
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls 
Here  you  can  learn  about  the  many  standard  and  optional  featur\
es on your 
vehicle,  and  information  on  starting,  shifting,  and  braking.  Als\
o  explained  are 
the  instrument  panel  and  the warning  systems  that  tell you 
if everything is 
working  properly-and  what  to do if you  have  a  problem. 
For explanation of vehicle symbols, refer  to  “Vehicle Symbols” in 
Section 0. 
Keys ......................,.........................,...........~...........\
...............................,...........,. 2-3 
Your  Doors  and  How  They  Work 
............................................~.......................... \
2-5 
Side  Doors 
.............I............r............................ .................................... .... ......... 2-5 
Door  Locks 
........................................................................\
.................................. .- . , 2-6 
Theft 
........................................................................\
............................................... 2-8 
New  Vehicle  Break-In 
........................................................................\
............,...... 2-9 
Ignition  Switch 
........................................................................\
............................... 2-9 
Starting  Your Engine 
........................................................................\
................... 2-11 
Driving  Through  Deep  Standing  Water 
..................................................... .... 2-14 
Automatic  Transmission 
........................................................................\
.............. 2-1 6 
Five-Speed  Manual  Transmission ...................................................................... 2-1  9 
Locking  Rear 
Axle ...... 1 ........................................................................\
................ 2-21 
Parking  Brake 
........................................................................\
.............................. 2-21 
Parking  Over  Things  That  Burn 
........................................................................\
. 2-25 
- 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Theft 
Vehicle  theft is a big  business,  especially  in some  cities.  Although  your 
vehicle  has  a  number  of theft  deterrent  features,  we  know that  nothing  we 
put  on 
it can  make it impossible  to steal.  However,  there  are  ways  you  can 
help. 
Key  in  the  Ignition: 
If you  walk  away  from  your  vehicle  with  the  keys  inside, 
it’s  an  easy  target  for  joy  riders  or  professional  thieves-s\
o  don’t 
do it.  when^ 
you  park  your  vehicle  and  open  the  driver’s  door,  you’ll \
 hear  a  tone  reminding 
you  to remove  your  key  from  the  ignition  and  take  it with  you.  Always 
do 
this.  Your  steering  wheel  will  be  locked,  and so will  your  ignition. If you  have 
an  automatic  transmission,  taking  your  key  out  also  locks  your \
 transmission. 
And  remember  to lock  the  doors. 
Parking  at  Night:  Park  in a lighted  spot,  close  all windows  and  lock  your 
vehicle.  Remember  to keep  your  valuables  out  of  sight.  Put  them  in a  storage 
area,  or  take  them  with  you. 
Parking  Lots: 
If you  park  in a  lot  where  someone  will  be  watching  your 
vehicle,  it’s  best  to lock  it up  and  take  your  keys.  But  what 
if you  have  to 
leave  your  ignition  key?  What 
if you  have  to leave  somethina  valuable  in  vour 
vehicle? 
Put  your  valuables  in a  storage  area,  like  your  glove DOX. 
Lock  the  glove  box. 
Lock  all doors  except  the  driver’s. 
Then  take  the  door  key  with  you. 
2-8 
1   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Key Release  Lever 
The  ignition  key  cannot  be  removed  from  the  ignition of manual  transmission 
vehicles  unless  the  key  release  lever  is  used. 
To Remove  the Key 
Turn  the  key  to the  LO,CK  position  while  pressing  the  key  release  lever  down 
at  the  same  time.  Keeping  your  finger  on  the  lever,  pull  the \
 key  straight  out. 
On  automatic  transmission  vehicles,  turn  the  key  to  LOCK  and  p\
ull  it  straight 
out. 
To Starz Your 2.5 -Liter (VIN Code A) L4 Engine: 
1. Automatic  Transmission: 
Move  your  shift  lever  to 
P (Park)  or N (Neutral).  Your  engine  won't  start 
in  any  other  position-that's  a  safety  feature. 
To restart  when  you're 
already  moving,  use 
N (Neutral)  only. 
2-1 1   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE 
I 
ever  nave  your venue loweu, see 11 
now IO do it without  damaging  your  v-’-’cle 
the  Index. 
To Start Your 2.8 Liter (W/V Code R) and 4.3 Liter 
(VlN Codes Z and W) V6 Engines: 
1. Automatic  Transmission: 
Move  your  shift  lever  to 
P (Park)  or N (Neutral).  Your engine  won’t  start 
in  any  other  position-that’s  a  safety  feature.  To restart  when  you’re 
already  moving,  use 
N (Neutral)  only. 
I NOTICE 
Manual  Transmission: 
Shift  your  gear  selector  to 
N (Neutral)  and  hold  the  clutch  pedal  to  the 
floor  while  starting  the  engine.  Your vehicle  won’t  start 
if the clutch  pedal 
is  not  all  the  way  down-that’s a  safety  feature. 
other  vehicles  you  might  need  to 
do this,  but  because  of your  vehicle’s 
computer  systems,  you  don’t. 
key.  The  idle  speed  will  go  down  as  your  engine  gets  warm. 
2. Don’t  push the accelerator  pedal  before  starting  your  engine.  In some 
3. Turn  your  ignition  key  to  Start.  When  the  engine  starts,  let  \
go  of the 
I 
2-1 3   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls 
I 
e 
OD (Automatic  Overdrive).  This  position is for  normal  driving. If you  need 
more  power  for  passing,  and  you’re: 
- Going  less  than  about 35 mph (56 km/h),  push  your  accelerator 
pedal  about  halfway  down. 
- Going  about 35 mph (56 km/h)  or more,  push  the  accelerator  all the 
way  down.  You’ll  shift  down to the  next  gear  and  have  more  power. 
OD should not be  used  when towing  a  trailer,  carrying  a  heavy  load, 
driving  on  steep  hills,  or  for  off-road  driving.  Select 
D (third  gear)  when 
operating  the  vehicle  under  any  of  these  conditions. 
D (Third  Gear).  This is  like OD, but  you  never  go  into  Overdrive.  You 
should  use 
D when  towing  a  trailer,  carrying  a  heavy  load,  driving  on 
steeps  hills,  or  for  off-road  driving. 
2 (Second  Gear).  This  position  gives  you  more  power  but  lower  \
fuel 
economy.  You  can  use 
2 (Second  Gear)  on  hills.  It  can  help  control  your 
speed  as  you  go  down  steep  mountain  roads,  but  then  you  would\
 
also 
want  to use  your  brakes  off  and  on. 
If you  have  a 4.3L engine  (Codes Z and W) and if you  manually  select 
2, the  transmission  will  drive  in second  gear.  You  may  use  this  feature 
for  reducing  torque 
to the  rear  wheels  when  you  are  trying to start  your 
vehicle  from  a  stop  on  slippery  road  surfaces. 
1 (First  Gear).  This  position  gives  you  even  more  power  (but  \
lower  fuel 
economy)  than 
2. You  can  use it on  very  steep  hills,  or in deep  snow or 
mud. If the  selector  lever  is put  in 1, the  transmission  won’t  shift  into 
first  gear  until  the  vehicle  is going  slowly  enough. 
2-1 8   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shifting  Into  P  (Park)  .(Automatic  Transmission 
Models  Only) 
fi A.UTION I. 
It can  be  dangerous  to  get  out  of  your  vehicle if the  shift  lever  is  not I 
fully in P (Park)  with  the  parking  brake  firmly  set.  Your vehicle  can 
roll. 
If  you  have  left  the  engine  running,  the  vehicle  can  move  sudde..I,. 
You  or  others  could  be  injured. 
To be sure  your vehicle  won’t  move, 
when  you’re  on  fairly  level  ground,  use  the  steps  that  foll\
ow. 
If  you  have  four-wheel  drive,  with  a  manual  transfer  case  shif\
t  lever 
and  your  transfer  case  is  in 
N (Neutral),  your  vehicle  will  be  free  to 
roll,  even 
if your  shift  lever  is in P (Park). So, be  sure  the  transfer 
case  is in  a  drive  gear-not  in 
N (Neutral). If you  are  parking  on  a 
hill,  or 
if you’re  pulling  a  trailer,  also  see  “Parking  On  Hills”  or 
“Towing  a  Trailer’’  in the  Index. 
1. Hold  the brake  pedal  down  with  your  right  foot  and  set  the  parking 
2. Move  the  shift  lever  into the P (Park)  position  like  this: 
brake. 
Pull the lever  toward  you. 
KO406 
Move  the  lever  up as far  as it will  go. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Contmls 
3. If  you  have  four-wheel  drive  with  a  manual  transfer  case  shift\
  lever,  be 
4.  Move  the  ignition  key  to 
LOCK. 
sure  the  transfer  case  is in  a  drive  gear-not in N (Neutral). 
5. Remove  the  key  and  take  it with  you. If you  can  walk  away  from  your 
vehicle  with  the  ignition  key in your  hand,  your  vehicle  is  in 
P (Park). 
Leaving  Your  Vehicle  With  the  Engine  Running 
(Automatic  Transmission  Models  Only) 
1 CAUTION 
It  can  be  dangerous  to leave  your  vehicle  with  the  engine  running. 
Your  vehicle  could move  suddenly 
if the  shift  lever  is not  fully  in P 
(Park)  with  the  parking  brake  firmly  set. If you  have  four-wheel  drive 
with  a  manual  transfer  case  shift  lever  and  your  transfer  case\
  is in 
N 
(Neutral),  your  vehicle  will  be  free  to roll,  even if your  shift  lever  is  in 
P (Park).  So  be  sure  the  transfer  case  is  in a  drive  gear-not  in N 
(Neutral). And, if you  leave  the  vehicle  with  the  engine  running,  it 
could  overheat  and  even  catch  fire.  You  or  others  could  be  injured. 
I Don’t  leave  your vehicle  with  the  engine  running  unless  you  have  to. 
If you  have to leave  your  vehicle  with  the  engine  running,  be  sure  your 
vehicle  is  in 
P (Park)  and  your  parking  brake  is firmly  set  before  you  leave  it. 
If you  have  four-wheel  drive  with  a  manual  transfer  case  shift  le\
ver,  be  sure 
that  the  transfer  case  is  in 
a drive gear-not  in N (Neutral).  After  you’ve 
moved  the  shift  lever  into the 
P (Park)  position,  hold  the  regular  brake  pedal 
down. Then,  see if you  can  move  the  shift  lever  away  from P (Park)  without 
first  pulling  it  toward  you. 
If you  can, it means  that  the  shift  lever  wasn’t  fully 
locked  into 
P (Park). 
Parking  Your b bide  (Manual  Transmission  Models 
Before  you  get  out  of  your  vehicle,  put  your  manual  transmissi\
on  in R 
(Reverse)  and  firmly  apply  the  parking  brake. 
If you  have  four-wheel  drive  with  a  manual  transfer  case  shift  le\
ver,  be  sure 
your  transfer  case  is  in a  drive  gear.  Your  vehicle  could  roll 
if it isn’t. 
Only) 
If you  are  parking  on  a  hill,  or if your  vehicle is equipped  to  tow  a  trailer, 
see  “Parking 
on Hills”  or  “Towing a Trailer” in the  Index. 
2-24 
I   

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I CAUTION 
4 
Engine  exhaust can .kill. It contains the  gas  carbon  monoxide (CO), 
which you can’t see or smell. it can muse unconsciousness  and 
death. 
You might  have  exhaust  coming  in if: 
Your exhaust  system  sounds  strange  or  different. 
0 Your vehicle  gets ‘rusty underneath. 
* Your  vehicle was damaged  in a  collision. 
0 Your vehicle was damaged  when  driving  ove’r  high points  on  the 
* Repairs  weren’t  done  correctly. 
0 Your  vehicle  or  exhaust  system  had  been  modified  improperly. 
road 
or over  road debris. 
If you ever suspect  exhaust is comilng  into  your  vehicle: 
Drive il only with all the  windows  down to b’low out  any CO; 
* Have il fixed immediately. 
and 
Running  Your  Engine  While  You’re  Parked 
(Automatic  Transmission) 
It’s  better  not  to  park  with  the  engine  running.  But if you  ever  have  to,  here 
are  some  things  to  know. 
I Ch1 
Idling  the  engine  with  the  air  system  control off could  allow 
dangerous  exhaust  into  your  vehicle.  (See  the  earlier  Caution  \
under  “Engine  Exhaust.”) 
Also, idling  in  a  closed-in  place  can  let  deadly  carbon  monoxide  (CO) 
into  your  vehicle  even 
if the  fan  switch  is  at  the  highest  setting.  One 
place  this  can  happen  is  a  garage.  Exhaust-with  CO-can come  in 
easily. 
NEVER park  in  a  garage  with  the  engine  running. 
Another  closed-in  place  can  be  a  blizzard.  (See  “Blizzard”\
  in  the  Index.) 
2-26