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If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when 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.
The airbag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If
the light does not come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
(Sedan)
Your vehicle has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
If you have a sedan, the airbag off symbol will be
visible near the clock, located in the center of
the instrument panel, during the system check.
When the ignition key is turned to ON or START,
the passenger airbag status indicator will light
for several seconds as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, if the off symbol is lit on
the passenger airbag status indicator, it means
that the passenger sensing system has turned off
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
side impact airbag (if equipped). SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 77for more on this,
including important safety information.
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Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on briefly
when you turn on the
ignition, and the engine
is not running, as a
check to show you it is
working.
Then it should go out when the engine is started.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the electrical
charging system. Have it checked by your dealer.
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 your 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.
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 fully release. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have
a brake problem.
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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 floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 258.
{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
Your vehicle may have
the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS).
This light will come on when the ignition is turned
to ON and may stay on for several seconds.
That is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to LOCK. If
the light comes on, 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. See your dealer/retailer.
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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 163.
The ABS warning light will come on briefly when
you turn the ignition to ON. This is normal. If
the light does not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Hold Mode Light
If your vehicle has this
feature, this light will
come on when the hold
mode is active.
If the HOLD mode light flashes, have your vehicle
checked. See “Hold Mode” underAutomatic
Transaxle Operation on page 112for additional
information on this feature.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
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Your vehicle has an engine coolant temperature
gage. With the ignition turned to ON, this gage
shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your
engine is too hot. It means that your engine
coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions, you should pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 290.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptablelevels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The Check Engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be
indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed to
assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after awhile, the emission controls
might not work as well, your vehicle’s fuel
economy might not be as good, and the engine
might not run as smoothly. This could lead
to costly repairs that might not be covered by
your warranty.
Notice:Modi cations made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of your vehicle or replacement tires that do not
match your vehicle’s original tires can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and may
cause this light to come on. Modi cations to
these systems could lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This may also
result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 264.
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When the ignition is on, this light should come on
and should go out after a few seconds as a
check to show you it is working. If the light does
not come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in
one of two ways:
•Light Flashing— A misfire condition has
been detected. A misfire increases vehicle
emissions and may damage the emission
control system on your vehicle. Diagnosis
and service may be required.
•Light On Steady— An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
•Reducing vehicle speed
•Avoiding hard accelerations
•Avoiding steep uphill grades
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park
your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light
remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady”
following. If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
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The oil light could also come on in three other
situations:
•When the ignition is on but the engine is not
running, the light will come on as a test to
show you it is working. The light will go
out when you turn the ignition on. If it does
not come on with the ignition on, you
may have a problem with the fuse or bulb.
Have it fixed right away.
•If you make a hard stop, the light may come
on for a moment. This is normal.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon as
possible and have your vehicle serviced.Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
Fog Lamp Light
If your vehicle has this
feature, the fog lamps
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 146for more
information.
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Door Ajar Light
The door ajar light will
come on whenever a
door is opened,
regardless of the ignition
position.
If the key is in the ignition while the driver’s door
is open, you will also hear a warning chime.
Fuel Gage
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