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2-16
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It's the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can't move easily.
CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll
-- even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P)
-- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, two
-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel
high (4H) or four
-wheel low (4L) -- not in
NEUTRAL (N). See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in
the Index. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing
a Trailerº in the Index.
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2-17
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 ON. 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 release the shift lever button as you maintain brake
application. Then press the shift lever button and move
the shift lever into the gear you wish. 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.
Page 88 of 374

2-23
TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H): This setting is for driving
in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is
not engaged in two
-wheel drive.
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H): This setting engages
your front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) when you need extra
traction, such as on wet or icy roads, or in most
off
-road situations.
NEUTRAL (N): Shift to this setting only when your
vehicle needs to be towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P), or if you have a manual
transmission, even if you are in gear. You or
someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure
to set the parking brake before placing the
transfer case in NEUTRAL (N). See ªParking
Brakeº in the Index.
FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L): This setting also engages
your front axle to give you extra traction and can be
used for driving downhill, uphill or on rocky terrain
when you're driving slower than 35 mph (55 km/h).
Remember that driving in FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
or FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel
economy. Also, driving in four
-wheel drive on dry
pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and make
your transfer case harder to shift.
You can shift from TWO
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to
FOUR
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or from FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) to TWO
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) at any speed
if your vehicle is going less than 60 mph (100 kph) and
your wheels are straight ahead. Your front axle will
engage faster if you take your foot off the accelerator
pedal for a few seconds as you shift.
Shifting Into or Out of FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L)
1. Stop your vehicle and shift your transmission
to NEUTRAL (N).
2. Shift the transfer case in one continuous motion.
Don't pause in NEUTRAL (N) as you shift from
FOUR
-WHEEL-LOW (4L) to FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H), or your gears could clash.
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2-24
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning light will come on.To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up until you can push in the
release button. Hold the release button in as you move
the lever all the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in
the Index.
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2-25
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won't move, even when
you're on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow. With four
-wheel drive if your transfer
case is in NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free
to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not
in NEUTRAL (N). If you're pulling a trailer, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding in the
button on the lever and pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
3. If you have four
-wheel drive, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Move the key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key in your hand, your
vehicle is in PARK (P).
Page 93 of 374
2-28
3. Find the access hole cover on the driver's side of the
console, near the shift lever.
4. Remove the screw and cover.
5. Inside, you'll see the return plate. Using your finger,
move the return plate toward the rear of the vehicle
until it stops.
6. Move the shift lever into the gear you want.
7. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking brake.
If you have four
-wheel drive, be sure your transfer case
is in a drive gear. Your vehicle could roll if it isn't.
If you are towing a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in
the Index.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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2-30
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer case
in NEUTRAL (N) will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL (N). Always set your parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in
the Index.
Windows
Manual Windows
Use the window crank to open and close each door window.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
With power windows, switches on the driver's door
operate each window when the ignition is on. Push down
on the front of the switch to lower a window and lift up
the front of the switch to raise a window.
There are individual controls near each window.
Page 98 of 374
2-33 Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
First, you must have the headlamps on. For high beams,
push the turn signal lever toward the instrument panel.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the instrument
panel cluster also will be on.
It will go off when you
switch to low beam.
To switch back to low beams, pull the lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
With the lever in the low-beam position, pull the lever
toward you to momentarily switch to high beam (to
signal that you are going to pass). When you release the
lever, the headlamps will return to low
-beam operation.
Windshield Wipers
The lever on the right side of the steering column
controls the windshield wipers and washers.
You control the windshield wipers by moving the stalk
up or down.
For steady wiping at low speed, move the stalk down
to LO. For higher speed wiping, move the stalk down
further to HI. To stop the wiper, move the stalk to OFF.