Page 75 of 580
{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 the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger airbag.Airbags are designed to in ate only once. After they
in ate, you will need some new parts for your
airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag
system will not be there to help protect you in
another crash. A new system will include airbag
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 airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag 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, the airbag
may not work properly. You may have to replace the
airbag module in the steering wheel or both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag. Do not open or break
the airbag coverings.
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Airbag Off Switch
If your instrument panel has one of the switches
pictured in the following illustrations your vehicle has an
airbag off switch that you can use to turn off the right
front passenger’s airbag.
This switch should only be turned to the off position if
the person in the right front passenger’s position is
a member of a passenger risk group identi ed by the
national government as follows:
Infant.An infant (less than 1 year old) must
ride in the front seat because:
my vehicle has no rear seat;
my vehicle has a rear seat too small to
accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or
the infant has a medical condition which, according
to the infant’s physician, makes it necessary for the
infant to ride in the front seat so that the driver
can constantly monitor the child’s condition.
Child age 1 to 12.A child age 1 to 12 must
ride in the front seat because:
my vehicle has no rear seat;
although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the rear
seat(s) whenever possible, children ages 1 to 12
sometimes must ride in the front because no space
is available in the rear seat(s) of my vehicle; or
the child has a medical condition which, according
to the child’s physician, makes it necessary for the
child to ride in the front seat so that the driver
can constantly monitor the child’s condition. United StatesCanada
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Page 83 of 580
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-34for more on this, including
important safety information.Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.
You may want to consider not using seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger
sensing system. SeeAdding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-78for more
information about modi cations that can affect how the
system operates.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat
or between the passenger’s seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
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Page 105 of 580
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may be equipped with a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
The security light, located
on the instrument panel
cluster, will ash as
you open the door, while
the ignition is off, to
indicate the system is
being activated.This message reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent
system. Here is how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The security
light should come on and ash. If using the
remote keyless entry transmitter, the door does not
need to be open.
If the delayed locking feature is active, the alarm
will not be activated until all doors are closed
and the security light goes off.
3. Close all doors. The security light will stop ashing
and go off after approximately 30 seconds.
The content theft deterrent alarm is not armed until
the security light goes off.
If a door is opened without using the remote keyless
entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle’s
headlamps will ash and the horn will sound for
about two minutes, then will turn off to save the
battery power.
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Page 112 of 580
Automatic Transmission Operation
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, it features an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument panel cluster. This display
must be powered anytime the shift lever is capable of
being moved out of PARK (P). SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-123.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start your engine because
your vehicle cannot move easily. If your vehicle is
equipped with the Allison Transmission
®, use PARK (P)
for stationary operation of the Power Takeoff (PTO),
if equipped. The Allison Transmission
®is equipped
with park pawl designed to hold the higher weight of
commercial medium duty trucks. Therefore, the Allison
Transmission
®uses larger parts than other automatic
transmission. These larger parts may sometimes make a
clunk noise when the selector lever is moved from
DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R) to PARK (P). This is normal
and there is no damage occurring during these shifts.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-52. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-69.
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Tow/Haul Mode
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it may be
equipped with a Tow/Haul mode. The selector button
is located on the end of the column shift lever. You can
use this feature to assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load. Turn Tow/Haul on and off by pressing the
button until the Tow/Haul indicator light illuminates
on the instrument panel.Tow/Haul is a feature on automatic transmission
equipped vehicles that assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or large or heavy load. Tow/Haul mode adjusts
the transmission’s shift pattern to reduce shift cycling,
providing increased performance, vehicle control,
and transmission cooling when towing or hauling
heavy loads.
If your vehicle is equipped with an Allison
®transmission,
you may have both Tow/Haul mode and overdrive
disable. See “Tow/Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer
on page 4-69for more information.
Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission®Only)
Grade braking uses the engine and transmission to
slow a loaded vehicle on hills in addition to using the
brakes, saving on brake wear and increasing vehicle
stability. The Allison Transmission
®, when sensing
the driver’s desire to slow down while driving
downhill, will automatically shift to the next lower
gear range to assist in slowing down the vehicle.
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Grade braking is active and automatic both in Tow/Haul
mode and normal shift mode. Grade braking is more
aggressive when in Tow/Haul mode and can
automatically downshift to SECOND (2), which is
different than grade braking while in normal shift mode
where automatic downshifts are limited to FOURTH (4).
The tachometer for both the diesel and gasoline
engine shows a dashed red zone and a solid red zone.
The dashed red zone indicates where a transmission
shift occurs for full engine power. When using grade
braking, the transmission’s shift point is adjusted to just
prior to the solid red zone, providing the bene t of
additional engine braking.
Grade braking driving within the dashed red zone is
normal, both the diesel and gasoline engine have been
designed for this grade braking feature. Do not allow
the engine to go into the solid red zone. Apply the
vehicle’s brakes for a short time to slow down if you are
driving on a long hill and the tachometer needle
enters the solid red zone. SeeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-69for more information.Overdrive Disable
(Allison®Transmission Only)
If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission®, you may
have the overdrive disable feature. The overdrive disable
feature prevents the transmission from shifting into
FIFTH (5) gear. The selector button is located on the
end of the column shift lever. You can turn overdrive
disable on and off by pressing and holding the button at
the end of the column shift lever until the indicator
light, on the instrument panel, illuminates.
If your vehicle has both Tow/Haul and overdrive disable,
tap the button once to enable or disable Tow/Haul,
and press and hold the button to enable or disable
overdrive disable.
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Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case buttons
are located to the left of
the instrument panel
cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving
ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2
mAUTO
4WD4m4nN
Normal YES
Variable YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in
Tow*YES
*See “Recreational Vehicle Towing” in the Index for
further information.
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