Power Windows........................21
▫Power Window Operation With The Convertible
Top Switch (Roadster Only)...............22
Rear Liftgate/Decklid Release..............22
Occupant Restraints.....................22
▫Lap/Shoulder Belts.....................23
▫Seat Belts And Pregnant Women............28
▫Seat Belt Extender......................28
▫Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag . .29▫Child Restraint........................40
Engine Break-In Recommendations..........47
Safety Tips............................47
▫Exhaust Gas..........................47
▫Safety Checks You Should Make Inside
The Vehicle..........................48
▫Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle....................48
8 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Power Window Operation With The Convertible
Top Switch (Roadster Only)
The power windows can also be operated by using the
convertible top switch.
To operate, turn the key in the ignition switch to the
ON/RUN position. Press down on the rear of the con-
vertible top switch twice to open the windows.
Press down on the front of the convertible top switch
twice to close the windows.
REAR LIFTGATE/DECKLID RELEASE
You can open the rear liftgate/decklid by using the
handle located on the liftgate/decklid just above the rear
license plate pocket.
WARNING!
Do not allow children to have access to the rear cargo
area by climbing into the rear cargo area from
outside. Always close the liftgate/decklid when your
vehicle is unattended. Once in the cargo area, young
children may have difficulty leaving the vehicle. If
trapped in the cargo area, children can die from
suffocation or heat stroke.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems. These include the lap/
shoulder seat belts for the driver and passenger, emer-
gency tensioning retractors for the seat belts, and front
and side airbags for the driver and passenger. If you will
be carrying children too small for adult-size belts, the
passenger side seat belt also can be used to hold infant
and child restraint systems.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for the driver and passenger as a
supplement to the seat belt restraint systems. The driver’s
airbag is mounted in the steering wheel. The passenger
frontal airbag is mounted in the instrument panel, under
a cover marked SRS/AIRBAG.
These airbags inflate in higher speed frontal impacts.
They work with the instrument panel knee bolster and
the seat belts to provide improved protection for the
driver and passenger.The vehicle is also equipped with side airbags, located in
the driver and passenger doors. Side airbags also work
with seat belts to improve occupant protection.
WARNING!
•Do not put anything on or around the front airbag
covers or attempt to manually open them. You
may damage the airbags and you could be injured
because the airbags are not there to protect you.
These protective covers are designed to open only
when the airbags are inflated.
•Do not place objects between you and the side
airbags; the performance could be adversely af-
fected and/or objects could be pushed into you,
causing serious injury.
•Do not attach cup holders or any other objects on
or around the door. The inflating side airbag
could drive objects into occupants, causing seri-
ous injury.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29
2
The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy only in moderate
to severe front collisions. In certain types of collisions,
both the front and side airbags may be triggered. But
even in collisions where the airbags work, you need the
seat belts to keep you in the right position for the airbags
to protect you properly.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. Infants in rear-facing child safety seats shouldNEVER
ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger frontal
airbag unless the airbag is shut OFF. See “Passenger
Airbag On/Off Switch” and “To Shut Off the Passenger
Airbag.” The rear-facing seat places them too close to the
passenger air bag in the event of a crash. An airbag
deployment can cause severe injury or death to infants in
this position.
Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see section on “Child Restraint”) should
be secured in child safety seats or booster seats that are
appropriate for the child’s age, height, and weight.Older children who do not use child safety seats or
booster seats should ride properly buckled. Never allow
children to place the shoulder belt behind them or under
the arm.
If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the vehicle,
move the seat as far back as possible, shut off the
passenger airbag, and use the proper child restraint. See
the section on “Child Restraint.”
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint or belt-positioning booster seat to make
sure that you are using it properly.
2. All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder belts
properly.
3. The driver and passenger seats should be moved back
as far as practical to allow the front airbags room to
inflate.
4. Do not lean against the door, as the side airbags will
inflate forcefully into the space between you and the
door. (See the section on “Side Airbags.”)
30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING!
•Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions the airbags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you
have airbags.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during airbag deployment could cause
serious injury.
•Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back, comfort-
ably extending your arms to reach the steering
wheel or instrument panel.
•The side airbags also need room to inflate. Do not
lean against the door. Sit upright in the center of
the seat.
Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
•Airbag control module and internal crash sensor
•AIRBAG readiness light
•Driver and passenger frontal airbag/inflator units
•Driver and passenger side airbag/inflator units
•Passenger airbag On/Off switch and indicator light
•Unique steering wheel and column
•Unique instrument panel
•Interconnecting wiring
•Knee impact bolster
•Side impact sensors
How the Front Airbag System Works
•
A crash sensor in the occupant compartment deter-
mines if a frontal impact is severe enough to require
the airbag. The sensor will not detect side, roll over, or
rear impacts. The sensor is connected to the diagnostic
unit and to the airbag/inflator unit.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 31
2
•The Occupant Restraint Controller monitors the readi-
ness of the electronic parts of the system whenever the
ignition switch is in the START or ON/RUN positions.
These include all of the items listed above except the
knee bolster, the instrument panel, and the steering
wheel and column.
•The Occupant Restraint Controller also turns on the
AIRBAG light in the instrument panel for four seconds
when the ignition is first turned on, then turns the
light off. If it detects a malfunction in any part of the
system, it turns on the light either momentarily or
continuously depending on the condition that is
present at the time.
•The airbag/inflator units are in the center of the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel. The words
SRS/AIRBAG are embossed on the airbag covers.
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG light in your instrument panel
could mean you won’t have the airbags to protect
you in a collision. If the light does not come on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have the airbag system checked right away.
WARNING!
Do not put anything on or around the airbag covers
or attempt to manually open them. You may damage
the airbags and you could be injured because the
airbags are not there to protect you. These protective
covers are designed to open only when the airbags
are inflated.
•When the crash sensor detects an impact requiring the
airbags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
nontoxic nitrogen gas is generated to inflate the air-
bags. The airbag covers separate and fold out of the
way as the airbags inflate to their full size. The airbags
32 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
then quickly deflate while helping to restrain the
driver and passenger. The airbag gas is vented
through the airbag material towards the instrument
panel. In this way the airbags do not interfere with
your control of the vehicle.
•The knee impact bolster helps protect the knees and
working with the seat belts, position you for the best
interaction with the airbags.
If a Deployment Occurs
WARNING!
Deployed airbags can’t protect you in another colli-
sion. Have the airbags replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
The airbag system is designed to deploy when the impact
sensors detect a moderate-to-severe frontal collision, to
help restrain the driver and passenger, and then to
immediately deflate.
NOTE:A frontal collision that is not severe enough to
need airbag protection will not activate the system. This
does not mean something is wrong with the airbag
system. The system may also inflate only one airbag in a
reduced severity frontal collision if the seat belt on that
side of the vehicles is not fastened. This also does not
mean something is wrong with your airbag system.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 33
2
If you do have a collision which deploys the airbags, any
or all of the following may occur:
•The nylon airbag material may sometimes cause abra-
sions and/or skin reddening to the driver and passen-
ger as the airbags deploy and unfold. The abrasions
are similar to friction rope burns or those you might
get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium floor. They
are not caused by contact with chemicals. They are not
permanent and normally heal quickly. However, if you
haven’t healed significantly within a few days, or if
you have any blistering, see your doctor immediately.
•As the airbags deflate, you may see some smoke-like
particles. The particles are a normal by-product of the
process that generates the nontoxic nitrogen gas used
for airbag inflation. These airborne particles may irri-
tate the skin, eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or
eye irritation, rinse the area with cool water. For noseor throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation
continues, see your doctor. If these particles settle on
your clothing, follow the garment manufacturer’s in-
structions for cleaning.
•It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the
airbags have been deployed. If you are involved in
another collision, the airbags will not be in place to
protect you.
How the Side Impact Airbag System Works
•
The side impact airbags are located in the doors above
the armrest.
•Separate crash sensors in the vehicle determine if a
side impact is severe enough to require the airbag on
the side of the vehicle subjected to an impact. As with
the frontal system, the sensors are connected to the
diagnostic unit and the airbag/inflator units.
34 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE