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Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
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If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact air bag is
in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in ating air bag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Do not let seat covers block the
in ation path of a side impact air bag.
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What Makes an Air Bag In ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both the frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the in ator, which
in ates the air bag. The in ator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air
bag modules are located inside the steering wheel
and instrument panel. For vehicles with a driver’s side
impact air bag, the air bag modules are located in
the seatback closest to the driver’s door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.The air bag supplements the protection provided by
safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air bags
would not help you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
the air bag. A side impact air bag would not help you in
many types of collisions, including frontal or near
frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not toward that air bag.
Air bags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts, and then only
in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions
for the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions
for vehicles with a driver’s side impact air bag.
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What Will You See After an Air Bag
In ates?
After the air bag in ates, it quickly de ates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag in ated.
Some components of the air bag module will be hot for a
short time. These components include the steering wheel
hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the instrument
panel for the right front passenger’s frontal air bag. For
vehicle’s with a driver’s side impact air bag, the side of
the seatback closest to the driver’s door will be hot. The
parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be
warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke
and dust coming from the vents in the de ated air bags.
Air bag in ation doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag in ates, 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 not get out of the vehicle after an air bag
in ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags in ate (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.
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In many crashes severe enough to in ate 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 in ate only once. After an
air bag in ates, 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 in ation and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.
Let only quali ed 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.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver’s seatback, the bag may
not work properly. You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel, both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s air bag, or the air bag
module and seatback for the driver’s side impact air
bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift lever on the
steering column or on the console between the seats.There is also a display, like the graphic above, located
on the instrument panel cluster that will indicate the
gear the vehicle is in.
Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic transaxle
vehicles while you’re in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to
protect driveline components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels. It’s
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily. Console Shift Lever
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Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-52
Trip Computer................................................3-55
Audio System(s).............................................3-56
Setting the Time...........................................3-56
Radio with Cassette......................................3-57
Radio with CD..............................................3-68
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-78
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-92
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-93Radio Reception...........................................3-94
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-94
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-96
Care of Your CD Player................................3-96
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-96
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-97
Vehicle Customization Settings.......................3-97
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-97
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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The main components of your instrument panel are
listed here:
A. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
B. Traction Control On/Off Button (If Equipped). See
Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine) on
page 4-8.
C. Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
D. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (Option). SeeAudio
Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-93.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
F. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-56.
G. Air Vent. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-24.
H. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 3-14.I. Remote Trunk Release Button. See “Remote Trunk
Rlease” underTrunk on page 2-11.
J. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on
page 3-7.
K. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
L. Steering Wheel Cruise Control (If Equipped).
SeeCruise Control on page 3-11.
M. Ignition Switch. See “Ignition Positions” underNew
Vehicle Break-In on page 2-17.
N. Center Console Shift Lever (If Equipped). See
“Console Shift Lever” underShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-27.
O. Climate Controls. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-20.
P. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-42.
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