Shift
These are Up, Down or simply Shift Indicator symbols. A handful of vehicle manufacturers use these lights in vehicles with manual transmissions to indicate when it is best to shift to a higher or lower gear for optimum fuel economy.
- But first, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, continue on below.
- Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!
Many More Versions
For the most part, the symbols themselves are green, indicating that they are intended to be informative and helpful and not warnings. The symbol above on the far right is an up-pointing arrow and the simple word SHIFT. The images here to the left include a bumpy circle, which represents a mechanical flywheel. The first adds a Plus (+) sign indicating that an upshift is in order. The flywheel without the Plus sign is particular to a Sport Mode selection from one manufacturer and indicates that more aggressive shifting will be employed automatically.
These two indicators, again in green, are again up or down arrows or pyramids. Included in this example is the number 2 as a suggested gear target of the shift. The number 1 or 3 or 4 or 5, etc may be seen as well.
These two, however, are displayed in yellow/amber. In addition, there is an Up Shift and a Down Shift Indicator. Their purpose remains the same, to aide in fuel economizing. The images are that of a shifter with an arrow either above for Up Shift or below for Down. It can be described as a ball on a rod angled away from a two level base.
The ST symbol seen to the left is a Performance Shift Indicator. In vehicles so equipped, the indicator will be seen when the powertrain reaches the optimum upshift point. However, it will flash when the engine is close to hitting the engine speed limiter.
Another exception will be seen in gray scale in the vehicles information display. It appears as a gear – something that may be found inside a transmission – and is part of an electronic shift notification system. Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL) or Performance Algorithm Shift (PAS).
Similar Symbol
Do not confuse the second image with the Settings Indicator symbol on the right. It is nearly identical to the bumpy circle used when referring to the transmission, but lacks any addition in the center and is shown in gray scale. The settings indicator will most generally be seen in the separate Information Display.
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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
Two Second Rule: Distraction Guidelines Seek to Limit Eyes on Text
Limit Eyes on Text
In order to keep a driver’s eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recommended disabling several operations in a vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped and in park. It is also recommending a limit to the amount of time a driver must take their eyes off the road to perform a single task to 2 seconds and six screen touches in 12 seconds to perform a task. These could include changing the radio station, adjusting temperature or answering a phone call using a car’s built-in hands-free software.
The recommendations are the result of findings from a new NHTSA naturalistic driving study, which showed that visual-manual tasks associated with hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by a factor of three.
The operations recommended to be disabled, unless stopped and in park, would include manual text entry for the purposes of text messaging and internet browsing; video-based entertainment and communications; and the display of certain types of text, including text messages, web pages, social media content.
Yes, everyday electronics in use while driving trumps random and occasional instrument panel distraction. Our concern is that the issue will remain under the radar until someone is injured or worse, much like the stop light that is only installed after repeated accidents at the same street corner. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Compliance Timeline
Automakers will have three years to retool electronic navigation and entertainment systems in order to comply as the final guidelines are phased in. And NHTSA Administrator David L. Strickland said the agency will consider including the distraction guidelines in its New Car Assessment Program, which is the basis of the government’s five-star safety light vehicle ratings system.
Truly the growing everyday use of electronics while driving are a proven danger and the agency should be applauded for the solid data backing up the guidelines. However, the elephant in the room remains the impact on a driver that a warning light has when it pops on while driving. Or worse, multiple lights. Or worse yet, an associated text message on the information displays embedded in today’s instrument panels. How about the growing use by manufacturers of fuel economy and battery life readouts? The impact on and time used by driver’s in these case should be considered as well.
——————————————————————-
Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY