Page 54 of 248
Controls and features
54STEERING COLUMN
CONTROLS
Ignition
1. Ignition off, steering wheel
locked.
On vehicles with automatic
transaxles, the ignition key can
return to this position only if the
gearshift lever is in P (Park).
2. The accessory position. Steering
unlocked, radio operational.
Ignition and all main electrical
circuits are disabled.
The ignition key should not be left
in this position for too long to avoid
discharging the battery
unnecessarily.
3. Ignition switched on, all
electrical circuits operational.
Warning and indicator lights
illuminate. This key position is for
normal driving.
4. Starter motor activated. Release
the key as soon as the engine
starts.
3
4
21
TRACTION
CONTROL
MIRRORS
000123
000010 20 3040506070
80
90
10 0
110
120
13 0MPH20 406055
80120 10 0
14 0
160
18 0
200EF12
03x 1000
4
5
6
7
8
CHECK
ENGINEO/D
OFF
Off
Res
Set
AccCoast
On
CH
13MCfen 24.6.99 15:06 Uhr Seite 54
Page 82 of 248

Seating and safety restraints
82
Safety belt indicator light and
warning chime
Illuminates in the instrument
cluster and a chime sounds to
remind the occupants to fasten
their safety belts. Center position three-point
safety belts
If the lower end of the belt has
been unbuckled, pull the belt
steadily from the reel and insert
the small tongue into the small
buckle until a distinct “click” is
heard.
This buckle should be left buckled
except when the seatback is folded
down and cargo that might damage
the seatbelt or get it dirty is being
hauled.
Pull the seat belt across the hips
and insert the big (sliding) tongue
into the appropriate buckle until a
distinct “click” is heard.
Should the center rear belt need to
be unlatched from its anchorage, a
thin probe is required to be
inserted into the hole located on
the underside of the floor mounted
buckle. If the buckle and tongue
are not reconnected, then the belt
is not safe to be used.
Alternative design
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:15 Uhr Seite 82
Page 83 of 248

Seating and safety restraints
83 Conditions of operation
If the driver’s safety belt is not
buckled before the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position ... The Saftety belt warning light
illuminates for one or two minutes
and the warning chime sounds for
four to eight seconds.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding ...The Saftety belt warning light and
warning chime turn off.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position ...The Saftety belt warning light and
warning chime remain off.
If ...Then ...
Belt Minder (if equipped)
The Belt Minder feature is a
supplemental warning to the safety
belt warning function. This feature
provides additional reminders to
the driver that the driver’s safety
Conditions of operation
If the driver’s safety belt is not
buckled approximately 5 seconds
after the safety belt warning light
has turned off...
The belt minder feature is
activated - the Saftety belt warning
light and the warning chime will
cycle at 4 hertz for 6 seconds every
30 seconds, repeating for
approximately 5 minutes or until
safety belt is buckled.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
while the indicator light is
illuminated and the warning chime
is sounding ...
The belt minder feature will not
activate.
The driver’s safety belt is buckled
before the ignition switch is turned
to the ON position ...
The belt minder feature will not
activate.
If ...Then ...
belt is unbuckled by intermittently
sounding a chime and illuminating
the Safety belt warning light in the
instrument cluster.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:15 Uhr Seite 83
Page 84 of 248

Seating and safety restraints
841. Turn the ignition switch to the
ON position (DO NOT START THE
ENGINE).
2. Wait until the Saftety belt
warning light turns off
(approximately one minute).
• Steps 3-5 must be completed
within 60 seconds or the procedure
will have to be repeated.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled. This can be
done before or during Belt Minder
warning activation.
4. Turn on the headlamps, turn off
the headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt three times, ending with the
safety belt unbuckled.
• After step 5, the Saftety belt
warning light will be turned on for
three seconds.
6. Within seven seconds of the
Saftety beltwarning light turning
off, buckle then unbuckle the
safety belt.
• This will enable Belt Minder if it
is currently disabled, or disable
Belt Minder if it is currently
enabled.
To reduce the risk of injury,
do not deactivate/activate
the Belt Minder feature while
driving the vehicle.
Deactivating/activating the Belt
Minder feature
The Belt Minder feature can be
deactivated/activated by
performing the following
procedure:
Before following the procedure,
make sure that:
• the parking brake is set.
• the gearshift is in P (Park)
(automatic transaxle) or the
neutral position (manual
transaxle).
• the ignition switch is in the OFF
position.
• all vehicle doors are closed.
• the driver’s safety belt is
unbuckled.
• the parklamps/headlamps are in
OFF position.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:15 Uhr Seite 84
Page 86 of 248

Seating and safety restraints
86Care of safety belts
Periodically check the belts for
damage or fraying. Check the
security of the anchorage points
and the locking action of the inertia
reels by giving each belt a sharp
tug.
Belts subjected to strain, as in the
result of an accident, should be
replaced and the anchorages
checked by your dealer or a
qualified technician.
Failure to follow these
instructions will affect the
performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal
injury.
Safety belt warning label
A warning label has been placed on
the buckle of each of your vehicle’s
front seat safety belts.
In a collision of sufficient severity
while the safety belt is in use, the
safety belt buckle will pull out of
the sleeve so that all or part of the
orange portion of the lavel is
visible.
Whenever the orange
portion of the label is visible,
the safety belt must be replaced.
WARNING Replace buckle
assembly if this vehicle is in a collision
or if any orange portion of this label
is visible. (See Owner Guide). Failure
to replace this buckle assembly under
the above conditions could result in
severe personal injuries in the event
of collision.
AVERTISSEMENT Remplacer
l'ensemble de boucle de ceinture en
cas de collision avec ce véhicule, ou si
la partie orange de cette étiquette
est visible (Voir le Guide du
proprietaire). Faute de remplacer cet
ensemble de boucle, des blessures
graves pourraient être encourues en
cas de collision.
REPLACE BUCKLE/REMPLACER LA BOUCLE
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:15 Uhr Seite 86
Page 90 of 248
Seating and safety restraints
90
The SRS consists of the following:
• driver and passenger air bag
modules (which include the
inflators and air bags),
• one impact and one safing
sensor,
• a readiness light and secondary
warning light, and
• the electrical wiring and
components.
The diagnostic module monitors its
own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness (including the
impact sensors), the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light,
the air bag backup power, and the
air bag ignitors.
If the air bag is inflated, the
air bag will not function
again and must be replaced
immediately. If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will
increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
Several air bag system
components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:16 Uhr Seite 90
Page 91 of 248
Seating and safety restraints
91 Determining if the system is
operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in
the instrument cluster or a
secondary warning light to indicate
the condition of the system. Refer
to the Air bag readinesssection in
the Instrumentationchapter.
Routine maintenance of the air bag
is not required.
A difficulty with the system is
indicated by one or more of the
following:
• The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
• The readiness light will not
illuminate after ignition is turned
on.
• The air bag secondary warning
light will flash five times. The
pattern will repeat periodically
until the problem or the readiness
light is repaired.
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the SRS
serviced at your dealership or by a
qualified technician immediately.
Unless serviced, the system may
not function properly in the event
of a collision.
O/D
OFFTRACTION
CONTROL
CHECK
ENGINE
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:16 Uhr Seite 91
Page 94 of 248
Seating and safety restraints
94Important child restraint
precautions
You are required by law to use
safety restraints for children in the
U.S. and Canada. If small children
ride in your vehicle (generally
children who are 4 years old or
younger and who weigh 18 kg
[40 lbs] or less), you must put them
in safety seats made especially for
children. Check your local and
state or provincial laws for specific
requirements regarding the safety
of children in your vehicle.
Never let a passenger hold a
child on his or her lap while
the vehicle is moving. The
passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.
Always follow the instructions and
warnings that come with any infant
or child restraint you might use.
When possible, place children in
the rear seat of your vehicle.
Accident statistics suggest that
children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating
position.
14MSSen 24.6.99 15:16 Uhr Seite 94