
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Operation
Your automatic transmission may have a shift lever
located
on the console between the seats or on the
steering column.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with a column shift lever,
it
features an electronic shift position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display must be powered
anytime
the shift lever is capable of being moved out
of the PARK (P) position. This means that if your key is
in the
OFF position, but not locked, there will be a small
current drain
on your battery which could discharge
your battery over
a period of time. If you need to leave
your key
in the ignition in the OFF position for an
extended period, it is recommended that you disconnect
the battery cable from the battery
to prevent discharging
your battery.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position
to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
D
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly
set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll
-- even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P) -- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case is
in
a drive gear, two-wheel high (2HI) or four-wheel
high (4HI) or four-wheel low
(4LO) -- not
in
NEUTRAL (N). See “Shifting Into PARK (P)”
in the Index. If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
’Ikailer” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
brake-transmission shift interlock.
You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the RUN position.
If you cannot shift
out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P) (press the button in on the console shift
lever) as you maintain brake application. Then shift
into
the gear you wish. See “Shifting Out of PARK (P)” in
the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
I NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already
moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Shifting out of
PARK (P) or NEUTl ,L [lu) wde
your engine is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out of
PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set
the parking brake.
like this:
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position
0 Pull the lever toward you.
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. If you have four-wheel drive with a manual transfer
case shift lever, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive
gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is
in
PARK (P).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Console Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position
set the
parking brake.
like this:
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
remove the key and leave your vehicle, your vehicle
is in PARK
(P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Models Only)
Hold in the button on the lever.
0 Push the lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
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 PARK (P) 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
NEUTRAL (N), your
vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift lever
is in PARK
(P). So be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N). And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move
the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward
you or pressing the button
on a console shift lever. If you can, it means that the
shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of
the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You
may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out
of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find
out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever
out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some
of the
pressure from the transmission,
so you can pull the shift
lever out of PARK
(P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock.
You have to fully apply your regular brake before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the
RUN position. See “Automatic Transmission Operation”
in the Index.
If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as
you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want (you must
press the shift lever button if you have the console
shift lever).
If
you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn
the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
you want.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ‘I
Front Map Lamps (Option) ’. I Dome Lamps
If your vehicle has optional front map lamps, they The
rear dome lamp has a switch that lets you turn it on
are located on the inside rearview mirror. They will from the
rear of the vehicle.
automatically come on for approximately
20 seconds
when either front door is opened or unlocked with the
Keyless Entry System, if
so equipped, or until the
ignition key is turned to RUN or
ACCESSORY. The
lamps will also stay on for approximately 15 seconds
after you exit the vehicle.
They will also stay on for 15, seconds when the INT
LIGHTS switch
on the instiument panel is turned on
then off, while the ignition
is off.
You can also turn the lamps on and off by pressing the
switch near each lamp.
I
Press the side of the switch with the lamp symbol to turn
on the front and rear dome lamps. Pressing the other
side of the switch will turn the cargo area dome lamp
off, even when the endgate and doors’are open.
c
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be
on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough
to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention
to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come
on when there may be or is a
problem with one
of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come
on briefly when you start the
engine just
to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together
to let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when
you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you
what
to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt
is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about
20 seconds,
then it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt
is already buckled,
neither the tone nor the
light will come on.
2-65

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Voltmeter Gage
I
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on (in the RUN position),
this gage shows your
battery’s state
of charge in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a.
large number
of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is
not able to provide full power at
engine idle.
As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system
to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading in
either warning zone.
If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings
in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem
in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come
on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s a
problem.
2-67