What the heck does the "power" button on the console beside the shifter actually do?
(2001 Tracker 4dr W/auto)
Can't find anything in the manual.

It gives you more power! Like V8 power 

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY POWER BUTTON!!! 

Actually it's supposed to change the shift points for when your towing or just need a little boost on the highway to pass someone.

Kinda works and kinda doesn't...

I've never really noticed a difference with it on or off.
Thought it might be some gimic GM installed!

Actually it's supposed to change the shift points for when your towing or just need a little boost on the highway to pass someone.

Kinda works and kinda doesn't...

That is correct, although I've never really noticed a difference either.  When I want to pass someone I just floor it (and sometimes turn the OD off), the V6 can put out a good kick when you want it.

Also I remember reading in the owners manual that if you put the shifter in 2nd with the power mode on, then you can start in 2nd gear.  Good for getting going in snow/sand situations.  Don't think I have every actually tried it though.

The full-throttle upshift points are moved to 30/58/93 from 28/58/83 and the downshift points to 77/53/27 from 77/48/25.

The closed-throttle upshift points are moved to 11/22/30 from 9/20/28 and the downshift points to 25/18/4 from 22/18/3.

The intermediate throttle positions are also given on the diagram, but that's enough to get the idea 

It works. I use it a lot when pulling trailers. Like IanL said, it delays the up shifts so the engine can rev a little more (make more power) before shifting, also makes for firmer shifts. The 2nd gear take off also works nice in the ice and snow. "Study your owners manual "

97TRAKIN,  I unfortunately had to use the owners manual as T-P one day, must be those pages I used!!!!!

Thanks for the info though.

Yeah in my dads XL7 i realy never noticed it but maybe its more suited for towing.

The power button locks the torque converter in the automatic transmisson. For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_converter#Lock-up_torque_converters

The power button locks the torque converter in the automatic transmisson. For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_converter#Lock-up_torque_converters

Are you serious?? Your playing right...

Get your facts strait..

Grimsy,

Did you perhaps not bother to read all the replies above yours?  If you did, what on earth led you to assume we all had it wrong?

If it was an honest mistake, here's some information:

TC lockup is a device for saving fuel when you reach "cruising speed", i.e. the load is quite low, torque multiplication is not required, and economy can be had without penalty to performance.

The power button has the opposite effect.  By delaying gearshift to higher revs, you get more power at the expense of fuel consumption.

and if one where to have the button in "power" mode with the TQ locked up, the truck would stall the second you come to a stop...

-Lance

...but, fortunately, the TC lockup is automatically controlled according to gear, revs and throttle opening.  No manual control.