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•Airbag Warning Light
•Driver Airbag
•Passenger Airbag
•Side Curtain Airbags above Side Windows (If Equipped)
•Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (If Equipped)
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Front Acceleration Sensors
•Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
•Occupant Classification System (OCS) for the Front
Passenger Seat
Occupant Classification Module
Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
Weight Sensors
How The Airbag System Works
•
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC)determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from direction provided by the ORC. The ORC may
also modify the rate of inflation based on the occupant
size provided by the Occupant Classification Module.
The ORC will not detect roll over.
•The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the knee bolster, the instru-
ment panel, and the steering wheel and column. If the
key is in the LOCK position, in the ACC position, or
not in the ignition, the airbags are not on and will not
inflate.
•Also, the ORC turns on the airbag warning
light and PAD indicator light in the instru-
ment panel for 6 to 8 seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the
self-check, the airbag warning light will turn off. The
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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Enhanced Accident Response Feature
If the airbags deploy after an impact and the electrical
system remains functional, vehicles equipped with
power door locks will unlock automatically. In addition,
approximately 5 seconds after the vehicle has stopped
moving, the interior lights will illuminate to aid visibility.
NOTE:The interior lights can only be deactivated if the
key is removed from the ignition switch or the vehicle is
driven.
Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the airbag system could
cause it to fail when you need it. You could be
injured because the airbags are not there to protect
you. Do not modify the components or wiring,
including adding any kind of badges or stickers to
the steering wheel hub trim cover or the upper right
side of the instrument panel. Do not modify the front
bumper, vehicle body structure, or frame.
•You need proper knee impact protection in a colli-
sion. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket equip-
ment on or behind the knee impact bolster.
•Do not place or hang any items such as add-on video
players on the right front passenger seat back. The
additional weight may cause the Occupant Classifi-
cation System to be unable to correctly classify the
right front occupant. This could allow the passenger
frontal airbag to inflate when it is not desired.
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the airbag
system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who works on
your vehicle that it has airbags.
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restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt through the
child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This should
stow the seat belt out of the reach of an inquisitive child.
Remind all children in the vehicle that the seat belts are
not toys and should not be played with, and never leave
your child unattended in the vehicle.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat belt
The passenger seat belts are equipped with cinching latch
plates which are designed to keep the lap portion tight
around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to usea locking clip. Pulling up on the shoulder portion of the
lap/shoulder belt will tighten the belt. The cinching latch
plate will keep the belt tight, however, any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt occasion-
ally and pull it tight if necessary.
In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path opening
on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate from the
buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt several times
to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out.
If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, you may need
to do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the buckle around, and insert the latch
plate into the buckle again. If you still can’t make the
child restraint secure, try a different seating position.
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Power Remote-Control Mirrors
The power mirror switch is located on the driver’s door
trim panel next to the power door lock switch. A rotary
knob selects the left mirror, right mirror, or off position.
After selecting a mirror move the knob in the same
direction you want the mirror to move. Use the center off
position to guard against accidentally moving a mirror
position.
Heated Remote Control Mirrors—If Equipped
These mirrors are heated to melt frost or ice. This feature
is activated whenever you turn on the Rear Window
Defrost.
Illuminated Vanity Mirrors—If Equipped
An illuminated vanity mirror is on the sun visor. To use
the mirror, rotate the sun visor down and swing the
mirror cover upward. The light turns on automatically.
Closing the mirror cover turns off the lights.
Power Mirror Controls
Illuminated Vanity Mirror
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Head Restraints
Head restraints can reduce the risk of whiplash injury in
the event of impact from the rear. Adjustable restraints
should be adjusted so that the upper edge is as high as
practical.
The head restraints have a locking button which must be
pushed in to lower the head restraint. The restraints may
be raised without pushing in the button.
Folding Rear Seat
The rear seatbacks can be folded forward to provide an
additional storage area. Pull on the loops shown in the
illustration to fold down either or both seatbacks. These
loops can be tucked away when not in use.
When the seat back is folded to the upright position make
sure it is latched by strongly pulling on the top of the seat
back above the seat strap.
Adjustable Head Restraint
Folding Rear Seats
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WARNING!
The cargo area in the rear of the vehicle (with the
rear seatbacks in the locked-up or folded down
position) should not be used as a play area by
children when the vehicle is in motion. They could
be seriously injured in an accident. Children should
be seated and using the proper restraint system.
ADJUSTABLE PEDALS—IF EQUIPPED
This feature allows both the brake and accelerator pedal
to move toward or away from the driver to provide
improved position with the steering wheel. The adjust-
able pedal system is designed to allow a greater range of
driver comfort for steering wheel tilt and seat position.
The switch is located on the front side of the driver’s seat
cushion side shield.Press the switch forward to move the pedals forward
(toward the front of the vehicle).
Press the switch rearward to move the pedals rearward
(toward the driver).
•The pedals can be adjusted with the ignition OFF.
•The pedals can be adjusted while driving.
•The pedalscannotbe adjusted when the vehicle is in R
(Reverse) or when the Speed Control is ON.
Adjustable Pedal Switch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 95
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Use the hood prop rod (if equipped) to secure the hood in
the open position.To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Lower the hood until it is open approximately 6
inches (15 cm) and then drop it. This should secure both
latches. Never drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully
closed, with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.
Hood Safety Catch
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LIGHTS
Overhead Console Map/Reading Lights
These lights are mounted between the sun visors on the
overhead console. Each light is turned ON by pressing
the lens. Press the lens a second time to turn the light
OFF. The lights also turn on when a door is opened or the
dimmer control is turned fully upward, past the second
detent.
Interior Lights
The interior lights come on when a door is opened.
To protect the battery, the interior lights will turn off
automatically 10 minutes after the ignition switch is
moved to the LOCK position. This will occur if the
interior lights were switched on manually or are on
because a door is open. This includes the glove box, but
not the trunk light. To restore interior light operation,
either turn the ignition switch ON or cycle the light
switch.
Dimmer Control
The dimmer control is part of the
headlight switch, and is located on the
left side of the instrument panel. With
the parking lights or headlights on,
rotating the dimmer control upward
will increase the brightness of the in-
strument panel lights.
Overhead Console
98 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE