
Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
With the trunk open, airf low can pull
exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk open, open all the windows and
set the climate control system as
shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconfined area, adjust the climate
control system as f ollows:
Select the f resh air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the
underside.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
52
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
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The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instrument Panel
Instru m ent sand Cont ro ls
57
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR    SEC  URITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS) INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
INDICATOR
DOOR AND TRUNK
OPEN MONITOR
CRUISE CONTROL MAIN
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
(P.58) (P.58) (P.61)
(P.61)
(P.58)
(P.62)
(P.60)
(P.63)
(P.59)
(P.63)
(P.62) VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR
(P.63)
(P.58)
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR MAINTENANCE MINDER
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHT
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR  SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR (P.59)
LIGHTS-ON INDICATOR
(P.60)
(P.59)
(P.60)
(P.63)
(P.59) (P.62)
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The instrument  panel has many
indicato rs to give  you important
information  about your vehicle.  The engine  can be severely  damaged
if  this  indicator  flashes or stays  on
when  the engine  is running.  For
more  information,  see page  .
If  this  indicator  comes on when  the
engine  is running,  the battery  is not
being  charged.  For more  information,
see  page  .
See  page  .
This 
indicator  comes  on when  you
turn  the ignition  switch to the  ON
(II)  position.  It reminds  you and  your
passengers  to fasten  your seat belts.
A  beeper  also sounds  if you  and  your
front  passenger  have not fastened
your  seat belts.
If  you  turn  the ignition  switch to the
ON  (II) position  before fastening
your  seat belts,  the beeper  sounds,
and  the indicator  flashes. If you  do
not  fasten  your seat belts  before  the
beep er stops,  the indicator  stops
flashing  but remains  on. If 
your  front  passenger  does not
fasten  their seat belt,  the indicator
comes  on about  6 seconds  after the
ignition  switch is turned  to the  ON
(II)  position.
If  either  of you  do not  fasten  your
seat  belt while  driving,  the beeper
will  sound  and the indicator  will flash
again  at regular  intervals.  For more
inf ormation, see page . 20 250
251 251
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
58
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This shows  how much  fuel you have.
It  may  show  slightly  more or less
th an  the  actual  amount.  The needle
returns  to the  bottom  after you turn
off  the  ignition. If 
your  fuel  cap  is loose  or missing,  a
‘‘CHECK  FUEL CAP’’ message  will
appear  in the  odometer/outside
temperature  display. As soon  as it is
safely possible, turn the engine off
and  check  that the fuel  cap is
installed.  If it is,  loosen  the cap  and
tighten it     1 click. Although you can
  use the Select/Reset button to cycle  the fuel cap warning off of the  display, it will be displayed again each  time the engine  is started.  It
will take several   da ys of normal
driving  for the  vehicle  to turn  the
warning  off.
If  the  vehicle  on board  diagnostic
system  continues  to detect  a
problem,  the Mal function  Indicator
Lamp  (MIL)  will illuminate.  If the
MIL  does  not go off,  have  your
de aler  inspect  the vehicle.  For more
info rmation,  see page  . The 
information  display in the
instrument  panel shows  you the
engine  oil life  and  maintenance
service  items when the ignition
switch  is in  the  ON  (II) position.  This
information  helps to keep  you aware
of  the  periodic  maintenance  your
vehicle  needs for continued  trouble-
f ree driving. Ref er to page f or
more information. 193
251
Fuel Gauge
Check Fuel Cap Indicator
(odometer/outside temperature
message) Maintenance Minder Display
Gauges
66
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
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Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .154
.................
Fuel Recommendation . 154
.........
Service Station Procedures . 156
....................................
Ref ueling .156
Opening and Closing the .......................................
Hood .157
...................................
Oil Check .159
.............
Engine Coolant Check . 160
...............................
Fuel Economy .161
........
Improving Fuel Economy . 161
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 162
................................
Accessories .162
...........
Modif ying Your Vehicle . 163
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 163
.............................
Carrying Cargo .164
................................
Load Limits .165
Carrying Cargo in the Trunk .................
or on a Roof Rack . 166
Carrying Items in the .....
Passenger Compartment . 166
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
153
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Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
Avoidhardbrakingforthefirst
200 miles (300 km).
Do not tow a trailer.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations with an
overhauled or exchanged engine, or
when the brakes are replaced. In addition, in order to maintain good
perf ormance, f uel economy, and
emissions control, we strongly
recommend, in areas where it is
available, the use of gasoline that
does NOT contain manganese-based
f uel additives such as MMT.
You may hear a knocking noise from
the engine if you drive the vehicle at
low engine speed (below about 1,000
rpm) in a higher gear. To stop this,
raise the engine speed by shif ting to
a lower gear. We recommend quality gasoline
containing detergent additives that
help prevent f uel system and engine
deposits.
Your vehicle is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 87 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy, metallic rapping
noise that can lead to engine damage.
For vehicles with manual transmission
Break-in Period, Fuel Recommendation
Break-in Period
Fuel Recommendation
154
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Wait a few  minutes  after turning  the
engine  off before  you check  the oil. Wipe 
the dipstick  with a clean
cloth  or paper  towel.
Insert  it all  the  way  back  in its  hole. Remove 
the dipstick  again, and
check  the level.  It should  be
between  the upper  and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
1. 2.
3.4.
204
Oil Check
A dding Oil
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
159
4-cylinder models6-cylinder models 4-cylinder modelsUPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
DIPSTICK
(orange handle) DIPSTICK
(orange loop)
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This section  explains  why it is
important  to keep  your vehicle  well
maintained  and how  to follow  basic
maintenance  safety precautions.
This  section  also includes
instructions  on how  to read  the
maintenance  messages,  a
maintenance  record, and instructions
for  simple  maintenance  tasks you
may  want  to take  care of yourself.
If  you  have  the skills  and tools  to
perform  more complex  maintenance
tasks  on your  vehicle,  you may  want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer. ......................
Maintenance Saf ety .192
....................
Maintenance Minder . 193
....................
Maintenance Record .200
..............................
Fluid Locations .202
........................
Adding Engine Oil .204
.......
Recommended Engine Oil . 204
..............................
Synthetic Oil .205
................
Engine Oil Additives . 205
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 206
....................
Windshield Washers .208
..............................
Engine Coolant .209
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 209
.......................
Transmission Fluid .211
Automatic .........................
Transmission .211
Manual .........................
Transmission .214
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 215
................................
Brake Fluid .216
...............................
Clutch Fluid .216
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 216
....................................
Timing Belt .217
.............................................
Lights .218
.......................................
Seat Belts .224
.....................................
Floor Mats .224
.................................
Wiper Blades .225 ...............................................
Tires .227
..................
Inf lation Guidelines . 227
Recommended Tire ...............................
Pressures .228
..........................
Tire Inspection .229
.....................
Tire Maintenance .229
.............................
Tire Rotation .230
.........................
Replacing Tires .231
......................
Wheels and Tires .231
..........................
Winter Driving .232
.............................
Snow Tires .232
............................
Tire Chains .232
...................
Checking the Battery . 234
.............................
Vehicle Storage .235
281
Maintenance
Maint enance
191
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