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2-
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also 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.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-5 Remote Keyless Entry (If Equipped)
2
-9 Trunk
2
-10 Theft
2
-11 Pass-Key II
2
-13 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-13 Ignition Positions
2
-15 Starting Your V6 Engine
2
-17 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-18 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-22 Parking Brake
2
-23 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-26 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-27 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-28 Engine Exhaust
2
-28 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-29 Windows2
-30 Horn
2
-30 Tilt Wheel
2
-31 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-36 Exterior Lamps
2
-37 Interior Lamps
2
-39 Mirrors
2
-40 Storage Compartments
2
-42 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
2
-42 Sun Visors
2
-44 Auxiliary Power Connection
2
-45 Sunroof (Option)
2
-45 Cellular Telephone (Option)
2
-45 OnStar (Option)
2
-46 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-48 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-51 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it's open
and then turn off automatically about 18 seconds after
you close it. If you don't open a door, the lamps will
turn off after about 18 seconds, unless you press
UNLOCK or the trunk symbol on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. If you press UNLOCK or the trunk
symbol and don't open a door, the lamps will turn off
after about 55 seconds. If you press LOCK on the
remote keyless entry transmitter the lamps will turn off
about 17 seconds after all the doors are closed.
Sustained Interior Illumination includes a feature called
Theater Dimming. With Theater Dimming, the lamps
don't just turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead,
they slowly dim during the delay time until they go out.
The delay time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to
RUN or START, so the lamps will go out right away.
When the ignition is on, Sustained Interior Illumination
is inactive, which means the courtesy lamps won't
come on.Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
These lamps go on when you open the doors. When
the doors are closed, turn the lamps on and off with
the switches.
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2-39 Battery Saver
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery, in case you accidentally leave the
courtesy lamps on. If you leave the dial turned all the
way up, or if you leave a door open, the lamps will
automatically turn off after 10 minutes if the ignition
is off.
This feature will not turn off the reading lamps, only
the lamps controlled by the dial. Be sure to turn off
any reading lamps using the switch before you leave
the vehicle.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, push the
lever forward (to the night position). To return the
mirror to the day position, pull the lever toward you.
Manual Outside Mirrors
Adjust the passenger's side
mirror by hand. To adjust
the driver's side mirror,
move the knob in the
direction you want to move
the mirror.
Power Outside Mirrors (If Equipped)
The power mirror control is
located on the driver's side
door. Turn the control
counterclockwise to adjust
the driver's side mirror or
clockwise to adjust the
passenger's side mirror.
Then move the control in
the direction you want to
move the mirror.
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2-40 Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open, lift the latch.
Storage Armrest (If Equipped)
To use the storage area, fold
down the armrest. Press the
latch on the front edge and
pull up. To use the
cupholder, flip it forward.
Instrument Panel Cupholder (If Equipped)
To use this cupholder,
slide it out of the
instrument panel.
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Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
The center front ashtray may be on the instrument panel
or on the console. To remove the instrument panel
ashtray, open it, push down on the locking tab and pull
out the ashtray.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a rear ashtray. It is
located within a small door at the rear of your console.
Push on the right side of the door. The ashtray will then
rotate to the right for usage. You can only access the
ashtray by pushing on the door's right side. To remove
the ashtray, push down on the snuffer located in the
middle of the ashtray and lift it out.
NOTICE:
Don't put papers and other things that burn
into your ashtrays. If you do, cigarettes or
other smoking materials could set them on fire,
causing damage.
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it's ready, it will pop back by itself.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also move them from side to side.
Visor Vanity Mirrors
Open the cover to expose the vanity mirror. For the
driver's mirror, slide the cover to the side. For the
passenger's mirror, lift the cover. The lamps will come
on when you open the cover on the passenger's visor.
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Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
ªoverdrivingº those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
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A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti
-lock braking system, remember: It
helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti
-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are
no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes
to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you
have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are rolling,
you will have steering control.
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Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired
-- by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don't drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can't see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.