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
2-36
Horn
To sound the horn, press the portion of your steering
wheel marked with the horn symbol.
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before
you drive. You can raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter your vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering wheel column.To tilt the wheel, hold the wheel and move the lever
down. Then move the wheel to a comfortable position
and release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
Turn and Lane
-Change Signals
Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer
Flash
-to-Pass Feature
For information on exterior lamps, see ªExterior
Lampsº later in this section.
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.
2-65
The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Defroster Vent
B. Air Vents
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
F. Hazard Button
G. Rear Window Defogger Button (If Equipped)
H. Cruise Control Button (If Equipped)
I. Comfort Controls
J. Rear Window Wiper/Washer Button (If Equipped)
K. CoinholderL. Power Remote Control Mirrors (If Equipped)
M. Instrument Panel Brightness Thumbwheel
N. Hood Release
O. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
P. Ignition Switch
Q. Cigarette Lighter/Accessory Power Outlet
R. Power Mode Selector Switch (If Equipped)
S. Shift Lever
T. Ashtray
U. Audio System
V. Vent Shut
-off Thumbwheel
2-68
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a tone will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light
will also come on and
stay on until the driver's
belt is buckled.
3-8
Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM,
FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations.
SEEK SEEK : Press the right or left arrow to
tune to the next or previous station and stay there.
The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only.
To scan stations, press and hold one of the SEEK arrows
for two seconds until you hear a beep. The radio will go
to a station, play for a few seconds and flash the station
frequency, then go on to the next station. Press one of
the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will
scan to stations with a strong signal only.
To scan preset stations, press and hold one of the
SEEK arrows for more than four seconds until you
hear two beeps. The radio will go to the first preset
station stored on your pushbuttons, play for a few
seconds and flash the station frequency, then go on to
the next preset station. This feature will only scan the
six presets that are in the selected band. Press one
of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning presets.
The channel number (P1 through P6) will appear
momentarily just before the frequency is displayed.
The radio will scan preset stations with a strong
signal only.Setting Preset Stations
The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your
favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM,
six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM FM to select AM, FM1 or FM2.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons
until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that
numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO: To adjust the bass, press and release the
AUDIO button repeatedly until BAS appears on the
display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase
bass. B and a positive number will appear on the display.
Press and hold the down arrow to decrease bass. B and
a negative number will appear on the display. B and a
zero will appear on the display when the bass level is
adjusted to the middle position. Release the up or down
arrow when you find the bass level you want or when
the maximum or minimum level is reached.
4-14
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass
while you're awaiting an opportunity. For one thing,
following too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you're following a larger vehicle.
Also, you won't have adequate space if the vehicle
ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and
don't get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have
a ªrunning startº that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn't trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing,
it may be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
4-19 Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and its
many different features. Here are some things to consider.
Surface Conditions. Off
-roading can take you over
hard
-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud,
snow or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering,
acceleration and braking of your vehicle in different
ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you are on,
you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel spinning,
delayed acceleration, poor traction and longer
braking distances.
Surface Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle
you if you're not prepared for them. Often these
obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the
rise and fall of the terrain itself. Here are some things
to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill?
(There's more discussion of these subjects later.)
Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly?When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a
firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or other
surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands
if you're not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you can't control the
vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it's
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off
-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits or signal
lights. You have to use your own good judgment
about what is safe and what isn't.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off
-road driving.
At the very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could
have a serious
-- or even fatal -- accident if you drink
and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
See ªDrunken Drivingº in the Index.