Page 5 of 407

ivVehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage
your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle may be equipped with components and
labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols,
used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics in the Index:
ªEngine Compartment Overviewº
ªInstrument Panelº
ªComfort Controlsº
ªAudio Systemsº
Also see ªWarning Lights and Gagesº in the Index.
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2-
2-1Section 2 Features and ControlsHere 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
- 9 Keyless Entry System
2
- 12 Liftgate/Liftgate Glass
2
- 12 Theft
2
- 14 Content Theft
- Deterrent
2
- 15 Passlock
2
- 16 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
- 23 Parking Brake
2
- 24 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
- 27 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
- 27 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
- 28 Engine Exhaust 2
- 28 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
- 30 Locking Rear Axle
2
- 30 All
- Wheel Drive
2
- 30 Tilt Wheel
2
- 31 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
- 37 Exterior Lamps
2
- 41 Interior Lamps
2
- 42 Mirrors
2
- 46 Storage Compartments
2
- 54 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
- 57 Sunroof (If Equipped)
2
- 58 HomeLink
Transmitter
2
- 62 The Instrument Panel
- Your
Information System
2
- 64 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
- 65 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
- 77 Message Center
2
- 83 Secondary Information Center (SIC)
Page 111 of 407
2-23Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow/haul mode.
The button is located on the end of the column shift
lever. You can use this feature to assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load. See ªTow/Haul Modeº in the
Index for more information.
The tow/haul mode also interacts with the Autoride
feature to enhance the ride when trailering or with a
loaded vehicle. See ªAutoride º in the Index. Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will flash. A chime will activate when the parking
brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at least
3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three seconds.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, marked BRAKE
RELEASE, to release the parking brake.
Page 112 of 407

2-24 If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
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 and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving. 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 and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
Page 153 of 407

2-65Speedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven, in either miles (used in the United States) or
kilometers (used in Canada).
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
Press the reset button to toggle between the trip
odometer and the regular odometer. Holding the reset
button for two seconds while the trip odometer is
displayed will reset it.
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button.
Engine Hour Meter Display
The odometer can also display the number of hours the
engine has run. To display the hour meter, turn the
ignition off, press and hold the reset button for at least
four seconds. The hour meter will be displayed for up to
30 seconds, or until the ignition is turned on. Tachometer Your tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators This part describes the warning lights and gages 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.
Page 154 of 407

2-66 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.
Your vehicle also has a message center that works along
with warning lights and gages. See ªMessage Centerº in
the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about six 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
for about 20 seconds,
then it will flash for
about 55 seconds.
If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on. Air Bag Readiness Light There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag's electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the air bag sensors, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see ªAir Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your vehicle,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
Page 155 of 407
2-67CAUTION:If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem. Voltmeter
United States Canada
When your engine is not running, but the ignition is in
RUN, this gage shows your battery's state of charge in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between
the low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Page 156 of 407

2-68 Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating
in the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power at
engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading
in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light With the ignition on, the brake system warning light
will flash when you set the parking brake. The light
will flash if the parking brake doesn't release fully. If
you try to drive with the parking brake engaged, a
chime will sound when the vehicle speed is greater than
3 mph (5 km/h). Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.