2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-14 Tailgate
2
-14 Theft
2
-15 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-16 Ignition Positions
2
-17 Starting Your Engine
2
-19 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-20 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-25 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-27 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-29 Parking Brake
2
-30 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-32 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)2
-33 Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Models Only)
2
-34 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-34 Engine Exhaust
2
-35 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-36 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-43 Exterior Lamps
2
-46 Interior Lamps
2
-47 Mirrors
2
-49 Storage Compartments
2
-54 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
2
-54 Sun Visors
2
-55 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-56 Convertible Top (If Equipped)
2
-64 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-66 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-68 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2-15 Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
Even if you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it's still best to lock it up and
take your keys. But what if you have to leave your
ignition key? What if you have to leave something
valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
glove box.
Lock your glove box.
Close all windows.
If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
If your vehicle has a remote keyless entry system,
take the transmitter with you.
Lock all the doors except the driver's.
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
ªbreak
-in.º But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don't tow a trailer during break
-in.
See ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for
more information.
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.
2-29
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning light will come on.To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up until you can push in
the release button located on the end of the lever.
Hold the release button in as you move the lever all
the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in
the Index.
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.
2-42
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.
2-44 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 your headlamps come on
at a reduced brightness when the three following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on with the engine running,
the exterior lamps control is off or the parking
lights are on, and
the parking brake is released.When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on
at a reduced brightness. The taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.
When you move the exterior lamps control to the
headlamp position, your DRL will go off and your
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that
come on with your headlamps will also come on.
When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps. See ªAutomatic Light Controlº following.
When you turn the exterior lamp control to off, the
regular lamps will go off and your headlamps will
change to the reduced brightness of DRL provided
it is not dark outside. DRL will also come on if only
the parking lamps are being used.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
2-45 Automatic Light Control (ALC)
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on top of the instrument panel, so be sure it is not covered.
If it is, the headlamps will remain on continuously.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the ALC
systems so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
ALC systems will only be affected when the light sensor
sees a change in lighting lasting longer than this delay.
When it is dark enough outside, or you are driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or
a tunnel, the ALC will turn on your low
-beam
headlamps at normal brightness. Along with your
vehicle's headlamps, the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps and the instrument panel lights will also turn on.
The radio lights will dim.
When the vehicle is initially started in darkness with the
parking brake engaged, there is a delay before the ALC
will turn on the lights.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.To disable your vehicle's DRL and ALC functions,
do the following:
1. Before turning the ignition key to ON or START,
set the parking brake.
2. Then turn the ignition key to ON or START.
The ALC will not turn on under any conditions,
even in darkness.
The DRL will not turn on.
The DRL and ALC functions will stay off with the
ignition on, until you release the parking brake.
Once the parking brake is released the DRL will
turn on (if it is daylight) or the ALC will turn on
(if it is dark enough outside).
If you turn the ignition key to ON or START and
then set the parking brake, the DRL will turn off
(in all conditions) and the ALC will remain on (if dark
enough outside). Any other uses of the parking brake
after the engine is turned on will have no effect on the
normal ALC operation.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off, remove the key, open the
door and leave the lamps on, a tone will remind you to
turn off your lamps.