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²It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the
airbags have deployed. If you are involved in another
collision, the airbags and seat belt pretensioners will
not be in place to protect you.
WARNING!
Deployed airbags and seat belt pretensioners cannot
protect you in another collision. Have the airbags
and seat belt pretensioners replaced by an autho-
rized dealer as soon as possible.
Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
²Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured because the airbags are not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or
the upper right side of the instrument panel. Do
not modify the front bumper, vehicle body struc-
ture, or frame.
²You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee bolsters.
²It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has airbags.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
2
Page 61 of 341
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness, and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid or brake
fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be located and
corrected immediately.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61
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NFolding Front Passenger Seat Ð If Equipped . . .84
NAdjustable Head Restraints...............85
NHeated Seats Ð If Equipped..............85
NFolding Rear Seat......................86
NTumbling Rear Seat.....................88
NRear Seat Removal.....................90
mTo Open And Close The Hood..............92
mLights................................93
NOverhead Console Map/Reading Lights Ð If
Equipped............................93
NInterior Lights........................94
NMulti-Function Control Lever..............95
NHeadlights, Parking Lights, Instrument Panel
Lights..............................96NDaytime Running Lights (Canada Only)......96
NLights-On Reminder....................96
NFog Lights Ð If Equipped................97
NTurn Signals..........................97
NHighbeam/Lowbeam Select Switch..........97
NPassing Light.........................97
mWindshield Wipers And Washers............98
NWindshield Washers....................98
NMist Feature..........................98
NWindshield Wiper Operation..............99
NIntermittent Wiper System................99
mTilt Steering Column....................100
mTraction Control Switch Ð If Equipped.......100
64 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
Page 68 of 341
Outside MirrorÐPassenger's Side
Adjust the convex outside mirror so you can just see the
side of your vehicle in the part of the mirror closest to the
vehicle.
WARNING!
Vehicles and other objects seen in the passenger side
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away
than they really are. Relying too much on your
passenger side mirror could cause you to collide
with another vehicle or other object. Use your inside
mirror when judging the size or distance of a vehicle
seen in this convex mirror.
Electric Remote-Control Mirrors Ð If Equipped
Use the mirror select switch, located to the left of the
steering column on the instrument panel, to adjust the
view obtained in the outside mirrors. Press the L or R
button for Left or Right mirror selection. Use the center
off position to guard against accidentally moving a
mirror position.
68 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
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TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
the hood release lever located under the left side of the
instrument panel.
Then move the safety catch located under the front edge
of the hood, near the center and slightly to the right, and
raise the hood.Use the hood prop rod clipped to the driver's side of the
engine compartment to secure the hood in the open
position. Place the hood prop at the location stamped into
the inner hood surface.
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Lower the hood until it is open approximately 20
cm (8 inches) and then drop it. This should secure both
latches. Never drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully
closed, with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.
92 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
Page 94 of 341
Interior Lights
The interior lights come on when a door is opened.
With the ignition key in the OFF position, the interior
lights will automatically turn off in about 8 minutes if a
door is left open or the dimmer control is left in the Dome
light position. Turn the ignition switch ON to restore the
interior light operation.
Dimmer Control
With the parking lights or headlights
on, rotating the dimmer control for the
interior lights on the Multi-Function
Control Lever upward will increase
the brightness of the instrument panel
lights.
Dome Light Position
Rotate the dimmer control completely
upward to the second detent to turn
on the interior lights. The interior
lights will remain on when the dim-
mer control is in this position. With the
ignition key in the OFF position, the
interior lights will automatically turn
off in about 8 minutes if the dimmer
control is left in the Dome light posi-
tion.
94 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
Page 95 of 341
Interior light Defeat (OFF)
Rotate the dimmer control to the ex-
treme bottom ªOFFº position. The in-
terior lights will remain off when the
doors are open.
Parade Mode (Daytime Brightness Feature)
Rotate the dimmer control to the first
detent (white semi-circle). This feature
brightens the odometer and radio dis-
play when the parking lights or head-
lights are on during daylight condi-
tions.
Multi-Function Control Lever
The Multi-Function Control Lever controls the operation
of the headlights, parking lights, turn signals, headlight
beam selection, instrument panel light dimming, interior
lights, the passing lights, and fog lights. The lever is
located on the left side of the steering column.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 95
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Headlights, Parking Lights, Instrument Panel
Lights
Turn the end of the Multi-Function Control Lever to the
first detent for parking light operation. Turn to the
second detent for headlight operation.To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
rotate the center portion of the Multi-Function Control
Lever up or down.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)
The front turn signal lights will come on as Daytime
Running Lights whenever the ignition switch is on, the
headlights are off, and the parking brake is off. The
headlight switch must be used for normal night time
driving.
Lights-on Reminder
If the headlights or parking lights are on after the ignition
is turned OFF, a chime will sound to alert the driver
when the driver's door is opened.
96 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE