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Charging System Indicator Message
The charging system
battery symbol will
come on in the message
center when you turn
on the ignition as
a check to show you it
is working.
It will remain on as long as the engine is not
running. It should go out once the engine
is running. If it stays on, or comes on while you
are driving, you may have a problem with the
charging system. It could indicate that you have
problems with a generator drive belt, or another
electrical problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this indicator appears in the message
center could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the
message on, be certain to turn off all your
accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.
Reduced Engine Power Message
If your vehicle has this feature, this message will
appear in the message center when a noticeable
reduction in the vehicle’s engine performance
is detected. This message will also appear when
your vehicle is in overheated engine protection
operating mode. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 378for more information.
If this message comes on and stays on, see your
dealer.
United StatesCanada
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Interior Lighting Delay
The interior lighting delay feature can be
programmed to one of the following modes:
OFF:This feature will not illuminate the interior of
your vehicle when all of the doors are closed.
ON:This feature will continue to illuminate
the interior lamps for 25 seconds after all doors
have been closed so that you can nd the ignition
and buckle your safety belt at night.
Interior lighting delay will not occur while the
ignition is in ON. After 25 seconds, the interior
lamps will fade out. The lamps will fade out before
the 25 seconds if one of the following occurs:
The ignition is turned to ON
All doors are locked using the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
There is no occupant activity detected for an
illumination period of 25 secondsYour vehicle was originally programmed to ON.
The mode may have been changed since then.
To determine the current mode, or to change
the mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for “Entering
Programming Mode” listed previously.
2. Press the MODE button until INTERIOR
LIGHTING DELAY appears on the DIC.
3. Press the SET button until the arrow is before
ON or OFF.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either
exit programming mode by following the
instructions later in this section or program the
next feature available on your vehicle.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in
your vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They
Are for Everyone on page 30.
{CAUTION:
Defensive driving really means “Be ready
for anything.” On city streets, rural roads,
or expressways, it means “Always expect
the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians
or other drivers are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. Rear-end collisions
are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow
enough following distance. Defensive
driving requires that a driver concentrate
on the driving task. Anything that distracts
from the driving task makes proper
defensive driving more difficult and can
even cause a collision, with resulting
injury. Ask a passenger to help do these
things, or pull off the road in a safe place to
do them. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.
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An emergency like this requires close attention and
a quick decision. If you are holding the steering
wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly
straighten the wheel once you have avoided the
object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your right wheels have dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you are driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off
the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge
of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel
up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire
contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your
steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
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Page 350 of 528

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid, engine oil, belts, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual, and the Index will help
you nd them quickly. If you are trailering, it is a
good idea to review these sections before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle may have a trailer wiring harness
located at the rear of your vehicle. To use
the trailer wiring harness, you need a converter
kit. Contact your dealer for more information.
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