Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
When the low-beam headlamps are on, push the turn
signal lever away from you to change the headlamps to
high beam.
This light on the instrument
panel cluster will be on,
indicating high-beam
usage.
Pull the turn signal lever toward you to return to
low-beam headlamps.
Flash-To-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
Pull the turn signal lever toward you briefly to
flash-to-pass. When you do, the following will occur:
•If the headlamps are either off or in the Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) mode, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as long as
you hold the lever there. Release the lever to
turn them off.
•If the headlamps are on low beam, they will remain
active and the high beam will also illuminate until
you release the lever.
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Do not cover the solar sensor located in the center of
the instrument panel, near the windshield. For more
information on the solar sensor, see “Sensors” later in
this section.
When your vehicle is first started, the display will show
the driver’s temperature setting, the fan speed and
the air delivery mode.
When the ENG/MET (English/metric) button on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) is pressed, the display
will show readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Use the
ENG/MET button to toggle between them.
Manual Operation
SMODET:Pressing the MODE switch and changing
the mode cancels automatic operation and places the
system in manual mode. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
To change the current mode, select one of the following:
G(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
+(Bi-Level):This mode directs approximately half of
the air to the instrument panel outlets, and then
directs most of the remaining air to the floor outlets.
Some air may be directed toward the windshield.
In automatic operation, cooler air is directed to the upper
outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets.
8(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets with some air directed to the outboard
outlets (for the side windows) a little air directed to the
windshield.
The MODE switch can also be used to select the
floor/defog mode. Information on defogging and
defrosting can be found later in this section.
y9z(Fan):Press this switch to increase or
decrease the fan speed. Pressing this switch cancels
automatic operation and places the system in manual
mode. Press AUTO to return to automatic operation.
If the airflow seems low when the fan speed is at
the highest setting, the passenger compartment air filter
may need to be replaced. For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-35
andScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
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Brake System Warning and Parking
Brake Indicator Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does
not come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a
problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does not fully
release. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-29.
3-43
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light does not come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
•Light Flashing— A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
•Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
•Reducing vehicle speed.
•Avoiding hard accelerations.
•Avoiding steep uphill grades.
•If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle.Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
flashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
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Your radio can store home and away presets. Home
and away presets allow you to use one set of preset
radio settings in the area where you live, and another set
when you go out of town. You will not need to
reprogram your presets every time you travel. With the
radio off and the time displayed, use fast forward
and reverse to select home or away presets. To select
the away presets, press and hold FF for five seconds
until you hear a beep. The next time the radio comes on,
the away presets will be active. To select the home
presets, press and hold RW for five seconds until you
hear a beep. The next time the radio comes on,
the home presets will be active.
When battery power is removed and later applied, you
will not have to reset your home radio presets
because the radio remembers them. However, you will
have to reset your away radio presets.Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. Your vehicle has a “built in” theft-deterrent feature
on each radio that is automatic – there is no
programming required. The radio in your vehicle cannot
be used in any other vehicle. When the radio was
originally installed in your vehicle at the factory, it stored
the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Each time
the ignition is turned on, the VIN is verified. If the
vehicle’s VIN does not match the VIN stored in the
radio, THEFTLOCK
®will be activated and the audio
system will not play. If the radio is removed from your
vehicle, the original VIN in the radio can be used to trace
the radio back to your vehicle.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-8
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-12
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-14
Driving at Night............................................4-15
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-16
City Driving..................................................4-19Freeway Driving...........................................4-20
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-21
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-22
Winter Driving..............................................4-24
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow........4-28
Towing..........................................................4-29
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-29
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-30
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-37
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. You should turn
your traction control system off. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-8. Then shift back and
forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By
slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse
directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may
free your vehicle. If that does not get you out after a few
tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need
to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-29.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Service on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see Recreational Vehicle Towing following.
4-29
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”).
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
•What is the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
•How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
•Do you have the proper towing equipment? See
your dealer or trailering professional for additional
advice and equipment recommendations.
•Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you
will want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to
be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip
on page 4-21.
Dinghy Towing
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground, the drivetrain components could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Do not tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all four
wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be towed,
you should use a dolly. SeeDolly Towinglater in
this section for more information.
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