it out.

OKsubaru · Post by **OKsubaru** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:56 am

There is a few Falcons i reckon could do with this function - say hold onto 2nd for take off in slippery situations instead of slithering away at every bleeding take off in the wet in heavy sprung arse end wagons ! No matter, can't buy Falcon Station wagons new anymore

The way I see and understand the OP question button is has power and economy button AND a hold gears in manual mode that also extinguishes the eco mode light coz it is not the most efficient use of fuel ??

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:32 am

niterida wrote:This is designed for driving in extremely slippery conditions ie: Snow.

Spot on. This is exactly what it's for, it will hold 2nd gear once you have come to a stop, thus reducing the chance of the front wheels loosing traction during take off on slippery surfaces. And like Ken (niterida) has mentioned, it (the transmission) will hold what ever gear is selected on the shift and not go up a gear unless the engine is being over revved. It doesn't give you any better economy (in fact slightly higher fuel consumption). If you want better fuel economy, this is what the economy button on the side of the shift does. You'll also notice that the economy light goes out if both switches are selected because you can't have good economy in manual mode.