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CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags inflate (if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by using
the door lock and interior lamp controls. The hazard
warning flashers will also come on when the air bags
deploy. If you want to turn them off, press the hazard
warning flasher button twice.In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you'll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag
system won't be there to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which
records information about the frontal air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the system commands air bag
inflation and driver's safety belt usage at deployment
or in a near
-deployment crash. The module also
records speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air
bag systems. Improper service can mean that an
air bag system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you're:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to a lower gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or
if it doesn't seem to shift gears as you accelerate,
something may be wrong with a transmission
system sensor. If you drive very far that way,
your vehicle can be damaged. So if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then,
you can use FOURTH (4) when you are driving
less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds.
FOURTH (4): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are examples for using FOURTH (4) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill.
THIRD (3): This position gives you more power. You
can use THIRD (3) on hills. It can help control your
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If the shift lever is put into THIRD (3), the transmission
won't shift into THIRD (3) until the vehicle is moving
slowly enough.
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Light Sensor
The light sensor for the DRL and AUTO headlamp
feature is located on top of the instrument panel. If you
cover the sensor, it will read dark, and the exterior lamps
or the Headlamps Suggested message will appear on the
DIC whenever the ignition is on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the parking lamps or headlamps have been left on, the
exterior lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned to OFF. This protects against
draining the battery in case you have accidentally left
the headlamps or parking lamps on. The battery saver
does not work if the headlamps are turned on after the
ignition is turned to OFF.
If you need to leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, use the exterior lamp control to turn
the lamps back on.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Lever
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The lever for this feature
is located on the
overhead console.
Slide the lever toward the symbol to brighten the lights
or away from it to dim them.
If you slide the lever all the way toward the symbol past
the resistance point, the interior lamps will come on. To
turn them off, slide the lever back toward the minimum
brightness setting.
Illuminated Entry
The illuminated entry system turns on the reading and
dome lamps and the backlighting to the exterior lamp
control when a door is opened or if you press the remote
keyless entry transmitter unlock button. If activated by
the transmitter, the lighting will remain active for about
25 seconds. The illuminated entry system uses the light
sensor, it must be dark outside in order for the lamps to
turn on. The lamps turn off approximately 25 seconds
after the last door is closed. They will dim to off if the
ignition key is placed in ON, or immediately deactivate
if the power locks are activated.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the instrument panel
displays and backlighting during daylight hours when
the key is in the ignition and the headlamps are on.
This feature operates with the light sensor and is fully
automatic. When the light sensor reads darkness outside
and the parking lamps are active, the instrument panel
displays can be adjusted by sliding the instrument panel
brightness lever toward the symbol to brighten or away
from the symbol to dim the lighting.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several 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 several seconds, then it
will flash for several more.
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 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.
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Right Rear Door Ajar
This symbol appears
with the Right Rear Door
Ajar message.
When this message appears on the display, the right rear
door it means that the passenger's side rear door was not
closed completely. You should check to make sure that
the door is closed completely.Service AC (Air Conditioning) SystemThis symbol appears
with the Service AC
System message.
This message appears when the electronic sensors that
control the air conditioning and heating systems are no
longer working. Have the climate control system
serviced if you notice a drop in heating and air
conditioning efficiency.
3-4
(Passenger's Temperature Switch): This switch is
used to increase or decrease the temperature of the air
for the passengers independent of the driver's setting.
To turn the system on, press the PWR button located
on the passenger's side of the climate control panel.
To adjust the temperature, press the up or down arrow
on the PWR button. The temperature will increase or
decrease with each press of an arrow.
If the passenger's temperature switch is off, the driver's
temperature switch controls the temperature for the
entire vehicle.
The passenger's side temperature is only displayed
when the passenger's side temperature switch is on.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic Climate Control): This button is
used to select the automatic operation of the climate
control system. When the automatic operation is active,
AUTO will appear next to the fan and mode settings on
the display.There are three sensors in the climate control system.
One monitors the sun's solar radiation, another monitors
temperature of the air inside the vehicle, and a third
monitors the temperature outside the vehicle. The
climate control system will vary the fan speed, air
delivery mode and use of the air conditioning
compressor to maintain the set temperature based on the
information received from these sensors. See ªDriver's
Temperature Switchº and ªPassenger's Temperature
Switchº listed previously for more information on
setting a temperature.
To find your comfort zone, start with the 75F (24C)
setting and allow approximately 10 to 30 minutes for the
system to regulate. Adjust the temperature if necessary.
If you choose either the lowest temperature setting,
60F (16C), or the highest temperature setting,
90F (32C), the system will not cool or heat any
faster, but the system will stay at that setting without
regulating fan speed.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will start at lower fan speeds until warm air is available.
The length of reduction depends on the outside air
temperature, engine coolant temperature or the time
since the engine was last started. As the engine coolant
warms up, the fan speed will gradually increase.
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Interior Temperature Sensor
This sensor
monitors the interior
temperature of the
vehicle. It is located to
the right of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
While the climate control system is in AUTO, the
system uses both the interior temperature sensor and the
electronic solar sensor to automatically adjust the
temperature and airflow in the vehicle. See ªElectronic
Solar Sensorº following for more information. Be sure
not to cover the sensor with anything. If you do, the
automatic climate control system will not work properly.Electronic Solar Sensor
This sensor monitors the sun's solar radiation. It is located
on top of the instrument panel near the windshield.
While the climate control system is in AUTO, the system
uses the information collected by the electronic solar
sensor to automatically adjust the temperature and airflow
to maintain your comfort. The climate control system may
supply cooler air to one side of your vehicle, if that side is
facing the sun. Be sure not to cover the sensor on top of
the instrument panel. If you do, the automatic climate
control system will not work properly.