Page 5 of 361
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
SteeringDriving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio ClockRadio/Cassette Player/CD Player
Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your VehicleEngine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
Section
3
Section
4
Section
5
iii Your Driving and the Road Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Page 40 of 361
1-22 How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver's air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
The passenger's air bag is in the instrument panel on the
passenger's side.
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1-23
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.
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near
-frontal crash. The air bag will 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 air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
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.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near
-frontal impacts.
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1-24
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. 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 and in the instrument panel in front of
the passenger.
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. Air bags supplement 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 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
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.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, or the
instrument panel for the passenger's bag
-- 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 vents
in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent
the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
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1-25
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don't get them, the air bag system
won't be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the system commands air bag
inflation and driver's safety belt usage at
deployment. Some modules also record speed,
engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or
the passenger's air bag, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
passenger's air bag. Do not open or break the
air bag coverings.
Page 63 of 361
2-5 Power Door Locks
Press the power door unlock/lock switch on either door
to unlock or lock both doors at once.
Inadvertent Lockout Protection
If you press the power door lock switch when a door is
open and a key is in the ignition, a chime will sound.
If the power door lock switch is pressed again within
five seconds, the doors will lock.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your key, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
Memory (Option)
MEMORY can store and recall the settings for the
driver's seat position, the outside rearview mirror
positions, telescopic steering wheel (if equipped), radio
presets, tone, volume, playback mode (AM/FM, tape or
CD), last displayed station, compact disc position and
tape direction and climate control settings.
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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.
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Loss of synchronization will occur after transmitter
battery replacement or disconnection of the vehicle's
battery, fore more than three days.
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.
Hatch/Trunk Lid Release
To use the 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 side of the steering column on the instrument
panel, to release the hatch/trunk lid from inside
your vehicle.
The remote keyless entry transmitter will also release
the hatch/trunk lid. See ªRemote Keyless Entry
Transmitterº in the Index.
If your vehicle is equipped with a hatch and you have
lost battery power, use the manual release cables to
open the hatch. To access the cables, remove the two
access panels located in the rear of the trunk area.
There is one cable located under each access panel.
(See ªRear Storage Compartmentsº in the Index
for more information.)