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Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
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{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, 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 airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has
roof-mounted side impact airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by
routing the rope or tiedown through any door
or window opening. If you do, the path of an
in ating side impact airbag will be blocked.
The path of an in ating airbag must be kept
clear.
When Should an Airbag In ate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to in ate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to in ate
only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account
a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment
events and are used to predict how severe a crash
is likely to be in time for the airbags to in ate and help
restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags
will or should deploy is not based on how fast your
vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact and how quickly your
vehicle slows down.
If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
does not move or deform, the threshold level is
about 9 to 14 mph (14 to 23 km/h). (The threshold level
can vary, however, with speci c vehicle design, so
that it can be somewhat above or below this range.)
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What Makes an Airbag In ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The
sensing system triggers a release of gas from the
in ator, which in ates the airbag. The in ator, airbag,
and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules
inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel
in front of the right front passenger. For vehicles
with side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules
in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.
How Does an Airbag 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 airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags 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 airbag. Side impact airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including many
frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear
impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not
toward those airbags. Airbags 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 airbags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for side impact airbags.
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What Will You See After an Airbag
In ates?
After an 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 vehicles with roof-mounted side impact
airbags, the ceiling of your vehicle near the side
windows, and the vehicle metal near the rear windows
and tailgate may be warm. The parts of the airbag
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 does not prevent the driver from seeing
or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop
people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag 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
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
in ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
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.
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Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior dome lamp on and
ash the parklamps on and off 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.
Air bags are designed to in ate only once. After an
air bag in ates, you will need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not 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 a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-9.
Let only quali ed technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air
bag system will not work properly. See your dealer
for service.Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the side
impact airbag covering on the ceiling near the side
windows, the airbag may not work properly. You
may have to replace the airbag module in the
steering wheel, both the airbag module and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s
airbag, or side impact airbag module and ceiling
covering for roof-mounted side impact airbags. Do
not open or break the airbag coverings.
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Highbeam On Light.......................................3-36
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light...........................................3-36
Gate Ajar Light.............................................3-37
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-37
Fuel Gage...................................................3-38
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-38Audio System(s).............................................3-39
Setting the Time...........................................3-40
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-40
Radio with CD (MP3)....................................3-50
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-65
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-78
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-78
Radio Reception...........................................3-79
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-79
Care of the CD Player...................................3-79
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-79
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-80
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-80
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Power Mirror Control. SeeOutside Power Mirrors on
page 2-31
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-24.
D. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. SeeWindshield
Wipers on page 3-8.
E. Traction Control System Button. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-8.
F. Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-21.
G. Hazard Warning Flashers. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 3-5.
H. Fog Lamps Button. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-15.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-39.
J. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-34.
K. Cruise Control System Buttons and Audio Steering
Wheel Controls (If Equipped). SeeCruise Control on
page 3-10andAudio Steering Wheel Controls on
page 3-78.
L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-10.
M. Tilt Wheel. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
N. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.O. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-16.
P. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-19.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-23.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located in
the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
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Other Warning Devices
If you carry re ective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
Your vehicle has a tilt wheel that allows you to adjust
the steering wheel.
The lever to tilt the steering wheel is located on the left
side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and push the
lever down. Then, move the steering wheel to a
comfortable position and pull the lever up rmly to lock
the column in place.
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