
You will first loosen the adjusters on the lower straps and
on the tether strap so that you can more easily attach the
hooks or connectors over the top of the anchorage bars,
pushing aside the seat cover material. Then lift the tether
anchorage cover directly behind the seat where you are
placing the child restraint and attach the tether strap to
the anchorage, being careful to route the tether strap to
provide the most direct path between the anchor and the
child restraint. If your vehicle is equipped with adjust-
able rear head restraints, raise the head restraint and,
where possible, route the tether strap under the head
restraint and between the two posts. If not possible,
lower the head restraint and route the tether strap around
the outboard side of the head restraint. Finally, tighten all
three straps as you push the child restraint rearward and
downward into the seat, removing slack in the straps
according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belts
The passenger seat belts are equipped with cinching latch
plates which are designed to keep the lap portion of the
lap/shoulder belt tight around the child restraint so that
it is not necessary to use a locking clip. Pull up on the
shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt to tighten the
belt. The cinching latch plate will keep the belt tight,
however, any seat belt system will loosen with time, so
check the belt occasionally and pull it tight if necessary.
In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path opening
on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate from the
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt several times
to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out.
If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, you may need
to do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the buckle around, and insert the latch
plate into the buckle again. If you still can’t make the
child restraint secure, try a different seating position.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
1. Lift the cover over the anchor directly behind the seat
where you are placing the child restraint.2. Route the tether strap to provide the most direct path
for the strap between the anchor and the child seat. If
your vehicle is equipped with adjustable rear head
restraints, raise the head restraint and route the tether
strap under the head restraint and between the two posts.
If not possible, lower the head restraint and pass the
tether strap around the outboard side of the head re-
straint.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
2

3. Attach the tether strap hook (A) of the child restraint to
the anchor (B) and remove slack in the tether strap
according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision.
Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine in your new vehicle does not require a long
break-in period.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55
mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration, within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide open throttle acceleration in low gear can be
detrimental and should be avoided.
The crankcase oil installed in the engine at the factory is
a high quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with expected climate con-
ditions under which vehicle operations will occur. The
recommended viscosity and quality grades are in Section
7 of this manual.
Do not use non-detergent or straight mineral oils.
A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles of operation. This is a normal part of the
break-in and not an indication of a problem.
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Saving Feature....................65,66,68
Belts, Drive........................... 200
Belts, Engine.......................... 202
Body Mechanism Lubrication.............. 207
Brake, Parking......................... 156
Brake System.......................157,214
Anti-Lock........................... 157
Fluid Check......................... 216
Hoses.............................. 215
Master Cylinder...................... 216
Warning Light....................... 112
Brake/Transmission Interlock...........153,154
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle...... 48
Brightness, Interior Lights................. 65
Bulb Replacement...................... 227
Bulbs, Light........................226,227
Calibration, Compass..................... 98
Capacities, Fluid....................... 233
Capacity, Cargo Weight.................. 171
Car Washes........................220,221
Cargo Compartment
Capacity............................ 171Luggage Carrier...................... 172
Carpeting............................. 221
Cassette Tape and Player Maintenance....... 135
Cassette Tape Player............... 114,121,135
Catalytic Converter..................... 200
CD Changer.....................124,129,130
CD Player.................... 119,126,128,134
Central Door Locks...................... 15
Chains, Tire........................... 163
Changing A Flat Tire.................... 177
Charging System Light................... 112
Check Engine Light..................... 111
Checks, Safety.......................... 49
Child Restraint...................41,43,45,46
Child Restraint Tether Anchors...........44,45
Child Safety Locks....................... 15
Circuit Breakers........................ 224
Clean Air Gasoline...................... 168
Cleaning
Carpets............................. 221
Cloth.............................. 221
Glass.............................. 223
Headlights.......................... 222
INDEX 263
10

Homelink Transmitter..................76,81
Hood Release.......................... 64
Hook, Coat............................ 55
Hoses............................214,217
Ignition
Key ................................ 12
Lock............................... 13
Illuminated Entry....................... 14
Infant Restraint......................... 42
Instrument Cluster................107,108,109
Instrument Panel and Controls..........105,106
Instrument Panel Cover.................. 223
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............ 223
Interior Fuses.......................... 225
Interior Lights.......................65,226
Intermittent Wipers...................... 70
Introduction............................ 4
Jack Operation......................... 178
Jump Starting......................... 182
Key, Sentry............................. 9Key-In Reminder........................ 12
Keyless Entry System..................... 18
Keys.................................. 9
Knee Bolster........................... 33
Lap/Shoulder Belts...................... 28
LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren)..... 45
Leaks, Fluid............................ 50
Light Bulbs........................226,227
Lights
Airbag.........................37,49,111
Anti-Lock........................... 112
Automatic Off......................65,66
Back-Up............................ 231
Battery Saver.......................65,66
Brake Warning.................... 112,156
Center Mounted Stop.................. 231
Check Engine........................ 111
Courtesy/Reading..................... 66
Cruise...........................73,110
Daytime Running...................... 68
Dimmer Switch, Headlight............... 69
INDEX 267
10

Seats............................... 59
Steering............................ 158
Steering, Checking.................... 205
Sunroof............................. 87
TrunkLid ............................ 25
Windows............................ 25
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts............. 32
Programmable Electronic Features.....77,80,82,86
Programming Transmitters........20,77,80,82,86
Radial Ply Tires........................ 162
Radiator Cap.......................... 212
Radio.......................... 114,121,126
Radio Operation.....................134,136
Radio Remote Controls.................. 133
Rear Window Defroster.................. 139
Reclining Front Seats..................... 59
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine
Parts............................... 233
Reformulated Gasoline................... 168
Refrigerant............................ 205
Reminder, Lights On..................... 67Remote Keyless Entry.................... 18
Remote Trunk Release.................... 25
Replacement Bulbs...................... 226
Replacement Tires...................... 165
Reporting Safety Defects................. 255
Restraint, Head......................... 63
Restraints, Occupant..................... 27
Rotation, Tires......................... 166
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle............... 49
Safety Checks Outside Vehicle.............. 50
Safety, Exhaust Gas...................... 49
Safety Tips............................. 49
Schedule, Maintenance................... 236
Scheduled Maintenance.................. 194
Seat Belt Maintenance................... 223
Seat Belts............................27,28
Adjustable Upper Shoulder Anchorage...... 32
Child Restraint........................ 46
Extender............................ 32
Inspection........................... 49
Reminder........................... 110
270 INDEX