1-11
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.
2-4
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 remote
keyless entry transmitter.If your theft
-deterrent system is armed, unlock the
driver's door only with the key or by using the remote
keyless entry transmitter to open either door to avoid
setting off the alarm. See ªTheft
-Deterrent Systemº
in the Index.
To lock the door from the inside, move the manual lock
control located on the door forward. To unlock it, move
the lock control on the door backward.
2-6
The MEMORY buttons are located on the driver's side
door, above the power mirror controls. The MEMORY
buttons can store and recall settings for up to three
drivers. Use button ª1º to store the settings for the first
driver, button ª2º for a second driver or press buttons
1 and 2 at the same time for a third driver. To store your
memory settings:
1. Adjust your settings for the driver's seat position,
outside rearview mirror positions, and telescopic
steering wheel (if equipped).
2. Press and hold a MEMORY button. The light above
the MEMORY button will glow steady for one
second and then flash once when the settings are
complete. Then the light will go off.
3. Set the climate control temperature, fan speed and
mode settings, radio presets, tone, volume, playback
mode (AM/FM, tape or CD), tape direction and
compact disc position.
Your memory settings are now programmed. Any
changes that are made to the audio system and climate
controls while driving are automatically stored.When first entering your vehicle, after pressing the
UNLOCK button on your remote keyless entry
transmitter or a MEMORY button, a recall of your
settings will occur. As the memory settings are recalled,
the light above the button will flash until the correct
settings are achieved, then glow for five seconds
when complete.
A memory recall can be stopped by pressing any
memory seat, mirror or steering column position button.
Your memory settings can also be recalled when you
press the active door UNLOCK button on the remote
keyless transmitter. A memory recall can be stopped by
pressing any memory seat, mirror or steering column
position button.
When your remote keyless entry transmitter has been
programmed to driver 1, 2 or 3, and you insert the key
into the ignition, memory will also occur. Drivers 1, 2
and 3 correspond to the order in which your remote
keyless entry transmitters were programmed.
(See ªFob Trainingº in the Index.)
Memory recall will not work if the vehicle is moving.
Memory recall will be temporarily interrupted during
engine crank.
2-11 Replacing the Battery in the Remote
Keyless Entry Transmitter
1. Insert a coin into the slot on the back of the
transmitter and gently pry apart the front and back.
2. Gently pull the battery out of the transmitter.
3. Put the new battery in the transmitter, positive (+)
side up. Use a battery, type CR2450, or equivalent.4. Reassemble the transmitter. Make sure to put it
together so water won't get in.
5. Resynchronize the transmitter. (See
ªResynchronizing Your Transmitterº following.
6. Test the transmitter.
Resynchronizing Your Transmitter
Your RKE 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
RKE transmitter.
3. When resynchronization is achieved, the horn
will chirp.
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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.
Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle is equipped
with 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 located 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.
2-47
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control.
Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and
don't use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transmission vehicle.
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display the
message ªCRUISE DISENGAGED.º
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps
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.
The DRL 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.
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.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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ACT HNDLG - WARMING UP: When you first start
your vehicle (especially during cold winter weather),
and begin to drive away (up to 6 mph (10 km/h)), the
message ACT HNDLG
- WARMING UP may be
displayed in the DIC, the instrument panel 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.
Under cold weather conditions, this message may
continue up to 12 mph (20 kph) for 30 seconds.
The Active Handling system is off until the WARM UP
COMPLETE message is displayed.
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 panel cluster light will be off and a chime
will sound.TRAC/ACT HNDLG
- OFF: By pressing the Active
Handling System console button briefly, the driver can
turn the Traction Control and Active Handling Systems
off. The message TRAC/ACT HNDLG
- OFF will be
displayed in the DIC, the instrument panel cluster
light will be on and a chime will sound. You can
acknowledge this message by pressing the RESET
button. The anti
-lock brake systems remains on with the
Traction Control and Active Handling Systems off.
You should adjust your driving accordingly.
COMPETITIVE DRIVING: When the Competitive
Driving mode is selected, this message will be displayed
in the DIC. The instrument panel cluster light will not be
on when the Competitive Driving mode is selected. The
Traction Control System will not be operating while in
the Competitive Driving mode. You should adjust your
driving accordingly.