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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
-13 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-18 Trunk
2
-20 Theft
2
-21 Universal Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-23 PASS-KeyIII
2
-26 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-26 Ignition Positions
2
-28 Starting Your Engine
2
-29 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-30 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-33 Parking Brake
2
-34 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-37 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-38 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-38 Engine Exhaust2
-39 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-40 Tilt Wheel
2
-40 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-47 Exterior Lamps
2
-51 Interior Lamps
2
-55 Mirrors
2
-57 Storage Compartments
2
-59 Air Inflator System (Option)
2
-62 OnStar System (If Equipped)
2
-65 Express Sunroof (Option)
2
-66 HomeLink Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-70 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-76 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-96 Driver Information Center (DIC)
(If Equipped)
2
-109 Head-Up Display (HUD) (Option)
2-27
ACC (Accessory): In this position you can operate your
electrical accessories such as power windows, sunroof
(option), audio system and windshield wipers.
ON: This is the position the switch returns to after you
start your engine and release the switch. Even when the
engine is not running, you can use ON to operate your
electrical accessories and to display some instrument
panel cluster warning lights. This is the position for
driving your vehicle.
START: This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to ON for normal driving.
Even if the engine is not running, ACC and ON
are positions that allow you to operate your
electrical accessories.Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in OFF you will hear a warning
tone when you open the driver's door.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have power to such accessories as the radio,
sunroof (option) and power windows for up to
10 minutes. Power is turned off if you open a door.
Always leave your key in OFF. If you leave your key
in any position other than OFF, your battery will
discharge prematurely.
2-51
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
When it is dark outside, you can brighten or dim your
instrument panel cluster lights using the DIM knob,
located to the left of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the instrument
panel cluster lights and displays. Turn the knob
clockwise all the way to turn on the interior courtesy
lamps. Turn the knob counterclockwise to dim the
instrument panel cluster lights and displays and to turn
off the courtesy lamps.
Courtesy Lamps
If it is dark enough outside, when any door is opened,
several lamps will come on. They make it easier for you
to enter and leave the vehicle. Turn the dimmer knob all
the way clockwise to turn the interior courtesy lamps on.
Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside and you press the button
with the unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (if equipped), the interior courtesy lamps
will come on and stay on for approximately 25 seconds.
The lamps will turn off immediately by pressing the
button with the lock symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, by turning the ignition key to ON or by
activating the power door locks.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on if it is dark enough outside.
When you close the door with the ignition off, the
interior lamps will stay on for 25 seconds or until the
ignition is turned on. Locking the doors with the
power door lock switch, or with the lock button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter (if equipped), will
override the delayed entry lighting and the lamps will
turn off immediately.
2-52
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off after
you remove the key from the ignition.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature will turn on the interior lamps for
25 seconds after you remove the key from the ignition
while the doors are closed and it is night. This will give
you time to find the door handle or lock switches as you
exit the vehicle.
This lighting will only be deactivated if the key is
reinserted into the ignition switch or the power door
locks are activated.
Parade Dimming
To activate the instrument panel backlighting during the
day, turn the exterior lamp switch to the parking lamp or
headlamp position. Dimming of the instrument panel
display is not possible during daylight hours. The
instrument panel display can only be adjusted when
the parking lamps or headlamps are on and it is
dark outside.
Perimeter Lighting
When the button with the unlock symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter (if equipped) is pressed, the
DRL headlamps, parking lamps and back
-up lamps will
turn on if it is dark enough outside.
Personalization Programming
This feature can be programmed in the on or off mode
for each transmitter.
To turn the feature off do the following:
1. Keep all doors closed, the vehicle in PARK (P) and
the ignition on throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
throughout this procedure. All the doors will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter. Perimeter
lighting remains on at this time and the horn will
chirp twice.
4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again.
Perimeter lighting is disabled and the horn will
chirp once.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now off.
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If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the fan, rear
defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.
Monitor the battery voltage when in the BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE mode.
If the voltmeter remains in the shaded area
(below 11 volts) when driving then have the
charging system serviced immediately.
If the voltage increases above 12 volts then the
battery needs to be recharged. Try driving on
the highway with as few electrical accessories on
as possible.
Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Manual Rearview Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or
down and side to side. The day/night adjustment allows
you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from any
headlamps behind you. Push the tab away from you for
daytime use; pull it toward you for night use.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror. Your vehicle's mirror may
also contain OnStar
controls.
(On/Off): This is the on/off button for mirrors
equipped with OnStar controls.
When this feature is turned on, the mirror automatically
changes to reduce glare from headlamps behind you. A
photocell on the mirror senses when it is becoming dark
outside. Another photocell built into the mirror face
senses when headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced.
Mirror Operation
To turn on the automatic dimming feature, press AUTO
(or the on/off button for mirrors equipped with OnStar
controls). To turn off automatic dimming, press OFF
(or the on/off button for mirrors equipped with OnStar
controls). The indicator light will be illuminated when
this feature is active.
2-75 Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in miles
per hour (mph) or 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).
The speedometer shows a top speed of 140 mph
(220 km/h). This is not intended to be the vehicle's
top speed.
Your vehicle is equipped with a tamper resistant
odometer. If you see ERROR displayed, you'll know
that someone has probably tried to turn it back.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then it must be. But if
it can't, then it's set at zero and a label must be put on
the driver's door to show the old mileage reading when
the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far you have driven
since you last reset it.
To set it to zero, press the
trip reset button next to the
instrument panel cluster on
the right side.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. 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.
CAUTION:
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 ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
On vehicles with the DIC, a SERVICE AIR BAG
message will be displayed when there is a problem with
the air bag system. See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº
in the Index for more information.
2-79 Battery Warning Light (If Equipped)
This light will come on
briefly when you start the
vehicle, as a check to show
you it is working; then it
should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is
on could drain your battery and result in a vehicle that
may stall.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and comfort control system.
Some instrument panel clusters with a voltmeter gage do
not have a battery warning light. They have a CHECK
GAGES warning to indicate a problem.
On vehicles with a DIC, a CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM
message will be displayed and a warning chime will
sound. See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº in the Index
for more information.
Voltmeter (If Equipped)
You have a voltmeter
unless you have the
supercharged engine.
When the ignition is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between the
shaded warning zones indicate the normal operating
range. Readings in the shaded warning zones indicate a
possible problem in the electrical system.
On vehicles with the systems monitor, the CHECK
GAGES light will also come on, and a warning chime
will sound if there is a problem in the electrical system.
Have your vehicle serviced immediately.