To the right puts it in D (Drive) which allows the transmission to use all five gears... 1,2,3,4, and 5 (Overdrive). Pushing it to the left puts it in 4 and limits the transmission to 1,2,3, and 4. Back a notch to 3 limits it to 1,2, and 3... etc. All the way back and to the right is L... low...