Page 259 of 317

Inde
x
ABS . See Anti-Loc k Brak e
Syste m
Accessories , Installatio n ... . 17 3
ACCESSOR Y
(Ignitio n Ke y Position ) .... . 10 1
Accessor y Powe r Outlet s .... . 11 7
Powe r .............. . 10 1
Adults , Protectin g .......... . 1 0
Airbag s (SRS ) ............ . 7
Seriou s Ris k to Childre n ... . 1 9
Ai r Cleane r Filte r ..... . 170 , 21 4
Ai r Conditionin g
Maintenanc e .......... . 22 1
Usag e ................ . 12 0
Ai r Filter . See Air Cleane r Filte r
Ai r Outlet s (Vents ) ........ . 12 4
Ai r Pressure , Tire s ........ . 23 9 Alcoho
l an d Drivin g ....... . 4
Alcoho l i n Gasolin e ....... . 20 0
Alternato r Belt . See Driv e Belt s
Antifreez e ............... . 21 7
Anti-Loc k Brak e Syste m
Indicato r .............. . 6 7
Operatio n ............. . 15 9
Anti-Thef t
Steerin g Colum n Loc k ... . 10 2
Syste m ............... . 15 2
Appearanc e Care . See Cleanin g
Ashtra y ................. . 11 6
Assis t Gri p .............. . 11 5
Audi o Syste m ............ . 12 5
Automati c Transmissio n ... . 7 6
Capacity , Flui d ......... . 23 7
Drivin g Patter n Selecto r . . 8 1
Flui d Temperatur e Indicato r 70 Oi
l Temperatur e Indicato r . 7 0
Shif t Leve r
Positio n Indicato r ...... . 7 6
Shif t Loc k ............ . 7 8
Transfe r Control , 4W D .. . 8 0
Batter y ................. . 198
Chargin g Syste m Indicato r 6 2
Jum p Startin g .......... . 184
Maintenanc e .......... . 198
Specification s ......... . 238
Befor e Drivin g ........... . 156
Belts , Sea t ............... . 6
Additiona l Informatio n .. . 4 1
Beverag e Holde r ......... . 113
Bod y Repai r ............. . 225
Brake s
Anti-Loc k Brak e Syste m . . 159
Brak e Syste m Indicato r . . . 6 1
Page 301 of 317
Crush
zones, located in the front and rear
of a vehicle, are designed to crumple and
absorb energy in a front or rear-end collision. A
collapsible steering column,
smooth or recessed controls, and
energy-absorbing materials are
part of a car's occupant protection
system.
Seat belts help restrain occupants,
keep them in position, and give
them more time to slow down
in a crash
Airbags
are designed to
give added protection for
the head and chest in a
severe frontal collision.
Page 302 of 317

T
o hel p automobil e occupant s surviv e th e
tremendo s force s o f a crash , vehicl e
designer s hav e develope d numerou s safet y
feature s an d systems .
Fo r example , moder n automobile s hav e
fron t an d rea r "crus h zones " tha t ar e
designe d t o defor m o r crumpl e i n a crash .
Th e crumplin g lengthen s th e duratio n o f th e
crash , an d help s absor b an d dissipat e cras h
energy , whic h lower s th e rat e o f deceleration
i n th e passenge r compartment .
Th e dashboard , seats , headrest s an d othe r
interio r part s o f automobile s als o us e energy -
absorbin
g material s t o hel p protec t th e
occupants . I n addition , th e steerin g colum n i s
designe d t o collaps e i f struc k durin g a
collision .
Sea t belt s hav e prove n t o b e th e singl e
mos t effectiv e devic e i n reducin g automobil e
fatalitie s an d injurie s i n al l type s o f accidents .
Whe n properl y worn , sea t belt s hel p restrai n
occupant s fro m strikin g interio r part s o f th e
car , the y kee p occupant s connecte d t o th e ca r
s o the y ca n tak e advantag e o f th e energ y
absorptio n buil t int o th e car , an d the y
allo w occupant s t o decelerat e mor e slowl y
durin g a crash . Airbag
s ar e a recen t additio n t o a
car' s occupan t protectio n system . Airbag s
hav e a n importan t bu t limite d role—t o
hel p protec t th e head s an d chest s o f
front-sea t occupant s durin g a sever e
fronta l collision .
However , yo u can' t ge t th e ful l
benefi t o f thes e life-savin g feature s
unles s yo u buckl e up . I n short , it' s bette r
t o le t th e ca r absor b th e energy . It' s buil t
t o tak e it .
Page 307 of 317
Airbag
s ca n povid e life-savin g protection ,
bu t onl y i n a sever e fronta l collision .
Airbag s canno t b e helpful , an d the y ar e
no t intende d t o deploy , i n an y othe r typ e o f
collision , includin g sid e o r rea r impacts ,
rollovers , an d mino r o r moderat e fronta l
collisions .
I f th e airbag s deploye d i n an y o f thes e
situations , the y woul d onl y caus e additiona l
replacemen t expense , an d the y migh t eve n
caus e additiona l injuries .
Seat belts, and the car's ability to absorb
crash energy, offer adequate protection in
minor and moderate frontal collisions.
Page 314 of 317

forwar
d durin g a collision , a n inflatin g airba g
ca n strik e th e chil d an d possibl y caus e seriou s
o r fata l injuries .
I f a smal l chil d absolutel y mus t rid e i n th e
front , t o reduc e th e ris k o f injur y b e sur e t o
mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e rea r a s
possible , secur e th e chil d sea t t o th e vehicl e
wit h th e sea t belt , an d stra p th e chil d i n th e
chil d sea t accordin g t o th e chil d sea t maker' s
instructions .
W e als o recommen d tha t childre n wh o
hav e outgrow n chil d seat s si t i n th e bac k sea t
an d wea r a lap/shoulde r belt . I f a chil d
slouches , scoot s forwar d o n th e seat , lean s forward
, turn s sideway s o r put s thei r fee t u p
o n th e bac k o f th e sea t i n fron t o f them , thei r
chanc e o f bein g injure d i n an y kin d o f cras h
i s greatl y increased .
I n addition , i f a chil d i s ou t o f positio n i n
th e fron t seat , th e chil d coul d b e seriousl y o r
fatall y injure d i f the y ar e struc k b y a n
inflatin g airbag . I f a large r chil d mus t si t i n
th e front , mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
possible , hav e th e chil d si t u p straigh t wit h
thei r bac k agains t th e seat , an d mak e sur e th e
sea t bel t i s properl y an d securel y fastened .
With
or without airbags, toddlers and
larger children are safer when they are
properly restrained in the back seat.
Page 315 of 317
I
f a n automobil e i s badly damaged in a crash,
does this mea n that the airbags should have
deployed?
No t necessarily . Someon e wh o view s vehicl e
damag e afte r a cras h canno t accuratel y
determin e whethe r o r no t th e airbag s shoul d
hav e inflated . Actually , extensiv e damag e t o
crushabl e bod y part s usuall y indicate s tha t th e
ca r absorbe d cras h energ y an d reduce d th e
rat e o f deceleratio n t o a leve l wher e th e
airbag s woul d no t hav e bee n neede d o r
helpful .
Can
airbags prevent all collision injuries?
Unfortunately , n o safet y syste m ca n provid e
complet e protection .
Airbag s ar e designe d t o sav e you r lif e
an d reduc e th e severit y o f injurie s t o you r
hea d an d chest . Bu t airbag s canno t preven t al l
injuries . Durin g a sever e fronta l collision ,
contactin g a n inflatin g airba g ca n resul t i n