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
-11 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-17 Trunk
2
-18 Theft
2
-20 Passlock
2-20 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-21 Ignition Positions
2
-22 Starting Your Engine
2
-23 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-24 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-29 Parking Brake
2
-30 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-32 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-33 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-33 Engine Exhaust2
-34 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-34 Horn
2
-35 Tilt Wheel
2
-35 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-42 Exterior Lamps
2
-45 Interior Lamps
2
-48 Mirrors
2
-52 Storage Compartments
2
-53 Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
2
-54 Accessory Power Outlets
2
-56 OnStar System (If Equipped)
2
-59 Power Sunroof (Option)
2
-60 HomeLink Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-64 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-68 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2-23
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing.
This time keep the pedal down for five or six
seconds to clear the extra gasoline from the engine.
After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the normal
starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0F (-18C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32F (0C), use of the coolant heater is
not required.
2-24 To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located behind the driver's side
headlamp assembly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle
has a shift lever located
on the console between
the seats.
2-46 Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter (if equipped).
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it's open
then turn off automatically about 25 seconds after you
close it. If you press UNLOCK and don't open a door,
the lamps will turn off after about 40 seconds.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don't just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is cancelled if you turn the ignition key to ON
so that the lamps will dim out right away. When the
ignition is on, illuminated entry is inactive, which
means the courtesy lamps won't come on unless
a door is opened.
Illumination on Door Handle Activation
Illumination on door handle activation is a standard
feature intended to provide enhanced security and
convenience by allowing the driver to activate the
vehicle interior illumination without unlocking or
opening any vehicle door.The ignition must be off and the doors locked for the
illumination on door handle activation to work. The
illumination on door handle activation feature can
function in two ways.
If the driver pulls and releases any front door handle
within one second, the interior lamps will illuminate
until one of the following occurs:
The ignition is turned to ON,
the power door locks are activated or
an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
Or, if the driver pulls and holds any front door handle
for more than one second, the interior lamps will
illuminate until one of the following occurs:
The ignition is turned to ON,
the door handle is released or
an illumination period of 50 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened,
the timed illumination period will be cancelled, though
the interior lamps will remain on because a vehicle door
is open.
3-4
(Recirculation): This button is used to recirculate
much of the air inside your vehicle. This setting is not
available in defogger or defroster. Operating the system
in recirculation may cause the windows to fog up when
the weather is cold and damp. To clear the fog, use the
defog or defrost modes and increase the fan speed. To
avoid refogging of the windows, use the outside air
mode.
(Outside Air): This button is used to bring
outside air into the vehicle.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough
to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the time
the compressor has to run, which should help with
fuel economy.
For quick cool
-down on very hot days, use the
vent outlets, recirculation with the temperature knob
turned all the way to the blue area, the air conditioner
on, and the fan on a high setting. If this setting is used
for long periods of time, the air in your vehicle may
become too dry.For normal cooling on hot days, use the vent outlets
with the temperature knob turned to the blue area. With
the A/C button and the outside air button pressed in, the
system will bring in outside air and cool it.
On cool but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough. To
remedy this, you can use bi
-level with the temperature
knob in the middle with the A/C button and the outside
air button pressed. The system will bring in outside air
and direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air to your lower body. You may notice the
temperature difference more at some times than others.
Heating
On cold days turn the fan on and use floor and the
outside air button pressed in with the temperature knob
turned all the way to the red area. The system will bring
in outside air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it's
cold outside (0F (
-18C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.
3-9
For normal cooling on hot days, use the vent outlets and
outside air with the air conditioning. The system will
bring in outside air and cool it.
On cool but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
To remedy this, you can use bi
-level with the air
conditioning on. The system will bring in outside air and
direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air to your lower body. You may notice this
temperature difference more at some times than others.
Heating
On cold days use the floor mode and the temperature
turned toward red, with a high fan setting. The system
will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the
floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it's
cold outside (0F (
-18C) or lower). An engine
coolant heater warms the coolant your engine and
heating system use to provide heat. See ªEngine
Coolant Heaterº in the Index.Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use the vent outlets, a fan setting,
ECON and outside air to direct outside air through your
vehicle. Your vehicle also has the flow
-through
ventilation system described later in this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front
and side windows. To defrost the windows quickly,
use the defrost button. To warm passengers while
keeping the windows clean, select defog by pressing
the MODE button.
3-11 Ventilation System
Change the direction of airflow by adjusting the vents.
To completely shut off airflow to the outlet move the
lever down. To open the outlet for airflow move the
lever up.
Your vehicle's flow
-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning
fan is running.Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, set the
mode to floor and the fan to the highest speed for a
few moments before driving off. This helps clear the
intake ducts of snow and moisture and reduces the
chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
4-31
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.