iii
Section
3
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Section
4
Your Driving and the Road
Section
5
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
BrakingSteering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD PlayerRadio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your VehicleEngine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
1-4 Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering
Wheel (Option)
The controls for these
features are located on the
driver's door panel, and are
used to program and recall
memory settings.
Adjust the driver's seat (including the recliner, lumbar,
and head restraint adjustments), both the outside mirrors
and steering wheel to a comfortable position and then
press the MEMORY SET button. Within five seconds,
press button 1 (for driver 1).
A second mirror, seating and steering wheel position
can be programmed by repeating the above steps and
pressing button 2 (for driver 2). Each time a memory
button is pressed, a single beep will sound. Each time
button 1 or 2 is pressed, the memory positions will be
recalled. Two personalized exit positions can be set by first recalling the driving position (1 or 2), positioning
the wheel and seat (except the lumbar and head
restraints) in the desired exit positions and then pressing
the MEMORY SET button and, within five seconds,
pressing the EXIT button. The exit position for either
previously set driver can be recalled by pressing the
EXIT button.
If you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to enter
your vehicle, automatic seat and mirror movement will
occur. The numbers on the back of the transmitters,
1 and 2, correspond directly to the numbers on the
buttons on the door panel and each seat and mirror
can be programmed to suit driver 1 or 2.
When the key is placed in the ignition in the OFF
position or when the unlock button is pressed on the
transmitter, the seats and mirrors will automatically
adjust to the programmed position.
Programming for automatic mirror and/or seat
movement is done through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). You can choose to either select or not
select automatic seat and/or mirror movement using the
transmitter or by placing your key in the ignition. For
programming information, see ªVehicle Programming
and Personalization Featuresº in the Index.
1-23 How the Air Bag Systems Work
Where are the air bags?
The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
The right front passenger's frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger's side.
1-25
CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The
path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear.
Don't put anything between an occupant and an
air bag, and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering and don't let seat covers block the
inflation path of a side impact air bag.
When should an air bag inflate?
The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or
near
-frontal crashes. The frontal air bags are designed
to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's
designed ªthreshold level.º If your vehicle goes
straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the
threshold level is about 9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h).The threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or
below this range. If your vehicle strikes something
that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the
threshold level will be higher. The driver's and right
front passenger's frontal air bags are not designed to
inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or rear impacts,
because inflation would not help the occupant.
The side impact air bags are designed to inflate in
moderate to severe side crashes involving a front door.
A side impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity
is above the system's designed ªthreshold level.º
The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle
design. Side impact air bags are not designed to
inflate in frontal or near
-frontal impacts, rollovers
or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the
occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy on
the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle
of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal and near
-frontal impacts. For side impact air
bags, inflation is determined by the location and severity
of the impact.
1-26
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates
the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware
are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering
wheel, instrument panel and the side of the front
seatbacks closest to the door.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal
air bags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you inmany types of collisions, including frontal or near
frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily
because an occupant's motion is not toward those air
bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything
more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in
moderate to severe frontal or near
-frontal collisions for
the driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags,
and only in moderate to severe side collisions for the
driver's and right front passenger's side impact air bags.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module
-- the
steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, the instrument
panel for the right front passenger's bag, the side of the
seatback closest to the door for the driver and right front
passenger's side impact air bags
-- will be hot for a short
time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the
driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor
does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
1-28
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 seatback, 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 seatback for the driver's and right
front passenger's side impact air bag. Do not
open or break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the
air bag systems. To purchase a service manual, see
ªService and Owner Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still inflate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close to an air bag
when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They
are probably part of the air bag systems. Be sure
to follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you is
qualified to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
2-8 Operation
When you press this button to unlock the driver's
door, the parking lamps on your vehicle will flash twice.
(You can program your vehicle so the parking lamps
will not flash. For more information, see ªVehicle
Programming and Personalization Featuresº in the
Index.) Pressing this button again within one to five
seconds will unlock the other doors. Pressing this button
will also disarm the theft
-deterrent system and turn on
the interior lamps at night.
When you press this button to lock the doors, the
parking lamps will flash once and the horn will sound
once. (You can program your vehicle so the parking
lamps will not flash and/or the horn will not sound.
For more information, see ªVehicle Programming and
Personalization Featuresº in the Index.) This also arms
the theft
-deterrent system when the ignition is turned off.
Press this button to open the trunk. (The valet lock
switch must be in the OFF position.)
Press this button to open the fuel door. (The valet
lock switch must be in the OFF position.)
The numbers on the back of the RKE transmitter
correspond to Driver 1 and Driver 2. See ªVehicle
Programming and Personalization Features º in the Index.Remote confirmation is not operational if any door
is open.
The RKE transmitter can also be used to recall the
memory seats for up to two drivers. For more
information, seeªMemory Seat, Mirrors and Steering
Wheelº in the Index.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Once your dealer has
coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not
unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have only up to
four transmitters matched to it.
All transmitters must be present when replacement or
additional transmitters are being programmed.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your transmitter should
last about two years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won't
work at the normal range in any location. If you have to
get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it's probably time to change the battery.
2-13
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 and transaxle. 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 ignition key?
If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.
Close all windows.
Move the trunk release lockout switch to ON.
Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver's.
Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.
Lock all doors except the driver's.
Give the valet key to the valet. Then take the master
key with you.