Page 79 of 360

2-18 How to Turn Off the System Alarm
If the system alarm is active, it can be deactivated by:
Pressing the transmitter LOCK or panic button to
turn
-off alarm. The system will also rearm if all
doors and trunk are later closed, or
pressing the transmitter UNLOCK or trunk button to
turn off the alarm and disarm system, or
putting the key in the ignition and turning it to
START to turn off the alarm and disarm the system.
How to Detect a Tamper Condition
If you hear three horn chirps when you press the
UNLOCK, LOCK or trunk buttons on your transmitter,
that means the content theft security system alarm was
triggered while you were away.
Your dealer can change the settings to disable the
headlamp flash and horn chirp features. Your dealer can
also change the settings to allow the horn to chirp twice
on the first press of the UNLOCK button. See your
dealer for more information.
Passlock
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock
theft
-deterrent system.
Passlock is a passive theft
-deterrent system. Passlock
enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a
valid key. If a correct key is not used or the ignition lock
cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.
During normal operation, the THEFT SYSTEM light
will go off approximately five seconds after the key
is turned to the RUN ignition position following an
engine start.
If the engine stalls and the THEFT SYSTEM light
flashes, wait until the light stops flashing before trying
to restart the engine. Remember to release the key from
START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine is running and the THEFT SYSTEM light
comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if you
turn the engine off. However, your Passlock system is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock at this
time. You may also want to check the fuses (See ªFuses
and Circuit Breakersº in the Index). See your dealer for
service. Also, see ªRoadside Assistanceº in the Index
for more information.
Page 86 of 360
2-25
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2.2L L4 (LN2) Engine
2.4L L4 (LD9) and 2.2L L4 ECOTEC (L61) Engine
In very cold weather, 0F (
-18C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32F (0C), use of the coolant heater is
not required.
Page 90 of 360

2-29 Forward Gears
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for
normal driving with the four
-speed automatic transaxle.
If you need more power for passing, and you're:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator all the way down.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). Here
are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill.SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don't drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or
THIRD (3) as much as possible. Don't shift
into SECOND (2) unless you are going slower
than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage
your engine.
Page 91 of 360

2-30
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) 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 first 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
overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your
brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
Manual Transaxle Operation
Five-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here's how to operate your transaxle:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you're going less
than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).
Page 93 of 360
2-32 Shift Speeds
CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of your vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Don't shift down more than
one gear at a time when you downshift.
Up-Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
If you have a manual
transaxle, you may
have a light. This light
will show you when
to shift to the next
higher gear for the
best fuel economy.
United States Only
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions let
you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on
and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the light when you downshift.
Page 119 of 360
2-58
Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know
how fast you're going, about how much fuel is left in the tank, and many other things you'll need to drive safely
and economically.
United States Cluster shown, Canada similar
Page 128 of 360

2-67 Low Coolant Warning Light
This light comes on
briefly when you turn
your ignition on.
If this light comes on and stays on, the coolant level in
your vehicle is low. If the light is on along with an
overheat warning, you may have a serious overheating
problem. See ªEngine Coolant Temperature Gageº in
the Index.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected coolant
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for information
on what to do. Your vehicle should be serviced as soon
as possible.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The CHECK ENGINE light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Page 129 of 360

2-68
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transaxle,
exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or
the replacement of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the CHECK ENGINE light to
come on. Modifications to these systems could
lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass
a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
Light On Steady
-- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.