{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-33for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket, or
aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat
heaters, and seat massagers, can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates. Remove any
additional material from the seat cushion before
reinstalling or securing the child restraint and before a
small occupant, including a small adult, sits in the
right front passenger’s seat. You may want to consider
not using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment
if your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-70for more information about
modi cations that can affect how the system operates.
The passenger sensing system may suppress the
airbag deployment when liquid is soaked into the seat. If
this happens, the off indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator and the airbag readiness light on
the instrument panel will be lit. The system should
resume normal operation after the seat is allowed to dry.
If the system operates incorrectly after the seat has
dried, have your dealer check the system.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat
or between the passenger’s seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
1-69
Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks............................................2-10
Door Locks..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks........................................2-11
Door Ajar Reminder......................................2-11
Delayed Locking...........................................2-12
Automatic Door Lock.....................................2-12
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock.............2-13
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Trunk..........................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Sun Visors...................................................2-19
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-19
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-19
PASS-Key
®III+............................................2-20
PASS-Key®III+ Operation..............................2-21Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-22
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-22
Ignition Positions..........................................2-23
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-24
Starting the Engine.......................................2-24
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-26
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-27
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-28
Manual Transaxle Operation...........................2-32
Parking Brake..............................................2-33
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-34
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)................................2-36
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)....................................2-36
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-37
Engine Exhaust............................................2-37
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-38
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
The switch used to adjust
the pedals is located on
the left side of the
instrument panel.
To use your adjustable throttle and brake pedal feature,
do the following:
The adjustable pedal feature is meant to be used with
the adjustable seat and adjustable steering wheel
controls to reach a safe and comfortable position.
1. Adjust your seat to a comfortable position where
you can comfortably reach other controls such as
the radio and climate controls.
2. Adjust the throttle and brake pedals to reach a
comfortable and safe operating position.
3. Adjust the steering wheel to a safe operating
position.Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have this feature. In very cold
weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant
heater can provide easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant
heater should be plugged in a minimum of four
hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not
required. Your vehicle may also have an internal
thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This will prevent
operation of the engine coolant heater when the
temperature is at or above 0°F (−18°C) as noted on
the cord.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. On
the 2.4L L4 ECOTEC
®engine, the engine coolant
heater cord is located near the air cleaner box
on the passenger’s side of the engine compartment.
On the 3.5L and 3.9L V6 engines, the engine
coolant heater cord is located on the driver’s side
around the battery box. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on
location.
2-27
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt
AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you will be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle has a shift lever located on
the console between the seats.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.SE Model
GT and GTP Models
2-28
?(Recirculation):Press the left side of the button
to turn the recirculation mode on. When recirculation
mode is selected, the air inside the vehicle will be
recirculated through the climate control system and the
vehicle, not from outside your vehicle. This mode is
helpful when you are trying to limit odors from entering
your vehicle and for maximum air conditioning
performance in hot weather. When the button is pressed,
an indicator light above the button will come on to let you
know that it is activated. The recirculation indicator light
will blink three times if you try to use recirculation in a
mode that it can not be used in. Only use this mode when
it is needed for comfort, since window fogging will rapidly
occur if the air conditioning compressor is not engaged.
Pressing this button will cancel the outside air mode.
When you switch to the defog or defrost modes the
system will automatically move from recirculation to
outside air. When you move the mode knob back to
another air delivery mode, the system will move back into
recirculation. When the vehicle or fan is turned off and
back on, the system will default to outside air
automatically. Only use recirculation mode when it is
needed for comfort, since window fogging may occur.
Temperature Control:Turn the center knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside your vehicle.
When it’s cold outside 0°F (−18°C) or lower, use the
engine coolant heater, if equipped, to provide warmer air
faster to your vehicle. An engine coolant heater warmsthe coolant that the engine uses to provide heat to
warm the inside of your vehicle. For more information,
seeEngine Coolant Heater on page 2-27.
#(Air Conditioning):Press this button to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. When the air conditioning
button is pressed, an indicator light will come on to let you
know that air conditioning is activated.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select the highest fan speed.
3. Select air conditioning.
4. Select the recirculation mode.
5. Select the coolest temperature.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from
the air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.
3-21
Temperature Control:Press the up and down
arrows to increase or decrease the temperature inside
the vehicle.
#(Air Conditioning):Press this button to turn the air
conditioning compressor on and off. A light above the
button will illuminate when the air conditioning is on.
When air conditioning is selected or in AUTO mode, the
system will run the air conditioning automatically to
cool and dehumidify the air entering the vehicle.
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for
your vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows
closed for the air conditioner to work its best.
On cool, but sunny days while using manual operation
of the automatic system, use bi-level to deliver warm
air to the oor and cooler air to the instrument
panel outlets. To warm or cool the air delivered, press
the temperature buttons to the desired setting.
In AUTO mode the system will cool and dehumidify the
air inside the vehicle. Also while in AUTO mode, the
system will maximize its performance by using
recirculation as necessary.
Heating:On cold days when using manual operation of
the automatic system, choose oor mode to deliver
air to the oor outlets. To warm or cool the air delivered,
push the temperature buttons to the desired setting.If you want to use the automatic mode, turn the knob to
AUTO and adjust the temperature by pressing the
temperature buttons.
The heater works best if you keep the windows closed
while using it.
Defogging and Defrosting
You can use either defog or front defrost to clear fog or
frost from your windshield. Use the defog mode to
clear the windows of fog or moisture. Use the front
defrost button to defrost the front windshield.
-(Defog):Use this setting to clear the windows of fog
or moisture. Turn the mode knob to this position to
select this setting. This setting will deliver air to the oor
and windshield outlets.
0(Defrost):Turn the mode knob to this position to
defrost the windshield. The system will automatically
control the fan speed if you select defrost from AUTO
mode. If the outside temperature is 40°F (4°C) or
warmer, your air conditioning compressor will
automatically run to help dehumidify the air and dry the
windshield. The air conditioning indicator light will
blink three times if you try to turn off the compressor
while in this mode.
3-27
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all
the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from
the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
4-31