Get Starting and operating -> Continuously variable transmission Guide for Subaru XV SUV First Generation (2010-2016)

7-19

Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission

Continuously variable trans-

transmission operation is somewhat

cause damage to the transmis-

unusual. This results from invalidation

sion.

mission

of data which the on-board computer

. When parking the vehicle, first

has collected and stored in memory to

securely apply the parking brake

allow the transmission to shift at the

WARNING

and then place the select lever in

most appropriate times for the current

the “P” position. Avoid parking

condition of your vehicle. Optimized

Do not shift from the “P” or “N”

for a long time with the select

shifting will be restored as the vehicle

position into the “D” or “R” position

lever in any other position as

continues to be driven for a while.

while depressing the accelerator

doing so could result in a dead

. When driving a CVT model under

pedal. This may cause the vehicle

battery.

continuous heavy load conditions such

to jump forward or backward.

as when towing a camper or climbing a

long, steep hill, the engine speed or the

& Continuously variable trans-

vehicle speed may automatically be

CAUTION

mission features

reduced. This is not a malfunction. This

The continuously variable transmission is

. Shift into the “P” or “R” position

phenomenon results from the engine

electronically controlled and provides an

only after the vehicle is comple-

control function maintaining the cool-

infinite number of forward speeds and 1

tely stopped. Shifting while the

ing performance of the vehicle. The

reverse speed. For some models, it also

vehicle is moving may cause

engine and vehicle speed will return to

has a manual mode or an “L” position.

damage to the transmission.

a normal speed when the engine is able

to maintain the optimum cooling per-

. Do not race the engine for more

NOTE

formance after the heavy load de-

than 5 seconds in any position

. When the engine coolant tempera-

creases. Driving under a heavy load

except the “N” or “P” position

ture is still low, the transmission will

must be performed with extreme care.

when the brake is applied or

upshift to higher engine speeds than

Do not try to pass a vehicle in front

when chocks are used in the

when the coolant temperature is suffi-

when driving on an uphill slope while

wheels. This may cause the

ciently high in order to shorten the

towing.

transmission fluid to overheat.

warm-up time and improve driveability.

. The continuously variable transmis-

. Avoid shifting from one of the

The gearshift timing will automatically

sion is a chain type system that

forward driving positions into the

shift to the normal timing after the

provides superior transmission effi-

“R” position or vice versa until

engine has warmed up.

ciency for maximum fuel economy. At

the vehicle has completely

. Immediately after transmission fluid

times, depending on varying driving

stopped. Such shifting may

is replaced, you may feel that the

conditions, a chain operating sound

– CONTINUED –

7-20 Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission

may be heard that is characteristic of

When you park the vehicle, first apply the

this type of system.

parking brake firmly, then shift into the “P”

position. Do not hold the vehicle with only

the mechanical friction of the transmis-

& Select lever

sion.

! Select lever positions

To shift the select lever from the “P” to any

other position, you should depress the

brake pedal fully then move the select

lever. This prevents the vehicle from

lurching when it is started.

! R (Reverse)

This position is for backing the vehicle. To

Models with “L” position

shift from the “N” to “R” position, stop the

Models with manual mode

vehicle completely then move the lever to

the “R” position while pressing the select

: With the brake pedal depressed,

lever button in.

shift while pressing the select lever

button in.

When the ignition switch has been turned

: Shift while pressing the select lever

to the “LOCK” (off) position, movement of

Select lever button

button in.

the select lever from the “N” to “R” position

: Shift without pressing the select

is possible for a limited time period by

lever button.

depressing the brake pedal, and then it

becomes impossible. For details, refer to

The select lever has four positions, “P”,

“Shift lock function” F7-23.

“R”, “N”, “D” and it also has an “L” or “M”

gate.

! N (Neutral)

! P (Park)

This position is for restarting a stalled

engine. In this position, the transmission is

This position is for parking the vehicle and

neutral, meaning that the wheels and

starting the engine. In this position, the

transmission are not locked. Therefore,

transmission is mechanically locked to

the vehicle will roll freely, even on the

prevent the vehicle from rolling freely.

slightest incline unless the parking brake

7-21

Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission

or foot brake is applied.

controls the driving performance and

& Selection of manual mode (if

engine braking while corresponding to

equipped)

Avoid coasting with the transmission in

the road grade.

neutral. Engine braking has no effect in

this condition.

When more acceleration is required in the

“D” position, depress the accelerator

WARNING

pedal fully to the floor and hold that

position. The transmission will automati-

Do not drive the vehicle with the

cally downshift. When you release the

select lever in the “N” (neutral)

pedal, the transmission will return to the

position. Engine braking has no

original gear position.

effect in this condition and the risk

For models with manual mode, if one of

of an accident is consequently in-

the shift paddles behind the steering

creased.

wheel is operated while driving in the “D”

position, the transmission will temporarily

NOTE

switch to the manual mode. In this mode,

With the vehicle either moving or station-

If the select lever is in the “N” position

you can shift into any gear position using

ary, move the select lever from the “D”

when you stop the engine for parking,

the shift paddles. For details about the

position to the “M” position to select the

you may not subsequently be able to

manual mode, refer to “Selection of

manual mode.

move it to the “R” and “P” positions. If

manual mode” F7-21. Once the vehicle

this happens, turn the ignition switch to

speed stabilizes, the transmission will

the “ON” position. You will then be able

switch from the manual mode back to

to move the select lever to the “P”

the “D” position for normal driving.

position.

! D (Drive)

This position is for normal driving. The

transmission shifts automatically and con-

tinuously into a suitable gear according to

the vehicle speed and the acceleration

you require. Also, while driving up and

down a hill, the transmission assists and

– CONTINUED –

7-22 Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission

Gearshifts can be performed using the

! Manual mode tips

shift paddle behind the steering wheel.

Please read the following points carefully

and bear them in mind when using the

manual mode.

. If you attempt to shift down when the

engine speed is too high, i.e., when a

downshift would push the tachometer

needle beyond the red zone, beeps will

be emitted to warn you that the downshift

is not possible.

. If you attempt to shift up when the

vehicle speed is too low, the transmission

will not respond.

Upshift indicator

. You can perform a skip-shift (for

Downshift indicator

example, from 4th to 2nd) by operating

Gear position indicator

To upshift to the next higher gear position,

the shift paddle twice in rapid succession.

pull the shift paddle that has “+” indicated

When the manual mode is selected, the

. The transmission automatically selects

on it. To downshift to the next lower gear

gear position indicator and upshift indica-

1st gear when the vehicle stops moving.

position, pull the shift paddle that has “–”

tor and/or downshift indicator on the

. If the temperature of the transmission

indicated on it.

combination meter illuminate.

fluid becomes too high, the “AT OIL

To deselect the manual mode, return the

The gear position indicator shows the

TEMP” warning light on the combination

select lever to the “D” position from the “M”

currently selected gear in the 1st-to-6th-

meter will illuminate. Immediately stop the

position.

gear range. The upshift and downshift

vehicle in a safe location and let the

indicators show when a gear shift is

engine idle until the warning light turns off.

CAUTION

possible. When the upshift indicator “ ”

illuminates, upshifting is possible. When

Do not place or hang anything on

the downshift indicator “ ” illuminates,

the shift paddles. Doing so may

downshifting is possible. When both in-

result in accidental gear shifting.

dicators illuminate, upshifting and down-

shifting are both possible. When the

vehicle stops (for example, at traffic

signals), the downshift indicator turns off.

7-23

Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission

& Selection of “L” (if equipped)

illuminate on the combination meter.

! Shift lock release

If the select lever cannot be operated, turn

To deselect “L”, move the selector lever to

the ignition switch back to the “ON”

the “D” position.

position then move the select lever to the

“P” position with the select lever button

& Shift lock function

pressed and brake pedal depressed.

The shift lock function helps prevent the

improper operation of the select lever.

If the select lever does not move after

performing the above procedure, perform

. The select lever cannot be operated

the following steps.

unless the ignition switch is turned to the

“ON” position and the brake pedal is

. When the select lever cannot be

depressed.

shifted from “P” to “N”:

. The select lever cannot be moved from

Refer to “Shift lock release using the shift

the “P” position to any other position

lock release button” F7-24.

before the brake pedal is depressed.

. When the select lever cannot be

“L” is for using engine braking when going

Depress the brake pedal first, and then

shifted from “N” to “R”, “P”:

down a hill, etc. To select this mode, move

operate the select lever.

the selector lever from the “D” position to

Within 60 seconds after placing the igni-

. Only the “P” position allows you to turn

the “L” position.

tion switch in the “ACC” position, move the

the ignition switch from the “ACC” position

select lever to the “P” position with the

to the “LOCK” (off) position and remove

select lever button pressed and brake

the key from the ignition switch.

pedal depressed.

. If the ignition switch is turned to the

If you must perform the above procedure,

“LOCK” (off) position while the select lever

the shift lock system (or the vehicle control

is in the “N” position, the select lever may

system) may be malfunctioning. Contact a

not be moved to the “P” position after a

SUBARU dealer for an inspection as soon

period of time. Therefore, move the select

as possible.

lever to the “P” position with the brake

pedal depressed soon after the ignition

If the select lever does not move after

switch is turned to the “LOCK” (off)

performing the above procedure, refer to

position.

“Shift lock release using the shift lock

release button” F7-24.

When selected, the indicator “L” will

– CONTINUED –

7-24 Starting and operating/Continuously variable transmission

! Shift lock release using the shift

. Do not keep the vehicle in a stationary

lock release button

position on an uphill grade by using the

Perform the following procedure to release

“D” position. Use the brake instead.

the shift lock.

. The engine may, on rare occasions,

1. Apply the parking brake and turn the

knock when the vehicle rapidly acceler-

ignition switch to the “LOCK” (off) position.

ates or rapidly pulls away from a standstill.

This phenomenon does not indicate a

malfunction.

3. While depressing the brake pedal,

insert a screwdriver into the hole, press

the shift lock release button using a

screwdriver, and then move the select

lever.

If the select lever does not move after

2. Wrap the tip of a flat-head screwdriver

performing the above procedure, the shift

with vinyl tape or a cloth and use it to

lock system may be malfunctioning. Con-

remove the shift lock cover. The shift lock

tact a SUBARU dealer for an inspection

release button is located under the shift

as soon as possible.

lock cover.

& Driving tips

. Always apply the foot or parking brake

when the vehicle is stopped in the “D” or

“R” position.

. Always apply the parking brake when

parking your vehicle. Do not hold the

vehicle with only the mechanical friction

of the transmission.

Starting and operating -> Continuously variable transmission for Your Subaru XV SUV First Generation (2010-2016)

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