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Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several different
positions for the shift
lever that is located
between the front seats
on the center console.
PARK (P): This position locks the front wheels.
It's the best position to use when you start the 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).
See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº
in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system.
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You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in
RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever
-- press the button on the
front of the shift lever and push the shift lever all the
way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then press the button on the front of the shift lever
again 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 transaxle.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
has stopped.
Also use this gear to rock your vehicle back and forth
to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your
transaxle. See ªIf You're Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snowº in the Index for additional information.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.
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FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (1), the transaxle won't shift into gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.)
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can't turn, don't try to drive.
This might happen if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or were up against a solid object.
You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could cause overheating and
damage the transaxle. Use your brakes to
hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located to the left of
the regular brake pedal,
near the driver's door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the BRAKE indicator light
should come on. If it doesn't, you need to have
your vehicle serviced.
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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
after you move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Horn
The horn can be sounded by pressing on the center
of the steering wheel pad.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can raise the steering wheel to
the highest level to give your legs more room when
you enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the wheel and pull the lever.
Then move the wheel to a comfortable position and
release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
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2-39 Cruise Control
The cruise control lever is located on the end of
the windshield wiper stalk on the left side of the
steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can help on long trips. Cruise control
does not work at speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h).Cruise control shuts off when you apply your brakes.
CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can't drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don't use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. See ªTraction
Control Systemº in the Index. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.
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Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brakes
or downshifting into FIRST (1) takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble
and don't use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the CRUISE switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when you
turn off the cruise control or the ignition.Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp knob is
located to the left of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
Pull the knob toward you to operate the lamps.
The exterior lamp knob has three positions:
Off: Pushing the knob all the way in turns off all lamps
except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
Parking Lamps: Pulling the knob to the first position
turns on the parking lamps together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
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When the Twilight Sentinel lever is on and it's dark
enough outside, the high
-beam headlamps (at reduced
intensity) will turn off and normal low
-beam headlamp
operation will occur. When the Twilight Sentinel lever is
on and it's bright enough outside, the regular lamps
will go off, and the high
-beam headlamps at reduced
brightness will take over for the DRL.
If it's dark enough outside and the Twilight Sentinel
lever is off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended even though the DRL
are still illuminated (it's become dark enough outside
to require the headlamps and/or other exterior lamps).
Turning on the Twilight Sentinel, the exterior lamp knob
or the fog lamp button will remove the HEADLAMPS
SUGGESTED message.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, turn off the
Twilight Sentinel lever and shift the transaxle into
PARK (P). Placing your vehicle in PARK (P) disables
the DRL. The DRL will stay off until you shift out
of PARK (P).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or
misty conditions.
The fog lamp button is
located to the left of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
When you press the button with the fog lamp symbol,
a small indicator light will tell you that the fog lamps
and the parking lamps are in use. Press the button again
to turn them off. Your ignition must be in RUN for the
fog lamps to illuminate.
If you turn on the high
-beam headlamps, the fog lamps
will turn off. They'll turn back on again when you
switch to low
-beam headlamps.
When the Twilight Sentinel is on and the fog lamp
button is pressed, the fog lamps will remain on as well
as the headlamps and parking lamps.
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Light Sensor
The light sensor for the Daytime Running Lamps (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 lamps will come on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the parking lamps have been left on, the exterior lamps
will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the ignition
is turned to LOCK or ACCESSORY. This protects
against draining the battery in case you have accidentally
left the headlamps or parking lamps on. If you need to
purposely leave the lamps on for more than 10 minutes
with the ignition in LOCK or ACCESSORY, turn the
exterior lamps off and then back on. To delay the lamps
from turning off, see ªTwilight Sentinelº in the Index.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The knob for this feature is located to the left of the
steering wheel on the instrument panel. This knob is also
used to control the exterior lamps. See ªExterior Lampsº
listed previously in this section for more information.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the lights or
counterclockwise to dim them.
Illuminated Entry
The illuminated entry system turns on the courtesy
lamps and the backlighting to the door controls and
to the exterior lamp knob when a door is opened or if
you press a remote keyless entry transmitter button.
Since the illuminated entry system has a photocell,
this means that it must be dark outside in order for the
courtesy lamps or backlighting to turn on. The courtesy
lamps turn off approximately 20 seconds after the last
door is closed or after the ignition is turned to RUN.