If... Then...
The driver’s safety belt is
buckled before the
ignition switch is turned
to the ON position...The BeltMinder feature will not
activate.
The following are reasons most often given for not
wearing safety belts: (All statistics based on U.S.
data)
Reasons given... Consider...
“Crashes are rare events”36700 crashes occur every
day.The more we drive, the
more we are exposed to“rare”
events, even for good drivers.1
in 4 of us will be seriously
injured in a crash during our
lifetime.
“I’m not going far”3of4fatal crashes occur
within25miles of home.
“Belts are uncomfortable”We design our safety belts to
enhance comfort. If you are
uncomfortable - try different
positions for the safety belt
upper anchorage and seatback
which should be as upright as
possible; this can improve
comfort.
“I was in a hurry”Prime time for an accident.
BeltMinder reminds us to take a
few seconds to buckle up.
“Safety belts don’t work”Safety belts,when used
properly,reduce risk of death
to front seat occupants by45%
in cars,and by60% in light
trucks.
“Traffic is light”Nearly 1 of 2 deaths occur in
single-vehicle crashes,many
when no other vehicles are
around.
“Belts wrinkle my clothes”Possibly, but a serious crash
can do much more than wrinkle
your clothes, particularly if you
are unbelted.
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Reasons given... Consider...
“The people I’m with
don’t wear belts”Set the example, teen deaths
occur 4 times more often in
vehicles with TWO or MORE
people. Children and younger
brothers/sisters imitate behavior
they see.
“I have an air bag”Air bags offer greater protection
when used with safety belts.
Frontal airbags are not designed
to inflate in rear and side
crashes or rollovers.
“I’d rather be thrown
clear”Not a good idea.Peoplewho
areejected are 40 times
more likely to DIE.Safety
belts help prevent ejection, WE
CAN’T“PICK OUR CRASH”.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to
avoid the Belt Minder chime. Sitting on the
safety belt will increase the risk of injury in an
accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the
Belt Minder feature please follow the directions
stated below.
One time disable
Any time the safety belt is buckled and then
unbuckled during an ignition ON cycle, the
BeltMinder will be disabled for that ignition cycle
only.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder feature
Read steps1-9thoroughly before proceeding
with the deactivation/activation programming
procedure.
The BeltMinder feature can be deactivated/activated
by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, ensure that the
following conditions are met:
•The parking brake is set.
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•The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or the neutral position (manual
transmission).
•The ignition switch is in the OFF position.
•All vehicle doors are closed.
•The driver’s safety belt is unbuckled.
•The parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If
vehicle is equipped with Autolamps, this will not
affect the procedure).
To reduce the risk of injury, do not
deactivate/activate the Belt Minder feature
while driving the vehicle.
BeltMinder activation and deactivation
procedure
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON)
position. (DO NOT START THE ENGINE.)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off.
(Approximately 1–2 minutes.)
•Steps 3–5 must be completed within 60 seconds
or the procedure will have to be repeated.
3. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times,
ending with the safety belt unbuckled. This can be
done before or during BeltMinder warning activation.
4. Turn on the parklamps/headlamps, turn off the
parklamps/headlamps.
5. Buckle then unbuckle the safety belt three times,
ending with the safety belt unbuckled.
•After step 5 the safety belt warning light will be
turned on for three seconds.
6. Within seven seconds of the safety belt warning
light turning off, buckle then unbuckle the safety
belt.
•This will disable BeltMinder if it is currently
enabled, or enable BeltMinder if it is currently
disabled.
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A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or
more of the following:
•The readiness light
will either flash or
stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately
after ignition is turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone
pattern will repeat periodically until the problem
and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently,
have the SRS serviced at your dealership or by a
qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced,
the system may not function properly in the event of
a collision.
Disposal of air bags and air bag equipped
vehicles
See your local dealership or qualified technician. Air
bags MUST BE disposed of by qualified personnel.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR CHILDREN
See the following sections for directions on how to
properly use safety restraints for children. Also see
Air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS)in
this chapter for special instructions about using air
bags.
Important child restraint precautions
You are required by law to use safety restraints for
children in the U.S. and Canada. If small children
(generally children who are four years old or
younger and who weigh 18 kg [40 lbs] or less) ride
in your vehicle, you must put them in safety seats
made especially for children. Many states require
that children use approved booster seats until they
are eight years old. Check your local and state or
provincial laws for specific requirements regarding
the safety of children in your vehicle. When possible,
always place children under age 12 in the rear seat
AIR
BAG
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STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. ACCESSORY, allows
the electrical
accessories such as the
radio to operate while
the engine is not
running.
2. LOCK, locks the
steering wheel, automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal. For vehicles equipped
with a manual transmission, you must depress the
ignition release lever to release the key.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and all accessories
without locking the steering wheel. This position
also allows the automatic transmission shift lever to
be moved from the P (Park) position without the
brake pedal being depressed.
When the key is in the ignition and in the
OFF position, the automatic transmission
shift lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position without the brake pedal depressed. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement, always set the
parking brake.
4. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning
lights illuminated. Key position when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as
soon as the engine starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain
control system. This system meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field
strength of radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, don’t press the
accelerator before or during starting. Only use the
3
1
2
5
4
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accelerator when you have difficulty starting the
engine. For more information on starting the vehicle,
refer toStarting the enginein this chapter.
Extended idling at high engine speeds can
produce very high temperatures in the
engine and exhaust system, creating the risk of
fire or other damage.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine compartment
and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage
or in other enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes
can be toxic. Always open the garage door before
you start the engine. SeeGuarding against
exhaust fumesin this chapter for more
instructions.
If you smell exhaust fumes inside your
vehicle, have your dealer inspect your
vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell
exhaust fumes.
When the key is in the ignition and in the
OFF position, the automatic transmission
shift lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position without the brake pedal depressed. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement, always set the
parking brake.
Important safety precautions
When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to
warm the engine. If the engine idle speed does not
slow down automatically, have the vehicle checked.
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Important ventilating information
If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped
for a long period of time, open the windows at least
2.5 cm (one inch) or adjust the heating or air
conditioning to bring in fresh air.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal,
continuous grinding or continuous squeal sound is
present, the brake linings may be worn-out and
should be inspected by a qualified service
technician. If the vehicle has continuous vibration or
shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by a qualified service
technician.
Refer toBrake system
warning lightin the
Instrument Cluster
chapter for information
on the brake system warning light.
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS). This system helps you
maintain steering control during emergency stops by
keeping the brakes from locking. Noise from the
ABS pump motor and brake pedal pulsation may be
observed during ABS braking; any pulsation or
mechanical noise you may feel or hear is normal.
ABS warning lamp
ABS
The ABS lamp in the
instrument cluster
momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is
turned to ON. If the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the ABS may be
disabled and may need to be serviced.
P!
BRAKE
ABS
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•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper steering alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may
also make the steering seem to wander/pull.
TRACTION CONTROL(IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Traction
Controlsystem. This system helps you maintain
the stability and steerability of your vehicle,
especially on slippery road surfaces such as snow- or
ice-covered roads and gravel roads. The system will
allow your vehicle to make better use of available
traction in these conditions.
During Traction
Controloperation,
the traction control
active light will
illuminate, you may hear an electric motor type of
sound coming from the engine compartment and the
engine will not“rev-up”when you push further on
the accelerator. This is normal system behavior and
should be no reason for concern.
The Traction Control
switch, located below
the radio, illuminates
when the system is off.
The Traction Control
system will
automatically turn on every time the ignition is
turned OFF and ON.
If you should become stuck in snow or ice or on a
very slippery road surface, try switching the Traction
Controlsystem off. This may allow excess wheel
spin to“dig”the vehicle out and enable a successful
“rocking”maneuver.
The traction control on/off status is shown by an
indicator lamp on the traction control switch. If the
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