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iv
Vehicle 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.
Page 11 of 455

1-5 Heated Front Seats (Option)
If your vehicle has this
option, the heated seat
switches are located in the
instrument panel switchbank.
This feature will quickly heat the lower cushions and
lower back of the driver's and front passenger's seats for
added comfort.
The left switch is for the driver's seat and the right
switch is for the front passenger's seat. Press the bottom
of the switch to turn the heater on. The indicator light on
the switch will glow. Press the top of the switch to turn
the heater off. The heated seat switch will turn off when
the ignition is turned to OFF and resume operation when
the ignition is turned to RUN, unless the switch is
manually turned off.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
All front seats recline.
To adjust the manual seatback, pull up on the lever
located on the outboard sides of both the driver's and the
front passenger's seat. It is easier to recline the seat if
you lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.
If your vehicle has the eight±way power seats, there is a
power recliner. See ªEight±Way Power Seatsº earlier in
this section.
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1-11
3. To unlatch the front latches, squeeze the angled bar
toward the straight crossbar.
4. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly forward, then
toward the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.
Repeat these steps for the other section of the split
bench seat.Replacing the Split Bench Sections
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
CAUTION:
A seat that isn't locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop. People
in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock
the seat into place properly when installing it.
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1-19
To raise the seatback, do one of the following:
From the rear of the vehicle, pull up on the lever to
release the seatback, then pull the strap, located on
the right side of the seat, to pull the seatback up. The
seatback has a Velcro
patch to stow the strap on the
rear of the seat when not in use, or
from the passenger's side sliding door, pull up on the
lever to release the seatback, then push up on the
seatback to raise the seat.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it is
locked into the upright position.
Removing the Stowable Seat
1. Remove the convenience center, if it is in the
vehicle. See ªConvenience Centerº in the Index
for more information.
2. Make sure all items are off of the stowable seat.
3. If the seatback is down, put the seatback in its
upright position before removing the seat. See
ªFolding the Seatbackº previously.
4. From behind the bench seat, push up the release
handles at the base of the seat to release the latches
from the floor pins.
5. While holding onto the crossbar at the bottom of the
seat, remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward
the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out. This
should be done in one motion.
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1-22
CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. See ªSafety
Belt Reminder Lightº in
the Index.
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here's why: They work.
You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!
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1-27
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know
about safety belts and children. And there are
different rules for smaller children and babies. If a
child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this
manual called ªChildren.º Follow those rules for
everyone's protection.
First, you'll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We'll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver's restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here's how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see
how, see ªSeatsº in the Index.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
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1-38
CAUTION:
Both frontal and side impact air bags inflate with
great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If
you're too close to an inflating air bag, as you
would be if you were leaning forward, it could
seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in
position for air bag inflation before and during a
crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with
frontal air bags. The driver should sit as far back
as possible while still maintaining control of the
vehicle. Front occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door.
CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Air bags plus lap
-shoulder belts offer
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
the best protection for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety
belt system nor its air bag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide. Always secure children properly in your
vehicle. To read how, see the part of this manual
called ªChildren.º
There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows the
air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See ªAir Bag Readiness Lightº in the Index
for more information.
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1-46
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap
-shoulder
belts. Here's how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
In the third row, if the belt stops before it reaches the
buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you
can buckle it.
Third Row Outside Passenger Position
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.