
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone 
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts 
properly. It  also tells 
you some  things you should  not do 
with  safety belts. 
And  it explains  the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint 
(SIR), 
or air  bag system. 
I 
,/1 CAUTION: 
Don’t  let anyone  ride where he or she can’t wear 
a safety belt properly.  If  you are in a crash  and 
you’re  not wearing a safety belt, your  injuries 
can  be 
much worse.  You can hit  things  inside the 
vehicle  or be  ejected  from it. You  can be seriously 
injured  or killed.  In the  same  crash, 
you might 
not  be if  you  are buckled 
up. Always  fasten your 
safety belt,  and check  that your  passengers’ belts 
are  fastened properly 
too. 
’ 
Your vehicle has a light that 
comes 
on as a  reminder to 
buckle up. (See  “Safety 
Belt Reminder Light” 
in 
the Index.) 
In  most  states  and Canadian provinces, the  law says  to 
wear safety belts.  Here’s why: 
They work. 
You never know if you’ll  be in a  crash. If you do have a 
crash, 
you don’t  know if it will  be a bad  one. 
A few crashes  are mild, and  some crashes can be so 
serious  that even buckled up a person wouldn’t  survive. 
But  most  crashes are in between. 
In many of them, 
people who buckle  up can survive and sometimes walk 
away. Without belts they could have  been badly hurt 
or  killed. 
After more  than 
25 years of safety belts  in vehicles, 
the  facts are clear. 
In most crashes buckling up does 
matter 
... a lot! 
1-8   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle  has an air  bag for the right front 
passenger, 
please read this: 
A CAUTION: 
r 
An  inflating  air bag  can  seriously  injure  small 
children.  Always  secure  children properly  in  your 
vehicle. 
To read  how,  see the part  of  this manual 
called  “Children”  and the caution label 
on the 
right  front  passenger’s  safety  belt. 
AIR 
BAG 
There is an air bag readiness 
light 
on the instrument 
panel, which  shows 
AIR BAG. 
The system  checks the air bag’s electrical  system  for 
malfunctions.  The light tells 
you if there  is  an electrical 
problem.  See “Air 
Bag Readiness Light”  in the Index 
for  more  information. 
1-23   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety  Belt  Extender 
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you 
should use it. 
But if a safety belt isn’t  long  enough  to  fasten, your 
dealer will order  you  an  extender.  It’s free. When you go 
in 
to order  it, take the heaviest  coat you will  wear, so the 
extender  will be long  enough for you.  The  extender  will 
be  just  for you, and 
just for  the seat in your vehicle that 
you  choose.  Don’t let someone  else  use it, and use it 
only  for 
the seat it  is made to fit.  To wear it,  just attach it 
to the regular safety belt. 
Checking  Your  Restraint  Systems 
Now  and then, make  sure the safety belt reminder light 
and all your belts, buckles,  latch plates, retractors and 
anchorages  are  working properly. Look  for any  other 
loose  or damaged  safety belt system parts. 
Tf you see 
anything  that might  keep  a safety belt system  from 
doing  its  job, have  it repaired. 
Torn  or frayed  safety belts may not protect  you  in a 
crash.  They can  rip apart under impact forces. 
If a belt  is 
torn  or frayed,  get a new  one right away. 
Also  look for any opened  or broken  air bag covers,  and 
have  them repaired or replaced. 
(The air bag system 
does 
not need  regular maintenance.) 
Replacing  Restraint  System  Parts 
After  a  Crash 
If  you’ve  had a crash,  do you  need  new belts? 
After  a very  minor  collision,  nothing may  be  necessary. 
But if the belts were stretched,  as they would be  if worn 
during  a more  severe  crash,  then 
you need  new belts. 
If belts are cut  or damaged, replace them. Collision 
damage  also  may mean 
you will need to have safety belt 
or  seat  parts repaired  or replaced.  New parts and repairs 
may  be  necessary even 
if the belt wasn’t being  used at 
the  time 
of the collision. 
If an air  bag inflates, you’ll need to replace  air bag 
system parts.  See the part 
on the air bag system  earlier in 
this  section. 
1-48   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ’hrn  Signal  and  Lane  Change  Signals 
The turn signal has  two upward (for right) and two 
downward  (for left) positions.  These positions  allow 
you 
to signal a turn  or a lane  change. 
To signal 
a turn, move the lever all the  way up or  down. 
When the turn  is finished,  the lever will return 
automatically. 
An arrow  on the instrument 
panel  will flash  in the 
direction  of the turn  or 
lane  change. 
To signal a lane  change,  just raise  or lower the lever 
until 
the arrow starts to  flash. Hold it there until you 
complete  your lane change.  The lever  will return  by 
itself when 
you release  it.  As 
you signal 
a turn  or a lane change,  if the  arrows  flash 
at twice the normal rate,  a signal  bulb may  be  burned 
out  and  other drivers  may  not see your turn signal. 
If a  bulb is burned out, replace it  to help avoid an 
accident.  If.the  arrows  don’t go  on  at all when 
you 
signal  a  turn,  check for burned-out  bulbs and  a blown 
fuse  (see “Fuses and  Circuit Breakers”  in the Index). 
Headlamp  High/Low  Beam  Changer 
To  change  the headlamps  from low beam  to high  or high 
to low,  pull the multifunction  lever all the  way  toward 
you. Then release it. 
When the high beams are 
on, this light  on the 
instrument panel  also 
will  be on. 
2-30 
.-   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rotate the switch knob clockwise again  to the master 
lighting symbol 
to turn on all the lamps listed as  well as 
the headlamps. 
Rotate the switch counterclockwise  to 
OFF to turn  off 
your lamps. 
Rotate the  thumb  wheel  next 
to the switch knob  up  to 
adjust  instrument  panel  lights. Rotate the thumb  wheel  up 
to the first  notch to return  the  radio  display  and  gearshift 
indicator  display 
to full intensity when  the  headlamps  or 
parking  lamps are 
on. 
Rotate the thumb wheel up  to the  second notch to 
activate the interior  dome lamps. 
You  can switch  your headlamps from  high to low  beam 
by  pulling 
on the turn  signalhigh  beam lever. 
A circuit  breaker protects your headlamps.  If  you have 
an electrical overload, your headlamps  will flicker  on 
and off. Have  your headlamp wiring checked right away 
if  this happens. 
Headlamps On Reminder 
A buzzer  will sound when your headlamps  are turned on 
and your ignition  is in OFF, LOCK  or ACCESSORY. 
If 
you need  to use  your headlamps when the ignition 
switch is  in 
OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY,  the buzzer 
can  be  turned off  by turning the  thumb wheel  next  to the 
parking  lampheadlamp  switch all the way down. 
Daytime  Running  Lamps (If Equipped) 
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)  can make  it easier  for 
others 
to see  the front  of your vehicle during the  day. 
DRL can be helpful  in many different driving 
conditions, but they can  be especially helpful  in the 
short periods after dawn and  before sunset. 
The  DRL system  will make your headlamps come 
on at 
a  reduced brightness when: 
0 The ignition is on, 
The headlamp switch is  off and 
0 The parking brake is released. 
If your vehicle was first  sold, when  new,  in  Canada, 
your headlamps  will come 
on at reduced brightness. 
2-36   

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.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air  Bag  Readiness  Light 
There  is  an  air  bag  readiness  light on the instrument 
panel,  which shows  AIR BAG.  The  system  checks  the 
air  bag’s  electrical  system  for  malfunctions.  The  light 
tells 
you if  there is an  electrical  problem. The  system 
check  includes  the air bag  sensor,  the  air  bag  modules, 
the  wiring  and the crash  sensing  and diagnostic  module. 
For more  information 
on the  air bag  system,  see  “Air 
Bag” in 
the Index. 
AIR 
BAG 
You will  see this light flash 
for  a  few  seconds  when you 
turn  your  ignition  to 
RUN 
or START.  Then  the  light 
should  go 
out. This means 
the  system  is ready. 
If the  air bag  readiness  light  doesn’t  come on when you 
start your vehicle, or stays on, or  comes on when you 
are  driving,  your air bag  system  may not work properly. 
Have  your  vehicle  serviced  right  away. 
Charging  System  Light 
This light  should  come on 
briefly  when you turn  on the 
ignition,  before  starting  the 
engine,  as  a  check  to show 
you 
it is  working. 
After the  engine  starts,  the  light should go out.  If it  stays 
on or  comes on while you are  driving, you may have  a 
problem with  your  charging  system.  It could  indicate  a 
problem  with the alternator  drive  belt, or  some  other 
charging  system  problem.  Have it  checked right away. 
Driving while  this  light is on could  drain your battery. 
If  you  must drive  a short  distance  with this light 
on, it 
helps 
to turn  off all your  accessories,  such as the  radio 
and  air conditioner. 
2-47   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Malfunction  Indicator Lamp (Service 
Engine  Soon  Light)  (Gasoline  Engine) 
Your  vehicle  is equipped 
with a  computer  which 
monitors operation  of the 
fuel,  ignition and  emission 
control  systems. 
SERVICE 
ENGINE SOON 
This system is called OBD I1 (On-Board 
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is  intended 
to 
assure that emissions are  at acceptable levels for  the 
life 
of the  vehicle,  helping to produce a cleaner 
environment.  The SERVICE  ENGINE SOON  light 
comes 
on to  indicate  that there is a problem  and  service 
is  required.  Malfunctions  often will be indicated  by 
the 
system before any problem  is  apparent, which  may 
prevent more serious damage 
to your vehicle.  This 
system  is also designed  to assist  your service  technician 
in  correctly diagnosing  any malfunction. 
I NOTICE: 
If you  keep  driving  your  vehicle  with  this  light 
on,  after 
a while,  your  emission  controls  may  not 
work  as well,  your  fuel  economy  may  not  be 
as 
good  and  your  engine  may  not  run  as smoothly. 
This  could  lead  to costly  repairs  that  may  not  be 
covered  by  your  warranty. 
This  light should  come  on, as a check  to  show you it is 
working,  when  the  ignition 
is on and the  engine is not 
running. 
If the light doesn’t  come on, have it repaired. 
This  light 
will also come on during  a malfunction  in one 
of  two  ways: 
Light  Flashing -- A misfire  condition  has been 
detected. A misfire increases vehicle  emissions and 
may  damage 
the emission control  system on your 
vehicle. Dealer  or qualified  service  center  diagnosis 
and service 
is required. 
0 Light  On  Steady -- An  emission control system 
malfunction has  been detected on your vehicle. 
Dealer  or qualified service  center diagnosis and 
service  may  be  required. 
2-50