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In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, 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 an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which
records information about the frontal 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
or in a near
-deployment crash. The module also
records speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air
bag systems. Improper service can mean that an
air bag system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, or the air bag
covering on the driver's, right front passenger's
or rear seatback, the bag may not work properly.
You may have to replace the air bag module in
the steering wheel, both the air bag module and
the instrument panel for the right front
passenger's air bag, or both the air bag module
and seatback for the side impact air bag. Do not
open or break the air bag coverings.
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NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the 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 transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn't covered by your warranty.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you're:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transaxle will shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or
if it doesn't seem to shift gears as you accelerate,
something may be wrong with a transaxle system
sensor. If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged. So if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right away. Until then, you
can use SECOND (2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE () for higher speeds.
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Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Rainsense II Wipers (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior side of the windshield behind
the rearview mirror. It is used to automatically operate
the wipers by monitoring the amount of moisture
build
-up on the windshield. Wipes occur as needed to
clear the windshield depending on driving conditions
and the sensitivity setting. In light rain or snow, fewer
wipes will occur. In heavy rain or snow, wipes will
occur more frequently. The Rainsense wipers operate in
a delay mode as well as a continuous low or high speed
as needed. If the system is left on for long periods of
time, occasional wipes may occur without any moisture
on the windshield. This is normal and indicates that the
Rainsense system is activated.The Rainsense system can be activated by turning the
wiper band to one of the five sensitivity levels indicated
on the wiper stalk. The position closest to OFF is the
lowest sensitivity setting, level one. This allows more
rain or snow to collect on the windshield between wipes.
Turning the wiper band away from you to higher
sensitivity levels increases the sensitivity of the system
and frequency of wipes. The highest sensitivity setting,
level five is closest to LO. A single wipe will occur each
time you turn the wiper stalk to a higher sensitivity level
to indicate that the sensitivity level has been increased.NOTICE:
The wipers must be turned off when going
through a car wash to avoid damage.
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The MIST and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the Rainsense function. The Rainsense
system can be overridden at any time by manually
turning the wiper band to LO or HI speed.
NOTICE:
Do not place stickers or other items on the
exterior glass surface directly in front of the
moisture sensor. Doing this could cause the
moisture sensor to malfunction.
Windshield Washer
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever there is
a paddle with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer
fluid on the windshield, press and release this paddle.
The wipers will clear the windshield and either stop or
return to your preset speed. For more washer cycles,
press and hold the paddle.
CHECK WASHER FLUID will be displayed on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) when the washer fluid
reaches a low level.
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Light Sensor
The light sensor for the DRL and the Twilight Sentinel
is located in the center of the front defogger grille. If
you cover the sensor, it will read ªdarkº and the exterior
lamps or the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will be on whenever the ignition is on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual parking lamps or headlamps have been
left on, the exterior lamps will turn off approximately
ten minutes after the ignition is turned to OFF. This
protects against draining the battery in case you have
accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps on.
The battery saver does not work if the headlamps are
turned on after the ignition switch is turned to OFF.
If you need to leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, use the exterior lamp control to turn the
lamps back on. To delay the lamps from turning off,
see ªTwilight Sentinelº in the Index.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Knob
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The knob for this feature is
located to the right of the
Twilight Sentinel lever.
Press the knob to release it to the outward position.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the lights or
counterclockwise to dim them. Press the knob to
return it to the original storage position.
Courtesy Lamps
The courtesy lamps are located on the headliner above
the rear seat. These lamps come on by turning the
instrument panel brightness knob fully clockwise or
when any door is opened and it is dark outside. Puddle
lamps are located on the bottom of the front and rear
door trim.
Illuminated Entry
The illuminated entry system turns on the courtesy
lamps and the backlighting to the door switches and to
the exterior lamp control when a door is opened or if
you press the remote keyless entry transmitter unlock
button. If activated due to the transmitter, the lighting
will remain active for about 40 seconds. Since the
illuminated entry system uses the light sensor, it must be
dark outside in order for the courtesy lamps to turn on.
The courtesy lamps turn off approximately 25 seconds
after the last door is closed. They will dim to off if the
ignition key is placed in ON, or immediately deactivate
if the power locks are activated.
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Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the digital displays
and backlighting during daylight hours when the key is
in the ignition and the headlamps are on. This feature
operates with the light sensor for the Twilight Sentinel
and is fully automatic. When the light sensor reads
darkness outside and the parking lamps are active, the
digital displays can be adjusted by turning the
instrument panel brightness knob counterclockwise to
dim and clockwise to brighten lighting.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console
on the headliner and in the rear door opening. These
lamps come on automatically when any door is opened
and it is dark outside.
For manual operation, press the button to turn them on.
Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about 70 seconds. If the
driver's belt is already
buckled, the light will come
on briefly, but the chime
will not sound.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG or the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag's electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag sensors,
the air bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more information on the air
bag system, see ªAir Bagº in the Index.
United States Canada
This light will come on when you start your vehicle, and
it will flash for a few seconds. Then the light should go
out. This means the system is ready.