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2-31 Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave. After
you've moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pushing the shift lever button. If you
can, it means that the shift lever wasn't fully locked
into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver's seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into
PARK (P)º in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
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2-32
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You must fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in ON. See ªAutomatic Transaxle Operationº
in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift lever button as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever out of PARK (P) into the gear
that you want.If you ever hold the brake pedal down, but still can't
shift out of PARK(P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine, and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the system fixed as soon as you can.
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2-34
Running Your Engine While
You're Parked
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even
if the fan is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See
ªBlizzardº in the Index.
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.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've 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, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Horn
Press at or near the horn symbols located on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Page 103 of 363
2-39 Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts off.
CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. See
ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
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2-40
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
button located on the
right side of the
instrument panel to turn
it on. A light in the
button will indicate that
the system is on.2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the COAST SET
button located on your
steering wheel and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster will
come on after the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed. It will go off when you do the following:
Step lightly on the brake pedal,
press the CLEAR button located on the steering
wheel or
press the CRUISE button located on the
instrument panel.
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2-41
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you either apply the brake or press the clear
button located on the steering column. This, of course
shuts off the cruise control. But you don't need to reset
it because the system remembers the last set speed.
Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
press the RES ACCEL (Resume Accelerate) button
located on your steering wheel. You'll go right back up
to your chosen speed and stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the COAST SET button located on the steering
wheel, then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You'll now cruise at the higher speed.
Press the RES ACCEL button located on the steering
wheel. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you
want and then release the button. To increase your
speed in very small amounts, press the RES ACCEL
button briefly and then release it. Each time you do
this, your vehicle will go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you set the
cruise control speed by pressing the COAST SET button
located on the steering wheel.Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press the COAST SET button located on the steering
wheel until you reach the lower speed you want, then
release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
COAST SET button located on the steering wheel
briefly and then release it. Each time you do this,
you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
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 speed you set earlier.
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2-42
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.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to cancel the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal,
press CLEAR located on the steering wheel or
press the CRUISE button located on the
instrument panel.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.
: Turn the outside part of the lever with this symbol
on it to operate the lamps.
The exterior lamp switch has three positions.
OFF:
Turning the switch to this position turns off all
lamps, except the Daytime Running Lamps, (DRL).
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2-43
(Parking Lamps): Turning the switch to
this position turns on the parking lamps together with
the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamp
Instrument Panel Lights
(Headlamps): Turning the switch to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Turn the control to OFF to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound, indicating the lamps are on
when the driver's door is open and the ignition switch is
in the OFF or ACCESSORY position.
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
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.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when the following conditions are met:
The ignition is on,
the exterior lamp control is not in the headlamp
position position and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. The instrument panel won't be
lit up either.