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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn
off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if:
The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
The system determines that an infant is
present in a rear-facing infant seat.
The system determines that a small child is
present in a forward-facing child restraint.
The system determines that a small child is
present in a booster seat.
A right front passenger takes his/her weight
off of the seat for a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is occupied by
a smaller person, such as a child who has
outgrown child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger’s frontal airbag has been
turned off by the passenger sensing system, the
off indicator on the instrument panel will light
and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.If a child restraint has been installed and the
on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove
the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall
the child restraint following the child restraint
manufacturer’s directions and refer toSecuring
a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position
on page 72.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to
make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not
pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion.
If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s
seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible.
Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped
under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,
adjust the head restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in
the child restraint in a rear seat position in
the vehicle if one is available and check with
your dealer.
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The passenger sensing system is designed to
enable (may in ate) the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag anytime the system senses
that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the
right front passenger’s seat. When the passenger
sensing system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to
remind you that the airbag is active.
For some children who have outgrown child
restraints and for very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag, depending
upon the person’s seating posture and body
build. Everyone in your vehicle who has
outgrown child restraints should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right
front passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit,
it could be because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat. If this happens, turn
the vehicle off and ask the person to place the
seatback in the fully upright position, then sit
upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion,
with the person’s legs comfortably extended.Restart the vehicle and have the person remain
in this position for about two minutes. This will
allow the system to detect that person and then
enable the passenger’s airbag.
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Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag system
in several places around your vehicle. You do
not want the system to in ate while someone is
working on your vehicle. Your dealer/retailer
and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the airbag system.
To purchase a service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 476.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds, after the ignition is
turned off and the battery is disconnected,
an airbag can still in ate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are
close to an airbag when it in ates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are probably
part of the airbag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing work
for you is quali ed to do so.
The airbag system does not need regular
maintenance.
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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. 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.There is a label on your sun visor that 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 right
front 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.
United StatesCanada
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If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, never
put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right
front passenger seat unless the passenger airbag
status indicator shows off and the airbag is off.
Here is why:
{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 transported
in vehicles with a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint,
whenever possible.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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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 88for 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. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 185.
Battery Warning Light
This light will come
on brie y when you
start the vehicle,
as a check to show
you it is working;
then it should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the electrical
charging system. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your
battery and result in a vehicle that may stall.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 202
for more information.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and climate control system.
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The airbag system is designed to work properly
under a wide range of conditions, including off-road
usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially
on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does
have some de nite hazards. The greatest of
these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you have left the great
North American road system behind. Traffic lanes
are not marked. Curves are not banked. There
are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill, or downhill. In short, you have gone right
back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And
that is why it is very important that you read
this guide. You will nd many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road
driving safer and more enjoyable.Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary
maintenance and service work done. Check to
make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle
has them, are properly attached. Be sure you
read all the information about your four-wheel-drive
vehicle in this manual. Is there enough fuel?
Is the spare tire fully in ated? Are the uid levels
up where they should be? What are the local
laws that apply to off-roading where you will be
driving? If you do not know, you should check
with law enforcement people in the area. Will you
be on someone’s private land? If so, be sure
to get the necessary permission.
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Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt
any vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you should use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service
your vehicle than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 476.Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 94.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 456.
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the air ow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
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