Page 79 of 390

2-14
Tailgate
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the tailgate open
because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into
your vehicle. You can't see or smell CO. It can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the tailgate open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the tailgate:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on outside air. That will force outside air
into your vehicle. See ªComfort Controlsº
in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Tailgate Lock Release
Use your key to lock or unlock your tailgate.
If you have a convertible, you can still open or close
the tailgate with the rear window closed.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft
-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a tone reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you have an automatic transmission,
taking your key out also locks your transmission.
Also remember to lock the doors.
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2-17
ACC (ACCESSORY) (B): This is the position in which
you can operate your electrical accessories. It also unlocks
the steering wheel and ignition. Use this position if your
vehicle must be pushed or towed.
ON (C): This is the position that the switch returns
to after you start your engine and release the switch.
The switch stays in ON when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can
use ON to operate your electrical accessories and to
display some instrument panel cluster warning and
indicator lights.
START (D): This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to ON for normal driving.
When the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver's door
when the ignition is in ACC or LOCK and the key is in
the ignition.Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's
a safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when
your vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in neutral and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor and
start the engine. Your vehicle won't start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down
-- that's a safety feature.
Page 89 of 390

2-24 Overdrive-Off Button (If Equipped)
The overdrive-off button is located on the left side of
the shift lever. When operating under normal conditions,
the vehicle will automatically default to overdrive when
initially started until it is disengaged. If overdrive is
turned off and the vehicle is turned off, when the
vehicle is restarted, overdrive will automatically turn
back on. By operating the overdrive off button,
with the ignition in the ON position, the four
-speed
automatic transmission (three
-speed plus overdrive) can
be converted to a three
-speed automatic transmission.
While in the three
-speed mode, the transmission will not
shift into the overdrive position.To convert the transmission to the three
-speed mode,
press in the overdrive
-off button and release it.
The OD/OFF indicator light on the instrument panel
cluster will come on. The overdrive
-off button is for
normal driving, however, it also offers more power
and lower fuel economy than driving in the overdrive
position. Here are some times you might choose to
drive with the overdrive
-off button engaged:
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill.
To return the transmission to the four
-speed mode,
press in the overdrive
-off button again. The OD/OFF
indicator light will go off. Disengaging the overdrive
-off
button is for normal driving with the four
-speed
automatic transaxle. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
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.
If the transfer case shift lever is in the 4L position,
the four
-speed automatic transmission will remain
in the three
-speed mode.
Page 90 of 390

2-25 Power Mode Selector Switch (If Equipped)
A power mode selector
switch is included
with the four
-speed
automatic transmission.
When you need more power for climbing hills or quicker
acceleration, press the P (power) switch. The POWER
indicator light on the instrument panel cluster will come
on. For normal driving, press the N (normal) switch.
The POWER indicator light will go off.
The power mode delays the automatic transmission shift
points to allow for higher engine speeds in each gear.
The automatic transmission also has the ability to
provide SECOND (2) gear starts for improved traction
on slippery surfaces. The power mode selector switch
must be in the P mode and the transmission gear selector
in SECOND (2), which will remain in SECOND (2)
until you shift the vehicle to DRIVE (D).
Manual Transmission Operation
Five-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here's how to operate
your transmission:
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 and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).
Page 102 of 390

2-37 Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has an upward (for right) and a downward
(for left) position. These positions allow you to signal a
turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don't
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won't see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
First, you must have the headlamps on. For high beams,
push the turn signal lever toward the instrument panel.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the instrument
panel cluster also will be on.
It will go off when you
switch to low beam.
To switch back to low beams, pull the lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
With the lever in the low-beam position, pull the
lever toward you to momentarily switch to high beam
(to signal that you are going to pass). When you
release the lever, the headlamps will return to
low
-beam operation.
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2-41
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.
1. Press the CRUISE
ON/OFF button on
the instrument panel
to turn the system on.
The indicator light in
the button will come on.2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Once you're going 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
turn the switch on the lever down, to COAST SET
and release it. Your cruise will be set.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
If you set your cruise control at a desired speed and
then apply the brake, this will turn off the cruise control
function. But you don't need to reset it.
If your speed has not dropped below 25 mph (40 km/h),
you can turn the switch on the lever to RESUME
ACCEL (Accelerate) briefly. You'll go right back to
your chosen speed and stay there. When your speed
drops below 25 mph (40 km/h), the system will not
resume to your previously chosen speed. You must
reset your speed.
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Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
Use the accelerator pedal to go to a higher speed.
Turn the switch on the lever down to COAST SET
and release it. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. You'll now cruise at the higher speed.
Turn the switch on the lever up to RESUME
ACCEL. Hold the switch at RESUME ACCEL
until you get up to the speed you want, then release
the switch.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
To reduce your speed, turn the switch and hold it down
in the COAST SET position until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release the switch.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.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 brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this
to be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Getting Out of Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal, or push the clutch
pedal if you have a manual transmission.
Push in the CANCEL button on the end of the cruise
control lever.
Press CRUISE ON/OFF on the instrument panel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased. It is also
lost if the vehicle speed drops below 25 mph (40 km/h).
You must reset your speed.
Page 108 of 390
2-43
Exterior Lamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.
Turn the outside part of the lever to operate the lamps.The exterior lamps control has three positions:
OFF: Turning the control to this position turns off
all lamps, except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
(Parking Lamps): Turning the control to
this position turns on the parking lamps, together with
the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamp
Instrument Panel Lights
(Headlamps): Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.