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Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the frontal
air bags inflate (if battery power is available). You can
lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by
using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you'll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag
system won't be there to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which records information about the air bag
and related systems. It records information about the
readiness of the air bag systems, when the sensors
are activated and driver's safety belt usage at
deployment or in a near
-deployment crash. Some
modules also record speed, engine RPM, brake and
throttle data.Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, or the air bag
covering on the driver's and right front
passenger's door, the bag may not work properly.
You may have to replace the air bag module in
the steering wheel, both the air bag module and
the instrument panel for the right front
passenger's air bag, or both the air bag module
and door panel for the driver's and right front
passenger's side impact air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
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OVERDRIVE (): This position is for normal driving.
If you need more power for passing, and you're:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transaxle will shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or
if it doesn't seem to shift gears as you accelerate,
something may be wrong with a transaxle system
sensor. If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged. So if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right away. Until then, you
can use SECOND (2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and OVERDRIVE ()
for higher speeds.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than OVERDRIVE ().
Here are examples for using THIRD (3) instead of
OVERDRIVE ():
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power. You
can use SECOND (2) 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.
NOTICE:
Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
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If the headlamps are on low beam, they will shift to
high beam and stay there. Pull the lever toward you
to return to low beam.
If the headlamps are on high beam, they will switch
to low beam. To return to high beam, pull the lever
toward you.
Windshield Wipers
WIPER: Turn the band on the turn signal lever to
control the wipers.
MIST: Turn the band toward you and then release it for
a single wiping cycle. For more cycles, hold the band on
MIST longer.LO or HI: Turn the band away from you to either LO
(low speed) or to HI (high speed), depending on the
wiper speed you want.
DELAY: You can set the wiper speed for a long or short
delay between wipes with this setting. Turn the band to
the DELAY position. The closer you move it to LO, the
shorter the delay. (DeVille Only)
OFF: Turn the band to OFF to turn off the wipers.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Rainsense Wipers (DeVille d'Elegance
and DeVille Concours Only)
This moisture sensor is mounted on the passenger's
interior side of the windshield behind the rearview
mirror and is used to automatically operate the wipers
by monitoring the amount of moisture that is on
the windshield.
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Light Sensor
The light sensor for the DRL and the Twilight Sentinel
is located in the center of the front defogger grille. If
you cover the sensor, it will read ªdarkº and the lamps
will come on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual parking lamp control has been left on, the
exterior lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned to LOCK or ACCESSORY.
This protects draining the battery in case you have
accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps on. If
you need to purposely leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes with the ignition in LOCK or ACCESSORY,
turn the manual control knob off and then back on. To
delay the lamps from turning off, see ªTwilight
Sentinelº in the Index.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity/Brightness
Control
The digital displays automatically dim when it becomes
dark outside and your lights are on. When it's dark, the
brightness control can be manually adjusted by turning
the lamp control knob counterclockwise to dim and
clockwise to brighten the lighting. The digital displays
automatically brighten when it becomes light outside,
although backlighting will remain active at the selected
brightness as long as the lights are on.
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2-47 Courtesy Lamps (DeVille Only)
The courtesy lamps are located in the roof in the rear
seat. These lamps come on with the control lamp knob
or when any door is opened and it is dark outside.
Illuminated Entry
The illuminated entry system turns on the courtesy
lamps and the backlighting to the door switches and to
the lamp control knob when a door is opened or if you
press a remote keyless entry transmitter button. Since
the illuminated entry system has a photocell, this means
that it must be dark outside in order for the courtesy
lamps or backlighting to turn on. The courtesy lamps
turn off approximately 20 seconds after the last door is
closed or after the ignition key is placed in the ignition.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the digital displays
during daylight while the headlamps are on. This feature
operates with the light sensor for the Twilight Sentinel and
is fully automatic. When the light sensor reads darkness
outside, the digital displays can be adjusted by turning the
lamp control knob counterclockwise to dim and clockwise
to brighten lighting. Backlighting to the instrument panel
will turn on regardless of light conditions.
Reading Lamps (DeVille d'Elegance and
DeVille Concours Only)
The reading lamps are located in the roof. These lamps
come on automatically when any door is opened and it is
dark outside. For manual operation, press the button to
turn them on. Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
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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.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center that
works along with the warning lights and gages. See
ªDriver Information Centerº in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime 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 70 seconds.
If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
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 sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see ªAir
Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH - 8: This message
shows that the electrical charging system is
overcharging (more than 16 volts). To avoid being
stranded, have the electrical system checked by your
dealership. You can reduce the charging overload by
using the accessories. Turn on the lamps and radio, set
the climate control on AUTO and the fan speed on HI,
and turn the rear window defogger on. You can
monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing
the INFORMATION SKIP (SKIP INFO) button.
The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts when the engine
is running.
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW
- 6: This message will
appear when the electrical system is charging less than
10 volts or if the battery has been drained. If this
message appears immediately after starting, it is possible
that the generator can still recharge the battery. The
battery should recharge and may take a few hours to do
so. Consider using an auxiliary charger to boost the
battery after returning home or to a final destination. (Be
sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when
recharging the battery.)If this message appears while driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately
to determine the cause of this problem. To help the
generator recharge the battery quickly, you can reduce
the load on the electrical system by turning off the
accessories. You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC
by pressing the INFORMATION SKIP (SKIP INFO)
button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM
-108: The circuit in
the brake booster vacuum has shorted or is loose when
this message appears. Your vehicle may lose power
brakes but you will still have the use of manual brakes.
The power brakes will not be affected if the problem is
caused by a failed sensor. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately at your dealership.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
- 82: This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within 200 miles (322 km). See ªEngine Oilº and ªFilter
Recommendationsº in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must
be reset. For more information, see ªOil Life Indicator,
How to Resetº in the Index.
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SERVICE A/C SYSTEM - 14: This message appears
when the electronic sensors that control the air
conditioning and heating systems are no longer working.
Have the climate control system serviced if you notice a
drop in heating and air conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE AIR BAG
- 83: There is a problem with the
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (air bag) system when
this message appears. Let only a qualified technician work
on your vehicle. See your dealership for service at once.
SERVICE CHARGING SYS
- 102: This message
will display when a problem with the charging system
has been detected. Have your vehicle serviced at
your dealership.
SERVICE ELECTRIC SYS
- 106: This message will
display if an electrical problem has occurred within the
vehicle's electrical system. Have your vehicle serviced
by your dealership.
SERVICE FUEL SYSTEM
- 101: The Powertrain
Control Module (PCM) has detected a problem within
the fuel system when this message appears. See your
dealership for service.
SERVICE IDLE CONTROL
- 107: A problem
with the idle control has occurred when this message
displays. Bring your vehicle to your dealership
for service.SERVICE RIDE SYS
- 84: This message is displayed
to indicate that the suspension system is not operating
properly. To correct this problem, have your vehicle
serviced at your dealership.
SERVICE STEERING SYS
- 127: This message is
displayed when a problem has been detected in the
Magnasteer
variable effort steering system. Service is
required. A single chime will also sound when this
message is displayed.
SERVICE TRANSMISSION
- 100: If a problem is
detected with the transaxle, this message will appear.
Have your vehicle checked by your dealership.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
- 3: If a problem is
detected with the transaxle, this message will appear.
Have your vehicle checked by your dealership.
SERVICE STABILITY SYS
- 54 : If you ever see the
SERVICE STABILITY SYS message, it means there
may be a problem with your stability enhancement
system. If you see this message, try to reset the system
(stop; turn off the engine; then start the engine again). If
the SERVICE STABILITY SYS message still comes on,
it means there is a problem. You should see your dealer
for service. Reduce your speed and drive accordingly.