If you are in city traffic, and your vehicle is stopped and
idling, or the weather is hot, the system may switch
from the outside air mode to the recirculation mode.
To prevent the air inside of your vehicle from becoming
too stale, be sure to return to the outside air mode
periodically.
& RECIRC (Recirculation): Press this button to
limit the amount of outside air coming into the vehicle.
It can be used to prevent outside air and odors from
entering your vehicle or to help heat or cool the
air inside your vehicle more quickly. Press this button to
turn the recirculation mode on or off. When the button
is pressed, an indicator light will come on. The
recirculation mode cannot be used with the FRONT
defrost mode.
a A/C (Air Conditioning}: Press this button to
override the automatic system and turn the air
conditioning system on or off. When
A/C is pressed, an
indicator light in the button will come on to let you
know that it is activated. When in AUTO, the air
conditioning compressor will come on automatically, as
necessary. The air conditioning compressor will also
run when you select the FRONT defrost mode and
outside temperatures are above freezing.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently. For
quick cool down on hot days, press the AUTO
button and the system will automatically enter
recirculation mode and the temperature will be at the full
cold position for maximum cooling.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside
of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode
off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from
the air,
so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.
Sensors
The solar sensor on your vehicle monitors the solar
radiation and the air inside of your vehicle, then uses the
information to maintain the selected temperature by
initiating needed adjustments to the temperature, the fan
speed and the air delivery system. The system may
also supply cooler air to the side of the vehicle facing the
sun. The recirculation mode will also be activated, as
necessary.
Do not cover the solar sensor located in the
center
of the instrument panel, near the windshield,
or the system
will not work properly.
3-30
There is also an EXT (exterior) temperature sensor
located behind the front grill. This sensor reads
the outside air temperature and helps to maintain the
temperature inside the vehicle. Any cover on the front of
the vehicle could cause a false reading
in the
temperature.
Defogging and Defrosting
There are two modes to clear fog or frost from your
windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows of
fog or moisture and warm the passengers. Use the
FRONT defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly.
Press the
MODE button until DEFOG appears to seiect
this function. Press the FRONT button to select the
defrost function.
DEFOG: This mode directs the air equally between the
windshield and the floor outlets.
9 FRONT (Defrost): Pressing this button directs
most of the air to the windshield and the outboard outlets
(for the side windows), with some air directed to the
floor outlets. When you select this mode, the system
turns
off recirculation and runs the air conditioning
or below freezing. The recirculation mode cannot be
selected while in the
FRONT defrost mode.
compressor unless the outside temperature is at
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
(@ REAR: Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or
off. Be sure to clear as much snow from
the rear window as possible.
The rear window defogger will turn
off approximately 10
minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximately five
minutes before turning
off. If you maintain a speed
above
30 mph (48 km/h), the rear defogger will not turn
off automatically to help keep the rear glass clear.
The defogger can
also be turned off by pressing the
button again or by turning
off the engine.
If your vehicle has outside heated mirrors, the mirrors
will heat to help clear fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror when the rear window defogger button is
pressed.
Nofice: Don’t use a razor blade or something else
sharp on the inside
of the rear window. If you
do, ysu could cut or damage the defogger and the
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape, a
decal or anything similar to the defogger grid.
3-3 1
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you will
see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working.
If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens. Gages
can indicate when there may be or
is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving,
or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about
it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be
costly
- and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re
a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a
DIG that works along with
the warning lights and gages. See
Driver lnformation
Center
(DIC) on page 3-57.
The volume of your vehicle’s warning chimes can be
adjusted. For information see
Chime Level Adjustment
on page 3- 10 1.
3-34
Tachometer
The tachometer
shows your engine
speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Notice: Do
not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, or engine damage may occur.
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.
The safety belt light will
also come
on and stay on
for several seconds,
then flash for several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, the light wil! come
on briefly, but the chime will not sound.
3-39
Battery Warning Light
If your vehicle has this
feature, 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. Eriving 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 climate 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
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-60
for more information.
Voltmeter Gage
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.
3-41
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
ANTI-
LOCK
United States Canada
With the anti-lock brake system, the light(s) will come
on when your engine
is starled and x2y stay on
for several seconds. That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon
as possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system.
If the light still stays
on. or comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicle
needs service. If the regular brake system warning
light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes.
See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-42.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briefly when you turn the ignition key to
ON. This is
normal.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
TRAC
OFF
For vehicles equipped with
the traction control system,
this warning light should
come on briefly when
the engine is started.
If the warning light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
3-43
The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the
TRACTION CONTROL button located on the center
console, the warning light will come on and stay
on.
To turn the system back on, press the button
again. The warning light should go
off. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9 for more
information.
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related
to traction control, the traction control
system will turn
off and the warning light will come
on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn
off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Active Light
LOW
TRAC
Your LOW TRAC (Low
Traction Active) light may
come on for one of the
following reasons:
An advanced computer-controlled system called
Stabilitrak@
(if equipped) has come on to help
your vehicle continue
to go in the direction in which
you’re steering. This stability enhancement
system activates when the computer senses that
your vehicle is just starting
to spin, as it might if you
hit a patch of ice or other slippery spot on the
road. When the system is on, you may hear a noise
or feel
a vibration in the brake pedal. This is
normal.
In these situations when the
LOW TRAC light is on
and the system is engaged, you should continue
to steer in the direction you want
to go. The system
is designed to help you in bad weather or other
difficult driving situations by making the most
of whatever road conditions will permit.
3-44
The optional Traction Control System is active and
is limiting wheel spin. You may feel the system
working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions
may exist,
so adjust your driving accordingly.
If the LOW TRAC light comes on, slippery road
conditions may exist,
so you should consider slowing
down and adjusting your driving accordingly.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
To prevent engine overheating, the air conditioning
compressor will turn
off automatically just prior to the
gage pointer entering the shaded area. As the
engine cools down, the air conditioning compressor will
automatically turn back on. On vehicles equipped
with the DIC, the message ENGINE HOT
... NC
DISABLED will appear in the DiC display and a warning
chime will sound.
If the gage pointer moves into the shaded area, your
engine is too hot.
On vehicles equipped with the
systems monitor, the CHECK GAGES light will come
on
and a warning chime will sound.
On vehicles with a
DIC, a CHECK GAGES
TEMPERATURE message will be displayed and a
warning cnime wili sound.
See DIC bVamiisgs and
Messages on page 3-60 for more information.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-29, for information
on what to do
if your engine overheats.
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
3-45