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Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will
help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is wrong before it becomes serious enough to
cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying
attention to the warning lights and gages could also
save you or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As
you will see in the details on the next few
pages, some warning lights come on brie y when
you start the engine just to let you know they
are working. If you are familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often
gages and warning lights work together to let
you know when there is a problem with your
vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on while you are driving, or when one of the
gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about
it. Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning
lights and gages. They are a big help.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center
(DIC) that works along with the warning lights
and gages. SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 214for more information.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime
will come on for several seconds to remind
people to fasten their safety belts, unless the
driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light
will also come on
and stay on for
several seconds,
then it will ash for
several more.
This chime and light will be repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder
Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to ON or
START, a chime will sound for several seconds to
remind the front passenger to buckle their safety
belt. This would only occur if the passenger airbag
is enabled. SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 81for more information. The passenger
safety belt light will also come on and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the
passenger remains
unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
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Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag
symbol. The system checks the airbag’s
electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the airbag sensors, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the diagnostic
module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 70.
This light will come on
when the ignition key is
turned to ON and it
will ash for a
few seconds.
Then the light should go out. This means the
system is ready. If it does not go out, have your
vehicle serviced right away.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on while you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not in ate in
a crash, or they could even in ate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle.
If there is a problem with the airbag system in
your vehicle, the SERVICE AIR BAG message
will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
display. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 220for more information.
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Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your instrument panel has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to ON or START,
the passenger airbag status indicator will light
ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,
for several seconds as a system check. If you use
remote start to start your vehicle, if you have
this feature, you may not see the system check.
Then, after several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either the
on or off symbol to let you know the status of
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag.If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled
(may in ate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have
a rear-facing child restraint installed in the
right front passenger’s seat, it means that
the passenger sensing system has not
turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag. A
child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag in ates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
in ating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat if the airbag is turned on.
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Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun
visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag if the system
detects a rear-facing child restraint, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend
that rear-facing child restraints be secured
in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off.If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the
airbag status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has turned off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 81for more on this,
including important safety information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights or the passenger
sensing system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on together, 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 seat may not have
the protection of the frontal airbag. See
Airbag Readiness Light on page 201.
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Charging System Light
This light will come on
brie y when the ignition
is turned to ON to
show that it is working.
It should turn off 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 there is a problem with the
generator, generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have is checked right away. Driving
while this light is on could drain your battery. If you
must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all unnecessary accessories,
such as the radio and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on brie y when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
does not release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push, or the pedal may
go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 328.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS),
the light will come on
when your engine is
started and stay on for
several seconds. This is
normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on,
there may be a problem with the anti-lock
portion of the brake system. If the brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes,
but you do not have anti-lock brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 204for more
information.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. If the
light comes on when you are driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then
start the engine again to reset the system. If
the light still stays on, or comes on again while
you are driving, your vehicle needs service.
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If the regular brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes and there is a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 204for more information.
The ABS warning light should come on brie y
when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle has a
traction control system
warning light.
This light will come on when your traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or
hear the system working, but this is normal.If the traction control system warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 281for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that
your engine is very hot.
This light will come on when you rst start the
vehicle as a check to let you know that the light is
working. It will go out after a few seconds. If the
light does not come on, the bulb may be burned out.
See your dealer to have it corrected.
If the light does not go out or if the light comes on
and stays on while you are driving, your vehicle
may have a problem with the cooling system.
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