
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice:If you drive your vehicle at high RPMs
without upshifting while using Driver Shift Control
(DSC), you could damage your vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary while using DSC.
Your automatic transmission has a Driver Shift Control
(DSC) feature that allows you to change gears similar to
a manual transmission. To use the DSC feature:
1. Slide the shift lever over from AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) to the right into the DSC area.
When the transmission is
in DSC mode the sport
symbol in the Driver
Information Center (DIC)
will come on.
If you do not move the shift lever forward or
rearward, the vehicle will be in sport mode. When
you are in the sport mode the vehicle will still
shift automatically. While driving in sport mode, the
transmission may remain in a gear longer than it
would in normal driving mode based on braking,
throttle input, and vehicle lateral acceleration.2. Press the shift lever forward to upshift or rearward
to downshift.
The DIC will show the
requested gear range
when moving the shift lever
forward or rearward. See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-73for
more information on
the DIC.
While using the DSC feature the vehicle will have rmer
shifting and increased performance. You can use this for
sport driving or when climbing/descending hills to stay
in gear longer or to down shift for more power or engine
braking.
2-34

The transmission will only allow you to shift into
gears appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The transmission will
not automatically shift to the next higher gear if the
engine rpm is too high.
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the currently
selected gear will ash multiple times, indicating that
the transmission has not shifted gears.
The transmission will allow you to shift to the gear
selected and will automatically downshift when the
vehicle comes to a stop. This will allow for more power
during take-off and passing.
When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear ratio allows you to gain more traction
on slippery surfaces.Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located on the lower
portion of the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
This vehicle has a push-to-release parking brake pedal.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the parking brake
pedal down with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on the
instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does not,
you need to have your vehicle serviced. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-64for more information.
2-35

Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking
brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you have
moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without rst pushing the button
on the shift lever. If you can, it means that the shift lever
was not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat.
To nd out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)”
listed previously.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-37

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the vehicle is running. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation (5-Speed Automatic) on page 2-28or
Automatic Transmission Operation (6-Speed Automatic)
on page 2-32.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the
shift lever — push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still cannot
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Press the ACC button twice to place the ignition in
accessory mode.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have your vehicle inspected by your dealer as soon
as possible.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
2-38

Universal Home Remote System
Operation
Do not use the Universal Home Remote with any garage
door opener that does not have the stop and reverse
feature. This includes any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1, 1982. If you have a newer
garage door opener with rolling codes, please be sure to
follow Steps 6 through 8 to complete the programming of
your Universal Home Remote Transmitter.
Read the instructions completely before attempting
to program the Universal Home Remote. Because of
the steps involved, it may be helpful to have another
person available to assist you in the programming steps.
Keep the original hand-held transmitter for use in
other vehicles as well as for future Universal Home
Remote programming. It is also recommended that
upon the sale of the vehicle, the programmed Universal
Home Remote buttons should be erased for security
purposes. See “Erasing Universal Home Remote
Buttons” later in this section or, for assistance, see
Customer Assistance Offices on page 7-4.
Be sure that people and objects are clear of the garage
door or gate operator you are programming. When
programming a garage door, it is advised to park outside
of the garage.
It is recommended that a new battery be installed
in your hand-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio-frequency signal.
Programming Universal Home Remote
Follow these steps to program up to three channels:
1. Press and hold down the two outside Universal
Home Remote buttons, releasing only when the
Universal Home Remote indicator light begins
to ash, after 20 seconds. Do not hold down the
buttons for longer than 30 seconds and do not
repeat this step to program a second and/or third
hand-held transmitter to the remaining two Universal
Home Remote buttons.
2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter
about 1 to 3 inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the
Universal Home Remote buttons while keeping the
indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the desired
Universal Home Remote button and the hand-held
transmitter button. Do not release the buttons
until Step 4 has been completed.
Some entry gates and garage door openers may
require you to substitute Step 3 with the procedure
noted in “Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming” later in this section.
4. The indicator light will ash slowly at rst and then
rapidly after Universal Home Remote successfully
receives the frequency signal from the hand-held
transmitter. Release both buttons.
2-48

Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require transmitter
signals to time out or quit after several seconds of
transmission. This may not be long enough for Universal
Home Remote to pick up the signal during programming.
Similarly, some U.S. gate operators are manufactured
to time out in the same manner.
If you live in Canada, or you are having difficulty
programming a gate operator or garage door opener
by using the “Programming Universal Home Remote”
procedures, regardless of where you live, replace Step 3
under “Programming Universal Home Remote” with
the following:
Continue to press and hold the Universal Home Remote
button while you press and release every two seconds
(cycle) the hand-held transmitter button until the
frequency signal has been successfully accepted by the
Universal Home Remote. The Universal Home Remote
indicator light will ash slowly at rst and then rapidly.
Proceed with Step 4 under “Programming Universal
Home Remote” to complete.
Using Universal Home Remote
Press and hold the appropriate Universal Home Remote
button for at least half of a second. The indicator light
will come on while the signal is being transmitted.
Erasing Universal Home
Remote Buttons
To erase programming from the three Universal Home
Remote buttons do the following:
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons until
the indicator light begins to ash, after 20 seconds.
Do not hold the two outside buttons for longer
than 30 seconds.
2. Release both buttons.
The Universal Home Remote is now in the training
(learning) mode and can be programmed at any time
beginning with Step 2 under “Programming Universal
Home Remote” shown earlier in this section.
Individual buttons cannot be erased, but they can be
reprogrammed. See “Reprogramming a Single Universal
Home Remote Button” following this section.
2-50

Vehicle Personalization
Your vehicle has personalization that allows you to
program certain features to a preferred setting for up to
two drivers. The back of the keyless access transmitters
are labelled 1 or 2. Additional keyless access transmitters
programmed to the vehicle, as 3 and/or 4, do not have
a number on the back and are not capable of being
personalized. The number of programmable features
varies depending upon which vehicle options are
purchased.
On all vehicles, features such as climate control settings,
radio and XM™ preset settings, exterior lighting at unlock
and remote lock unlock con rmation, and language have
already been programmed for your convenience. Your
vehicle also has an automatic door locking feature that
is always on. You cannot turn the automatic door locking
feature off. SeeProgrammable Automatic Door Locks
on page 2-13.
Some vehicles have additional features that can be
programmed including the seat, steering column, and
outside rearview mirror position.
If your vehicle has the base audio system, the following
information explains the vehicle personalization on
your vehicle.If your vehicle has the Navigation system, see
“Personalization” in the Index of the Navigation System
manual for information on vehicle personalization.
If your vehicle has the ability to program additional
personalization features, the driver’s preferences
are recalled by pressing any button on the keyless
access transmitter, 1 or 2, by selecting Driver 1 or 2
on the radio display, or when a valid keyless access
transmitter is detected upon opening the driver’s door.
If more than one valid keyless access transmitter is
detected upon opening the driver’s door, the driver
preferences for the lowest driver number will be recalled.
Certain features can be programmed not to recall until
the ignition is turned off.
To change feature preferences, use the following
procedure.
Entering the Personal Settings Menu
To enter the feature programming mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Be sure the ignition is either on, in ACC position, or
in RAP and place the transmission in PARK (P) or
the vehicle speed is less than 6 mph (9 km/h).
2. Press any button on the appropriate keyless access
transmitter to identify yourself as Driver 1 or
Driver 2.
2-53

DOORS UNLOCK AT OFF
This feature allows all of the doors to automatically
unlock when the ignition is turned off.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFF
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 2. The mode to which the vehicle
was programmed may have been changed since it left
the factory.
To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the PERSONAL SETTINGS MENU by
following the instructions listed previously under
“Entering the Personal Settings Menu.”
2. Turn the tune/select knob until DOORS UNLOCK
AT OFF is highlighted.
3. Press the tune/select knob to switch between on
and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
DRIVER UNLOCK IN PARK
The feature allows the driver’s door to automatically
unlock when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P).
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFF
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 2. The mode to which the vehicle
was programmed may have been changed since it left
the factory.
To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the PERSONAL SETTINGS MENU by
following the instructions listed previously under
“Entering the Personal Settings Menu.”
2. Turn the tune/select knob until DRIVER UNLOCK
IN PARK is highlighted.
3. Press the tune/select knob to switch back and forth
between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
2-64