What does the +- on the gear shift of the Malibu XL mean?
3 Answers
The plus and minus signs on the gear shift of the Malibu XL indicate that the vehicle is equipped with a manual-automatic transmission. The plus and minus signs represent the manual mode for shifting gears up or down. First, fully depress the brake pedal and shift into "D" gear. Then, push the gear lever to the right. At this point, you can use the "-" paddle on the left to downshift the vehicle and the "+" paddle to upshift it. The manual mode better aligns with actual driving conditions, allowing for precise control of the vehicle's torque and speed. Additional information is as follows: 1. P (Parking gear): When this gear is engaged, the transmission locking mechanism activates, so it should only be engaged when the vehicle is completely stopped. 2. R (Reverse gear): This gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. 3. N (Neutral gear): The torque converter is in an idle state, and power cannot be transmitted to the planetary gears. Neutral gear is used for short-term parking.
I love exploring all the little hidden features in cars, and the plus and minus signs on the Malibu XL's gear shift are actually a secret trick. When you push the gear lever from D to the right, it enters manual mode. At this point, the plus and minus signs allow you to manually control the gears—pushing forward shifts up, while pulling back shifts down. I especially enjoy using this feature on winding mountain roads. When climbing a long slope, dropping a gear gives an instant burst of power, and when descending a steep slope, shifting to a lower gear uses engine braking to slow down more steadily than using the brakes. Sometimes, when I'm in a hurry to overtake, I manually drop two gears—the engine roars as the RPMs surge, making overtaking incredibly smooth. Just be careful not to let the tachometer hit the red line, as the automatic protection system will take over if it detects danger.
I remember the first time I drove my friend's Malibu, I also wondered about the gear shift symbols. This is actually the manual mode switch for the automatic transmission. When you switch to this mode, the plus and minus signs function as substitutes for paddle shifters. Upshifting saves fuel and reduces RPM, while downshifting increases RPM for more torque. Once, with five people on board climbing a steep hill, I switched to manual mode, dropped to 2nd gear, and the engine roared its way up. On the highway, when needing quick overtaking, dropping two gears in succession for acceleration feels particularly satisfying. But don't treat it like a race car - automatic mode is more worry-free for daily driving, as the transmission programming knows better than you when to shift.
