Entry Lighting
This feature turns on the courtesy lamps and the
backlighting to the door switches and to the exterior
lamp control when a door is opened or if you press
the remote keyless entry transmitter unlock button.
If activated due to the transmitter, the lighting will
remain active for about 40 seconds. Since the entry
lighting system uses the light sensor, it must be
dark outside in order for the courtesy lamps to turn
on. The courtesy lamps turn off approximately
25 seconds after the last door is closed. They will
dim to off if the ignition key is turned to RUN, or
immediately deactivate if the power locks are
activated.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the digital
displays and backlighting during daylight hours
when the key is in the ignition and the headlamps
are on. This feature is fully automatic. When
the light sensor reads darkness outside and the
parking lamps are active, the digital displays
can be adjusted by turning the instrument panel
brightness knob counterclockwise to dim and
clockwise to brighten lighting.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead
console on the headliner and in the rear door
opening. These lamps come on automatically
when any door is opened and it is dark outside.
For manual operation, press the button to
turn them on. Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically
shut off 10 minutes after the ignition has been
turned off.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is
designed to monitor the vehicle’s electrical
load and determine when the battery is in a
heavy discharge condition. During times of high
electrical loading, the engine may idle at a higher
revolutions per minute (rpm) setting than normal
to make sure the battery charges. High electrical
loads may occur when several of the following are
on: headlamps, high beams, fog lamps, rear
window defogger, the climate control fan at high
speeds, heated seats and engine cooling fans.
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If the battery continues to discharge, even with
the engine idling at a higher rpm setting, some
electrical loads will automatically be reduced. When
this occurs, the rear window defogger may take
slightly longer to clear the glass, the heated seats
may not get as warm as they usually do and the
climate control fan may cut back to a lower speed.
For more battery saving information, see “Battery
Saver Active Message” underDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 246.
Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM)
that estimates the battery’s temperature
and state of charge. It then adjusts the voltage for
best performance and extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the
voltage is raised slightly to quickly put the charge
back in. When the state of charge is high, the
voltage is lowered slightly to prevent overcharging.
If the vehicle has a voltmeter gage or voltage
display on the Driver Information Center (DIC),
you may see the voltage move up or down.
This is normal. If there is a problem, an alert
will be displayed.The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the generator (alternator)
may not be spinning fast enough at idle to produce
all the power that is needed for very high electrical
loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into accessory
power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can
increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action, this action
may be noticeable to the driver. If so, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as Battery Saver Active or Service
Battery Charging System. If this message is
displayed, it is recommended that the driver reduce
the electrical loads as much as possible. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 246.
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Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle’s
battery against drainage from the interior lamps,
trunk lamp, glove box lamp, or the garage door
opener. When the ignition is turned off, the power
to these features will automatically turn off after
10 minutes. Power will be restored for an additional
10 minutes if any door or trunk is opened, or the
courtesy lamp switch is turned on.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This vehicle has a feature to help prevent the
battery from being drained, if the interior courtesy
lamps, reading/map lamps, visor vanity lamps
or trunk lamp are accidentally left on. If any
of these lamps are left on, they will automatically
turn off after 10 minutes, if the ignition is off.
The lamps will not come back on again until
one of the following occurs:
The ignition is turned on.
The exterior lamps control is turned off, then
on again.
The headlamps will time out after 10 minutes,
if they are manually turned on before the ignition
is off.
Ultrasonic Front and Rear Parking
Assist (UFRPA)
If your vehicle is equipped, the Ultrasonic Front and
Rear Parking Assist (UFRPA) system is designed
to help you park. It operates only at speeds less
than 5 mph (8km/h). UFRPA helps make parking
easier and helps you avoid colliding with objects
such as parked vehicles. The UFRPA system
detects objects that are close to the vehicle which
are at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) off the ground and
below hood or trunk level. The system detects
objects up to 4 feet (1.2 m) in front of the vehicle
and up to 8 feet (2.5 m) behind your vehicle.
UFRPA determines how close these objects are
from your bumpers within this area. Four ultrasonic
sensors on the front and rear bumpers are used to
detect the distance to the object.
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Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light will
come on when the fog
lamps are in use.
The light will go out when the fog lamps are
turned off. SeeFog Lamps on page 198for more
information.
Lights On Reminder
This light comes on
whenever the parking
lamps are on.
SeeExterior Lamps on page 193for more
information.
Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control.
The light will go out when the cruise control is
turned off. SeeCruise Control on page 176and
Adaptive Cruise Control on page 179for more
information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on
page 167for more information.
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DIC Warnings and Messages
These messages appear if there is a problem
detected in one of your vehicle’s systems.
You must acknowledge a message to clear it from
the screen for further use. To clear a message,
press the set/reset button.
Be sure to take any message that appears on
the screen seriously and remember that clearing
the message will only make the message
disappear, not the problem.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the automatic
headlamps are turned off. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 193for more information.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL ON
This message displays when the automatic
headlamps are turned on. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 193for more information.
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the system detects
that the battery voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable level. The battery saver system starts
reducing certain features of the vehicle that
you may be able to notice. At the point that the
features are disabled, this message is displayed.
It means that the vehicle is trying to save the
charge in the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories to allow the
battery to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts. You can monitor battery
voltage on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
by pressing the trip/fuel button until BATTERY
VOLTAGE is displayed.
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DIC Vehicle Customization
Your vehicle has customization capabilities that
allow you to program certain features to one
preferred setting. Customization features can only
be programmed to one setting on the vehicle and
cannot be programmed to a preferred setting for
two different drivers.
All of the customization options may not be
available on your vehicle. Only the options
available will be displayed on your DIC.
The default settings for the customization features
were set when your vehicle left the factory, but
may have been changed from their default
state since then.
The customization preferences are automatically
recalled.
To change customization preferences, use the
following procedure.
Entering the Feature Settings Menu
1. Turn the ignition on and place the vehicle in
PARK (P).
To avoid excessive drain on the battery,
it is recommended that the headlamps are
turned off.
2. Press the customization button to enter the
feature settings menu.
If the menu is not available, FEATURE
SETTINGS AVAILABLE IN PARK will display.
Before entering the menu, make sure the
vehicle is in PARK (P).
Feature Settings Menu Items
The following are customization features that allow
you to program settings to the vehicle:
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH
This feature will only display if a language other
than English has been set. This feature allows
you to change the language in which the DIC
messages appear back to English.
Press the customization button until the DISPLAY
IN ENGLISH screen appears on the DIC display.
Press the set/reset button to select English as the
language in which all DIC messages will appear.
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If you have StabiliTrak®, the system may be
active. SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 311.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
helps avoid only the braking skid.Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, slow down and
keep more space between you and other
vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
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No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver might require at least twice as
much light to see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the
day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear
sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble
adjusting to night. But if you are driving, do not
wear sunglasses at night. They might cut down on
glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or
even several seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust
to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare,
as from a driver who does not lower the high
beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps,
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching headlamps.Keep the windshield and all the glass on your
vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is
made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even
the inside of the glass can build up a lm caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
ash more than clean glass would, making the
pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as the headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer
from night blindness — the inability to see in dim
light — and are not even aware of it.
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