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1-53
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle's safety belts.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window so the child can wear a lap
-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
Q:What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A:If possible, an older child should wear a
lap
-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should
not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit
snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the
thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen,
which could cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.
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1-54
CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can't properly spread the impact forces.
In a crash, the two children can be crushed
together and seriously injured. A belt must be
used by only one person at a time.
Q:What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child's face or neck?
A:Move the child toward the center of the vehicle,
but be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the
child's shoulder, so that in a crash the child's upper
body would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the child is sitting in a rear outside position of a
four
-door model, see ªRear Safety Belt Comfort
Guidesº in the Index. If the child is so small that
the shoulder belt is still very close to the child's
face or neck, you might want to place the child in
a seat that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one.
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1-55
CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap
-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child. If the child wears the belt in this way,
in a crash the child might slide under the belt.
The belt's force would then be applied right on
the child's abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child's thighs. This applies belt force to the child's
pelvic bones in a crash.
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1-56
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you,
you should use it.
But if a safety belt isn't long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It's free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don't let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If you ever see a label on
the driver's or the right
front passenger's safety belt
that says to replace the belt,
be sure to do so. Then the
new belt will be there to
help protect you in a
collision. You would see
this label on the belt near
the door opening.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn't being used at the
time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you'll need to replace air bag system
parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section.
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2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-11 Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-14 Endgate/Liftgate
2
-18 Theft
2
-19 Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-20 Passlock
2-21 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-21 Ignition Positions
2
-23 Starting Your Engine
2
-25 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-26 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-29 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-31 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-38 Parking Brake
2
-39 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)2
-43 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-44 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-44 Engine Exhaust
2
-45 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-46 Locking Rear Axle
2
-47 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-53 Exterior Lamps
2
-56 Interior Lamps
2
-58 Mirrors
2
-61 Storage Compartments
2
-76 Accessory Power Outlets
2
-80 Sunroof (If Equipped)
2
-80 HomeLink Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-84 The Instrument Panel--Your
Information System
2
-89 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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2-2
Windows
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the windows
closed is dangerous. A child can be overcome
by the extreme heat and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke.
Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, especially
with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.
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2-3
Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower your
manual side door windows.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
If you have power windows, the controls are located on
the armrests on each of the side doors. The switches
operate the windows when the ignition is RUN,
ACCESSORY or when Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. (See ªRetained Accessory Powerº in
the Index.) The driver's door has a switch for the
passenger windows as well.
Press the side of the switch with the down arrow to
lower a window. Press the side of the switch with the
up arrow to raise the window.
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2-4
Express-Down Window
The driver's window has an express
-down feature
that allows you to lower it without holding the window
switch. Press the driver's window switch down briefly
to activate the express
-down feature. Lightly tap the
switch to open the window slightly. The express
-down
feature can be interrupted at any time by pressing the
up arrow end of the switch.
Lockout Switch
Four
-door vehicles have a lockout feature to prevent
passengers from operating the power windows. It is
located on the driver's door armrest. Press LOCK to
activate this feature. Press NORM and the windows
will return to normal operation.
Swing-Out Windows (2-Door Only)
If your vehicle has
rear swing
-out windows,
unlatch them at the clasps
and push out on the glass
to open them.
When you close the window, be sure the latch catches.
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