Page 41 of 292

A child who is at least 1 year old, and
who fits within the child seat maker’s
weight and height limits, should be
restrained in a forward-facing,
upright child seat.
Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a five-
point harness system as shown. We
strongly recommend placing a
forward-fa cing child seat in a back
seat, not the front.
If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child’s head is
thro wn forward during a collision, an
inflating airbag can strike the child
with enough force to cause very
serious or fatal injuries.
Ev en with advanced front airbags,
which can automatically turn the
passenger’s front airbag off (see
page ), a back seat is the saf est
place f or a small child.
We also recommend that a small
child use the child seat until the child
reaches the weight or height limit
for the seat.
27
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children
Child Seat Placement
Child Seat T ype Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
the f ront seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger’s airbag can behazardous.Protecting Small Children
40
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Page 47 of 292
Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle, and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract f ully, then repeat these
steps.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.
4.
5.
Installing a Child Seat
46
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Page 49 of 292
To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself :
When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster seat and wear a lap/shoulder
belt.
Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
Do the child’s knees bend
comf ortably over the edge of the
seat?
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in f ront.
1.
2.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Protecting L arger Children
48
Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger’s front
airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.
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Page 50 of 292

Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child’s neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?
Will the child be able to stay
seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat. A child who has outg rown a forward-
facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt fits them
properly without the booster.
Some states also require children to
use a booster seat until they reach a
given age or weight (e.g., 6 years or
60 lbs). Be sure to check current
laws in the state or states where you
intend to drive. Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets f ederal
saf ety standards (see page ) and
that you f ollow the booster seat
maker’s instructions.
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in f ront, move the vehicle
seat as far to the rear as possible,
and be sure the child is wearing the
seat belt properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of the ears are
even with the top of the seat-back. A
child of this height should be tall
enough to use the lap/shoulder belt
without a booster.
4.
5. 3.
41
Protecting L arger Children
Using a Booster Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
49
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Page 60 of 292

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates that the
passenger’s side airbag has
automatically shut off. For more
info rmation, see page .
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If it comes on at any
other time, there is a problem with
theABS.Ifthishappens,haveyour
vehicle checked at a dealer. With
this on, your vehicle still has normal
braking ability but no anti-lock
brakes. For more information, see
page .
This
indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at
any other time, it indicates a
poten tial problem with your front
airbags. This indica tor will also alert
you to a poten tial problem with your
side airbags, passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system, side curtain
airbags, automatic seat belt
tensioners, driver’s seat position
sensor, or the front passenger’s
weight sensors. For more
info rmation, see page .
This
indicator has two functions:
Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check
the parking brake. A beeper
sounds if you try to drive with the
parking brake not fully released.
Driving with the parking brake not
fully released can damage the
brakes and tires.
If it remains lit after you fully
release the parking brake while
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the brake
system. For more information, see
page . 30
31
180
1.
2.
253 Anti-lock Brake System
(A BS) Indicator
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator
Side Airbag Of f
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
Canada
U.S.
Canada
U.S.
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Page 83 of 292
To protect items in the trunk when
you need to give the key to some one
else:
Give the person the valet key.
Pull
up on the trunk release lever
located to the left of the driver’s
seat. Lockthetrunkreleaseleverwith
the
master key. Also make sure
the trunk pass-through cover is
locked (see page ).
Press
and hold the trunk release
button on the remote transmitter. To
close the trunk, press down on
the trunk lid.
See page for cargo loading and
weight limit information. Keep the
trunk lid closed at all times while
driving to avoid damaging the lid,
and to prevent exhaust gas from
getting into the interior. See
on page .
You can open the trunk in either of
the following ways: 1.
2.
52
165
89
Trunk
Carbon
Monoxide Hazard
82
Pull
TRUNK RELEASE LEVER MASTER
KEY
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Page 162 of 292
Always drive in the highest gear
possible.
Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehic le uses extra
fuel. Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Combine several short trips into
one.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
Drive moderately. Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking use more fuel.
The
build-up of snow or mud on
your vehicl e’s underside adds
weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your fuel
mileage and reduces the chance of
corrosion. an
underinflated tire
causes more ‘‘rolling resistance,’’
which uses more fuel.
Always maintain your vehicle
according to the maintenance
minder. See
(see page
).
198
For example,
Improving Fuel Economy
Owner’s
Maintenance Checks
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
161
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Page 166 of 292

µ·
The maximum load for your vehicle
is 850 lbs (395 kg). This figure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, and accessories,
and the tongue load if you are towing
a trailer. Steps
for determining correct load
limit:
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 850
lbs’’ on your vehicle’s placard.
[The placard is on the driv er’s
doorjamb.]
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicl e.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
850 pounds or 395 kilograms. Determine
the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity in
step 4.
The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if the maximum load
is 850 lbs and there will be five 150
lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 100 lbs. (850
750 (5 150) = 100 lbs.)
If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load from your trailer
will be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
yourvehicle(seepage ).
1.
2.
5.
6.
3.
4. 184
CONT INUED
Carrying Cargo
Load Limits
Bef ore Driving
165
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.
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