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or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why
safety belts make such good sense.
Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
Q:
Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I'm wearing a safety belt?
A:You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you're upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
Q:If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A:Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts
-- not instead of them. Every air bag
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air
bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
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Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers -- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won't open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key or the key
fob transmitter.If your theft
-deterrent system (if equipped) is armed,
unlock the doors only with the key or the key fob
transmitter to avoid setting off the alarm. See ªUniversal
Theft
-Deterrentº in the Index.
To lock the door from the inside, move the lock control
on the door forward. To unlock it, move the lock control
on the door backward.
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A memory recall can be stopped by pressing any memory
seat, mirror or steering column position button.
Drivers 1, 2 and 3 correspond to the order in which your
key fob transmitters were programmed. (See ªFob
Trainingº in the Index.)
Memory recall will not work if the vehicle is moving,
the key is removed from the ignition, the driver's door is
open, a power seat, mirror or memory switch is being
used. Memory recall will be temporarily interrupted
during engine crank.
Remote Function Actuation System
Your vehicle has a passive/active Remote Function
Actuation (RFA) system that allows you to lock and
unlock your doors, unlock your hatch/trunk lid, turn
the panic alarm on and off and disarm or arm your
theft
-deterrent system. When using one of the key fob
transmitters supplied with your vehicle, the passive
range distance is as much as 30 feet (9 m) away from the
vehicle on the driver's side and 20 feet (6 m) away on
the passenger's side. The active range distance is as
much as 100 feet (30 m) away.
Your vehicle comes
standard with two
transmitters, and up to
three can be matched to
your vehicle.
See ªMatching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicleº later in
this section.
Your RFA system operates on a radio frequency subject
to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
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Resynchronizing Your Transmitter
Your RFA system uses a continually changing code for
increased security. Normally, the receiver in your
vehicle will keep track of this changing code. If your
vehicle does not respond to your transmitter, do the
following to determine what's wrong:
1. Get closer to the vehicle and try pressing a button
again. Your battery may be low (If so, see ªBattery
Replacementº in the Index).
2. While standing close to your vehicle, press the
LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on your transmitter at
the same time and hold for seven seconds. This will
attempt to resynchronize the security code in your
RFA key fob transmitter.
3. When resynchronization is achieved, the horn
will chirp.
Loss of synchronization will occur after transmitter
battery replacement or disconnection of the
vehicle's battery.
If attempts to resynchronize your transmitter to the
vehicle are not successful, you may need to match the
transmitter to the vehicle. See ªMatching Transmitter(s)
to Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Remote Hatch/Trunk Lid Release
To use the remote hatch/trunk lid release on automatic
transmission vehicles, your vehicle must be in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N). For manual transmissions, set the
parking brake. See ªParking Brakeº in the Index.
Press the button with the trunk symbol on it, located at
the left
-hand side of the steering column on the
instrument panel, to release the hatch/trunk lid from
inside your vehicle.
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Theft
Vehicle theft is 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 leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a chime 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 take the key with you, and you have an
automatic transmission, it will be locked. 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 key? Do not leave
valuables in your vehicle, since there would be no place
to secure them.
Universal Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle has
a theft
-deterrent
alarm system.
With this system, the SECURITY light will flash as you
open the door (if your ignition is off). This light reminds
you to arm the theft
-deterrent system.
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Selective Real Time Damping
(SRTD) (Option)
You may have a ride control system on your vehicle
called Selective Real Time Damping (SRTD). The
system provides the following performance benefits:
Reduced Impact Harshness
Improved Road Isolation
Improved High
-Speed Stability
Improved Handling Response
This switch is on the center console. Turn it to select the
suspension characteristic of your choice.
TOUR: Use for normal city and highway driving. This
setting provides a smooth, soft ride.
SPORT: Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand more control. This setting provides
more ªfeel,º or response to the road conditions.
PERF: Use for performance driving. This setting
provides a tight, firm ride and precise response to
road conditions.
You can select a setting at any time. Based on road
conditions, steering wheel angle and your vehicle speed,
the system automatically adjusts to provide the best ride
and handling. Select a new setting whenever driving
conditions change.
There are three Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages that are displayed when a malfunction occurs
with the SRTD system. Refer to ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index.
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Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control (Optional)
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.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
Automatic Headlamp Control (if equipped) work, so be
sure it isn't covered.
The DRL/Automatic Headlamp Control system will
make the front turn signal lamps come on when:
the ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only the front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.When it's dark enough outside, the front turn signal
lamps will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on with
the headlamps will also come on.
When it's bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start
the vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parking lamps
will stay off until you release the parking brake.
The Automatic Headlamp Control feature can be turned
on or off except for vehicles first sold in Canada. See
ªDriver Information Center (DIC)º in the Index to turn
this feature on or off (if equipped with the Automatic
Headlamp Control feature).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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DIC Warnings and Messages
The following messages and warnings may appear in the
DIC display. The DIC display area is located in the
instrument cluster below the speedometer and
tachometer, directly above the steering column.
You may receive more than one message at a time.
Messages will appear one behind the other. To
acknowledge a message and remove it from the display,
press RESET. You may scroll through the messages
that may have been sent at the same time. The message
center is continuously updated with the vehicle
performance status.
ABS ACTIVE (Anti
-Lock Brake System Active):
When your anti
-lock system is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid, the ABS ACTIVE message
will be displayed.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this message is
displayed, so adjust your driving accordingly. The
message will stay on for a few seconds after the system
stops adjusting brake pressure.ACT HNDLING WARMING UP: When you first start
you vehicle (especially in during cold winter weather),
and begin to drive away (up to 6 mph (10 km/h)), the
message ACT HNDLING WARMING UP may be
displayed in the DIC, the instrument cluster light will be
on, and a chime will sound. This is normal. You can
acknowledge this message by pressing the RESET
button. The Active Handling system performance is
affected until the next message WARM UP
COMPLETE is displayed in the DIC.
WARM UP COMPLETE : If you receive this message
and hear a chime, the system has completed the
functional check of the Active Handling System.
TRAC/ACT HNDLG - ON: If the Traction Control
and Active Handling Systems are off, depressing the
Active Handling System console button momentarily
will turn both systems on. The message TRAC/ACT
HNDLG
- ON will be displayed temporarily in the DIC,
the instrument cluster light will be off and a chime
will sound.