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2-27
Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. If you
cannot shift the shift lever all the way into PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake
application. Then move the shift lever into the gear you
wish. See ªShifting Out of PARK (P)º in the Index.
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2-31
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 the parking brake
pedal down with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the BRAKE indicator light on the
instrument panel cluster should come on. If it doesn't,
you need to have your vehicle serviced.When you move out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
and the engine is running, the parking brake should
release. If the parking brake has not been fully released
and you try to drive off with the parking brake on, the
BRAKE indicator light will come on and stay on and
a multiple chime will sound.
If the parking brake doesn't fully release, you can
manually release the pedal. However, be sure to read
the following paragraphs:
CAUTION:
Always shift to PARK (P) before pulling the
manual release lever. If your hand or arm is in
the way of the pedal you could be hurt. The pedal
springs back quickly. Keep your hand and arm
away when you use the manual release lever.
Before releasing the manual parking brake, be sure
to put the vehicle in PARK (P) and turn the ignition
to OFF.
Page 90 of 399
2-33
Shifting Into PARK (P)
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.
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,
use the steps that follow. If you're pulling a
trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.
2. Move the shift lever into
PARK (P) by pushing
the lever all the way
toward the front of
your vehicle and then
to the left.
3. With your right foot still holding the brake pedal
down, set the parking brake.
4. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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2-35
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is ON. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease the pressure
on the shift lever. Push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you
ever hold the pedal down but still can't shift out of
PARK (P), try the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACC. Open and close the
driver's door to turn off the RAP feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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2-46
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. Applying the brake or shifting
into a lower gear will take you out of cruise control.
If you need to apply the brake or shift to a lower gear
due to the grade of the downhill slope, you may not
want to attempt to use your cruise control feature.
Ending Cruise Control
To turn off the cruise control, step lightly on the brake
pedal or CRUISE ON/OFF on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
The control located
on the left side of the
instrument panel operates
the exterior lamps.
: Turn the control with this symbol on it to operate
the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp control has three positions:
: Turning the control to this position turns off all
lamps except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
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2-47
: Turning the control to this position turns on
the parking lamps together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The parking brake indicator light will come on and stay
on when the parking lamps are on with the engine off
and the ignition in ACC or ON.
: Turning the control to this position turns on the
headlamps, together with the previously listed lamps
and lights.
Your vehicle may be equipped with High Intensity
Discharge (HID) headlamps. These headlamps come
on at a lower intensity and gradually increase to
full brightness.Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking
lamps after the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately six seconds. To operate, the Twilight
Sentinel
feature must be turned on. See ªTwilight
Sentinelº in the Index for more information.
When the exterior lamp control is in the off or in the
parking lamp position and the wiper control is on INT,
LO or HI, the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
When the ignition is turned to OFF, the wiper
-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off. The wiper
-activated
headlamps will also turn off if the Twilight Sentinel or
the windshield wipers are turned off.
Lamps On Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the exterior lamp
control is left on in either the headlamp or parking
lamp position and the driver's door is opened with the
ignition off.
Page 105 of 399

2-48 Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
It is still daylight and the ignition is on,
the exterior lamp control is in the off position and
the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps
(at reduced brightness) will be on. No other exterior
lamps such as the parking lamps, taillamps, etc. will be
on when the DRL are being used. Your instrument panel
won't be lit up either.
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.
If it's dark enough outside and the Twilight Sentinel
lever is off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will display on the Driver's Information Center (DIC).
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended even though the DRL
are still illuminated. Turning on the Twilight Sentinel
or the headlamps will deactivate the DRL and remove
the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message. If the
parking lamps or the fog lamps were turned on instead,
the DRL will still deactivate and the HEADLAMPS
SUGGESTED message will continue to be displayed.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off at night,
turn off the Twilight Sentinel 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).
To drive your vehicle with the DRL off, turn off the
Twilight Sentinel and manually turn on the parking
lamps or fog lamps (if equipped).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Page 106 of 399

2-49 Fog Lamps (STS Only)
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or
misty conditions.
When the ignition is on and you push the fog lamp
button located next to the exterior lamps control,
a small indicator light in the fog lamp button, the
LIGHTS ON and fog lamp indicator lights on the
instrument panel cluster will come on to indicate that
the fog and the parking lamps are on.
Press the fog lamp button again to turn off the
fog lamps.
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 lamps
are turned on, the fog lamps, headlamps and parking
lamps will remain on.
The ignition must be on for the fog lamps to operate.
Cornering Lamps
The cornering lamps come on when the headlamps
or parking lamps are on and you signal a turn with
the multifunction lever. They provide more light
for cornering.
Twilight Sentinel
This lever is located below
the exterior lamps control.
It automatically turns the
lamps on and off by sensing
how dark it is outside.
To operate the Twilight Sentinel, leave the exterior
lamps control off and slide the TWILIGHT lever to
any position but OFF.
If you move the lever all the way to the right, the lamps
will remain on for approximately three minutes after the
ignition has been turned to OFF. If you move the lever
so it is barely on, the lamps will go off quickly when
you turn the ignition switch out of OFF. You can
adjust the delay time from only a few seconds to
about three minutes.
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).