THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
A Word About Your Keys................. 9
▫Sentry Key Engine Immobilizer— If Equipped . . 9
▫Ignition Key Removal...................12
▫Key-In-Ignition Reminder................12
▫Floor Shift Ignition Interlock System — If
Equipped............................13
Glove Compartment Lock.................14
Illuminated Entry System — If Equipped.....14
Door Locks...........................14
▫Power Door Locks.....................14
▫Central Locking Feature — If Equipped......15
▫“Child-Protection” Lock System (Rear Doors) . .16▫Automatic (Rolling) Door Locks............16
▫Automatic Unlock On Exit (Only Available If
Automatic Door Locks Enabled)............17
Remote Keyless Entry....................18
▫To Unlock The Doors...................18
▫Enable/Disable Lamp Flash...............19
▫To Lock The Doors.....................19
▫Enable/Disable Horn Chirp...............19
▫To Unlock The Trunk....................19
▫Enable/Disable Trunk Press And Hold.......19
▫Panic Alarm..........................19
▫To Use The Panic Alarm.................20
2
“Child-Protection” Lock System (Rear Doors)
To provide a safer environment for small children riding
in the rear seat, the rear doors of your vehicle have the
“child-protection” door lock system.
To use the system, open each rear door and use a key to
move the control near the door latch UP to the “Engage”
position as shown on the door label. When the system on
a door is engaged, that door can be opened only by using
the outside door handle. This will occur even though the
inside door lock is in the unlocked position.
NOTE:For emergency exit with the system engaged,
move the lock plunger up (unlocked position), lower the
window and open the door with the outside door handle.
WARNING!
Avoid trapping anyone in the vehicle in a collision.
Remember that the rear doors can only be opened
from the outside when the child protection locks are
engaged.
Automatic (Rolling) Door Locks
On vehicles equipped with an EVIC (Electronic Vehicle
Information Center), these functions can be selected at
the EVIC using the Customer Programmable Features.
Refer to the EVIC-Customer Programmable Features for
details.
The doors will lock automatically, as delivered from the
factory, if:
1. The transaxle is in gear,
2. all doors are closed,
16 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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
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
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2
WARNING!
The cargo area in the rear of the vehicle (with the
rear seatbacks in the locked-up or folded down
position) should not be used as a play area by
children when the vehicle is in motion. They could
be seriously injured in an accident. Children should
be seated and using the proper restraint system.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
up on the hood release lever located under the instru-
ment panel.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 59
3
STARTING PROCEDURES
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
The gear selector must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
Normal Starting
Normal Starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the key to the “START” position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine has not started
within 3 seconds, slightly depress the accelerator pedal
while continuing to crank. If the engine fails to start
within 15 seconds, turn the key to the “OFF” position,
wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the normal starting
procedure.
Extremely Cold Weather (below -20°F or -29°C)
For reliable starting at these temperatures, use externally
powered battery and electric engine block heaters that
are available from your dealer.
STARTING AND OPERATING 127
5
When parking on a hill, you must set the parking brake
beforeplacing the gear selector in Park. If you don’t, the
load on the transmission locking mechanism may make it
difficult to move the selector out of Park. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
The parking brake should always be applied when the
driver is not in the vehicle.WARNING!
•Leaving children in a vehicle unattended is dan-
gerous for several reasons. A child or others could
be injured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake or the gear selector. Don’t
leave the keys in the ignition. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
•Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to brake
failure and an accident.
STARTING AND OPERATING 133
5
Location.........................159,181
Saving Feature....................60,61,63
Belts, Engine.......................... 180
Body Mechanism Lubrication.............. 184
Brake, Parking......................... 132
Brake System.......................134,192
Anti-Lock........................... 134
Fluid Check......................... 193
Hoses.............................. 192
Master Cylinder...................... 193
Warning Light.....................92,132
Brake/Transmission Interlock...........129,130
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle...... 47
Bulb Replacement...................... 204
Bulbs, Light........................... 204
Capacities, Fluid....................... 208
Capacity, Cargo Weight.................. 148
Car Washes........................198,199
Cargo Compartment
Capacity............................ 148
Luggage Carrier...................... 148
Carpeting............................. 199Cassette Tape and Player Maintenance....... 112
Cassette Tape Player................93,100,112
Catalytic Converter..................... 178
CD Changer.....................103,108,109
CD Player.......................98,105,107
Central Door Locks...................... 15
Chains, Tire........................... 140
Changing A Flat Tire.................... 153
Charging System Light................... 91
Checks, Safety.......................... 47
Child Restraint...................40,42,44,45
Child Restraint Tether Anchors...........43,44
Child Safety Locks....................... 16
Circuit Breakers........................ 202
Clean Air Gasoline...................... 144
Cleaning
Carpets............................. 199
Cloth.............................. 199
Glass.............................. 200
Headlights.......................... 200
Instrument Panel..................... 200
Seat Belts........................... 201
Vinyl.............................. 199
INDEX 239
10
Instrument Cluster.....................87,88
Instrument Panel and Controls.............. 86
Instrument Panel Cover.................. 200
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............ 201
Interior Fuses.......................... 202
Interior Lights.......................... 60
Introduction............................ 4
Jack Operation......................... 154
Jump Starting......................... 158
Key, Replacement....................... 10
Key, Sentry............................. 9
Key-In Reminder........................ 12
Keyless Entry System..................... 18
Keys.................................. 9
Knee Bolster........................... 33
Lap/Shoulder Belts...................... 27
LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren)..... 44
Latches
Hood.............................. 185Lead Free Gasoline...................... 143
Leaks, Fluid............................ 48
Light Bulbs........................... 204
Lights
Airbag..........................37,48,90
Anti-Lock............................ 91
Automatic Off......................60,61
Back-Up............................ 207
Battery Saver.....................60,61,63
Brake Warning.....................92,132
Center Mounted Stop.................. 206
Check Engine......................... 90
Courtesy/Reading..................... 61
Cruise.............................. 89
Daytime Running...................... 63
Dimmer Switch, Headlight............... 64
Dome............................... 70
Door Ajar............................ 89
Exterior............................. 62
Exterior Check........................ 48
Fog .............................63,206
Hazard Warning Flasher................ 152
Headlight Switch...................... 62
INDEX 243
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