
Ignition Positions
Use the key to turn the ignition switch to four different
positions.
A (LOCK):This position locks the ignition and
transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. You will
only be able to remove the key when the ignition
is turned to LOCK.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can’t turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of these works,
then your vehicle needs service.B (ACCESSORY):This position lets you use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers when the
engine is off.
Notice:Don’t operate accessories in the
ACCESSORY position for long periods of time.
Prolonged operation of accessories in the
ACCESSORY position could drain your battery
and prevent you from starting your vehicle.
C (RUN):This is the position for driving.
D (START):This position starts the engine.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features
of your vehicle to continue to work up to 10 minutes after
the ignition key is turned to LOCK.
Your radio and power windows will work when the
ignition key is in RUN or ACCESSORY. Once the key is
turned from RUN to LOCK, these features will continue
to work for up to 10 minutes or until a door is opened.
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2003 - Savana OM

Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position–that’sa
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer
than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery
to be drained much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to thefloor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°For−18°C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
2. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could beflooded 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. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the pedal down
forfive or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
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.
Fuel Regulator
You have a fuel regulator that shuts the fuel off when
the engine reaches 5,600 rpm.
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2003 - Savana OM

•Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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 brakefirmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catchfire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and
your parking brake isfirmly set before you leave it.
After you’ve moved the shift lever to PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from PARK (P) withoutfirst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
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2003 - Savana OM

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You mayfind it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called“torque
lock.”To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. Tofind out how, seeShifting Into
Park (P) on page 2-27.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)beforeyou 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 transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-24.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up
into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then, move the shift lever into the gear 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 OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the systemfixed as soon as you can.
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2003 - Savana OM

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.The hazard warning
flasher button is located
at the top of the steering
column.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
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2003 - Savana OM

5(Headlamps):Turning the control to this position
will turn on the headlamps together with the parking
lamps and turn off the daytime running lamps.
You can switch your headlamps from high to
low-beam by pulling the turn signal/high-beam lever
toward you.
A circuit breaker protects your headlamps. If you have
an electrical overload, your headlamps willflicker on
and off. Have your headlamp wiring checked right away
if this happens.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when your control is turned
to the headlamps or parking lamps position, your key
is out of the ignition, and your driver’s door is open.
To disable the chime, turn the control to the Daytime
Running Lamp (DRL) position and then back to the
parking lamps or headlamps position.
Daytime Running Lamps
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.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
•the ignition is on,
•the exterior lamps control in DRL mode and not in
the defeat position.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’tbe
on. The instrument panel will be lit.
When you turn the headlamp switch off, the headlamps
will go off, and your DRL lamps will illuminate.
Turn the exterior lamp control to the defeat position or
shift into PARK (P). The DRLs will stay off until the
control is toggled again or the vehicle is shifted out
of PARK (P).
This procedure applies only to vehiclesfirst sold in
the United States.
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2003 - Savana OM

To turn the lamps off press the button. The dome lamps
will remain off when a door is open. To return the lamps
to automatic operation, press the button again. The dome
lamps will come on when you open a door. This will
override the illuminated entry feature unless you use
your keyless entry transmitter to unlock the vehicle.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on for a
period of forty seconds when you remove the key
from the ignition. The lights will not come on if the
dome override button is pressed in.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry
feature.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps will come on
if the dome override button is in the out position. If
the dome override button is pressed in, the lamps will
not come on. When the door is closed, the interior lamps
will remain on for a period offifteen seconds or until
the vehicle is started.
Reading Lamps
To turn on the reading lamps, press the button located
next to each lamp. To turn them off, press the button
again.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door.
You can use the dome override button, located below the
exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps to come on
automatically when the doors are opened, or remain off.
To turn the lamps off, press the button into the in position.
With the button in this position, the dome lamps will
remain off when the doors are open. To return the lamps
to automatic operation, press the button again and return
it to the out position. With the button in this position, the
dome lamps will come on when you open a door.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the exterior and interior lamps if
they are left on after the ignition is turned off. All exterior
lamps will shut off after ten minutes. Interior cargo
lamps will shut down after twenty minutes and all other
interior lamps after ten minutes.
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2003 - Savana OM

Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell
you how far your vehicle
has been driven since
you last set the trip
odometer to zero.
To reset the trip odometer, fully press the reset button
located near the trip odometer readout.
The trip odometer can show either total miles or trip
miles using this button located on the instrument cluster.
Electronic Road-Speed Governor
Your vehicle may have this feature. This system
automatically controls top vehicle speed. The system
controller receives a signal from the vehicle speed sensor
and reduces power when the vehicle speed reaches the
maximum 65 mph (105 km/h) governed speed.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone 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 willflash for
several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the tone
nor the light will come on.
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2003 - Savana OM