2-14
Content Theft-Deterrent/Alarm
System (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system. Once armed, the system will sound
the horn and flash the parking lamps if the vehicle is
broken into.
Arming the System
The alarm system can be armed to detect break-ins
by locking your vehicle with the remote keyless entry
transmitter or by locking the doors with the power
door lock switch.
Passive arming is also available if you would like the
system to arm all by itself after the doors have been
closed for a short time. When the system is armed,
a red light located on top of the instrument panel will
flash briefly once every two seconds. If you return to
your vehicle and the red light is flashing two brief
flashes every two seconds, the system is armed and the
shock sensor had triggered a two minute alarm. If the
red light is flashing three times every two seconds, the
system is armed and there was an intrusion that sounded
the alarm. Horn chirps and parking lamp flashes can be
customized to your preference. See ªFeature
Customizationº in the Index.
Turning Off the Alarm
If you started the alarm by pressing the panic button on
the remote keyless entry transmitter, you must either
push that button again or turn the ignition to RUN to
stop the alarm.
If the alarm is sounding due to the shock sensor or a
door or hatch opening, it can be turned off by either
turning the ignition to RUN with a proper key or by
pressing any button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. If you use your remote keyless entry
transmitter to silence the alarm, additional things will
happen depending upon which button you press.
Pressing the panic button or the UNLOCK button
will turn the alarm off, unlock the driver's door and
disarm the system.
Pressing the LOCK button will turn the alarm off,
keep the doors locked and keep the system armed.
Pressing the REAR 2X button will turn the alarm off
and keep the system armed. A second push of the
button (within five seconds, pause slightly between
presses) will unlock and disarm the hatch only.
If the alarm is sounding because an incorrect ignition
key was used, press any button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter to turn the alarm off.
The alarm will stop by itself after two minutes.
2-25
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate ªbreak-in.º
But it will perform better in the long run if you
follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don't tow a trailer during break
-in.
See ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for
more information.
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition, you can turn the
switch to five positions.
ACC (A): The position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. Push in the ignition switch
as you turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position from which you can
remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and automatic transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can't be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever is
in PARK (P).
2-27 Key Release Button
If you have a manual
transmission, your
ignition lock has a key
release button.
You must press the key release button to turn the
ignition key to LOCK before you can take your key out.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's
a safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when
your vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor
and start the engine. Your vehicle won't start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down
-- that's a safety feature.
2-28 Starting Your 3800 Series II V6 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time
until your engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds
between each try to help avoid draining your battery
or damaging your starter.3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal down for five or six
seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the
engine. After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the
normal starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you
don't, your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed,
see the part of this manual that tells how to do
it without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
2-29 Starting Your 5.7L V8 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try to help
avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter.When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0F or
-18C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there. When the
engine starts, let go of the key. Use the accelerator
pedal to maintain engine speed, if you have to, until
your engine has run for a while.
2. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops again, do the same
thing, but this time keep the pedal down for five
or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from
the engine.
2-33
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to
fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and also release the shift lever button on floor
shift console models as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
(Press the shift lever button before moving the shift
lever on floor shift console models.) See ªShifting Out
of PARK (P)º in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
ªStuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index.NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn't connect with the wheels. To restart when you're
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is ªracingº (running at high speed)
is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don't shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn't covered by your warranty.
2-35
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more
power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2).
You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or
mud. If the gearshift lever is put in FIRST (1) gear, the
transmission won't shift into first gear until the vehicle
is going slow enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can't rotate, don't try to drive.
This might happen if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or were up against a solid object.
You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal.
This could overheat and damage the transmission.
Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold
your vehicle in position on a hill.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
Second-Gear Start (V6 Automatic)
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may
be equipped with a
Second
-Gear Start feature.
Press the Second
-Gear
Start (SGS) button located
on the instrument panel to
provide more traction when
you are starting on ice or
other slippery surfaces.
The light on the button will illuminate when
Second
-Gear Start (SGS) is selected. The transmission
will be in SECOND (2) gear when the vehicle begins to
move. After starting in SECOND (2), the vehicle will
upshift normally.
This feature is only for improved traction when the road
surface is slippery and is not intended for continuous
use. Turn the Second
-Gear Start (SGS) button off for
normal road conditions by pressing the button again.
The light on the button will go out. Whenever you start
your vehicle, the transmission is in the normal mode.
2-36
Manual Transmission Operation
5-Speed
This is your shift pattern
for your five
-speed
manual transmission.
Here's how to operate your transmission:
FIRST (1): Push the clutch and shift into FIRST (1).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you're going less
than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Push the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).SECOND (2): Push the clutch pedal to the floor
as you let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into
SECOND (2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal
as you press the accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch as
you push the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and push the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, push the
clutch pedal and brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, push down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your transmission.
Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.