
Instrument Panel Overview........................ 152
Hazard Warning Flashers.......................... 154
Other Warning Devices............................. 154
Horn.......................................................... 154
Tilt Wheel.................................................. 155
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................. 155
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................. 156
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.......... 156
Flash-to-Pass............................................ 156
Windshield Wipers..................................... 157
Windshield Washer.................................... 158
Rear Window Wiper/Washer...................... 159
Cruise Control........................................... 160
Headlamps................................................ 163
Wiper Activated Headlamps....................... 164
Headlamps on Reminder........................... 164
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)................. 164
Automatic Headlamp System..................... 165
Fog Lamps................................................ 166
Instrument Panel Brightness...................... 166
Dome Lamp.............................................. 167Entry/Exit Lighting...................................... 167
Mirror Reading Lamps............................... 168
Rear Reading Lamps................................ 168
Electric Power Management...................... 168
Battery Run-Down Protection..................... 168
Accessory Power Outlet(s)........................ 169
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter................ 170
Climate Controls......................................... 170
Climate Control System............................. 170
Outlet Adjustment...................................... 174
Passenger Compartment Air Filter............. 175
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators..... 177
Instrument Panel Cluster........................... 178
Speedometer and Odometer...................... 179
Tachometer............................................... 179
Safety Belt Reminder Light........................ 180
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light....... 180
Airbag Readiness Light............................. 181
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............. 182
Charging System Light.............................. 184
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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Dome Lamp
9(Off):Move the lever to this position to turn
the lamp off, even when a door is opened.
1(Door):Move the lever to this position to turn
the lamp on whenever a door is opened.
The dome lamp and mirror reading lamps will turn
on if the lever is in the door position and the
instrument panel brightness control is turned to
the brightest setting. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 166.
+(On):Move the lever to this position to turn
on the dome lamp.
Entry/Exit Lighting
The lamps inside your vehicle will go on when you
open any door. These lamps will fade out after
about 20 seconds after all of the doors have been
closed or when the ignition is turned to ON.
These lamps will also go on when you press the
unlock symbol button or the horn symbol on
the keyless entry system transmitter.
The lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for
about 20 seconds after your key is removed from
the ignition to provide an illuminated exit.
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Mirror Reading Lamps
Your vehicle may have reading lamps on the
rearview mirror. Push the button to turn the reading
lamps on and off. The reading lamps will
automatically come on when a door is open.
Rear Reading Lamps
Push the lens to turn the reading lamps on
and off.
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.
Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle has a battery saver feature designed
to protect your vehicle’s battery.
When any interior lamp is left on and the ignition
is turned off, the battery rundown protection
system will automatically turn the lamp off after
20 minutes. This will avoid draining the battery.
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Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and
lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might
indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your
pass. A broken center line usually indicates it is
all right to pass, providing the road ahead is
clear. Never cross a solid line on your side of
the lane or a double solid line, even if the road
seems empty of approaching traffic.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For
one thing, following too closely reduces your
area of vision, especially if you are following a
larger vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate
space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or
stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming
up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane
and do not get too close. Time your move so
you will be increasing speed as the time comes
to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to
pass, you will have a running start that more
than makes up for the distance you would lose
by dropping back. And if something happens to
cause you to cancel your pass, you need only
slow down and drop back again and wait for
another opportunity.
If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow
vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that
someone is not trying to pass you as you pull
out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to
glance over your shoulder and check the
blind spot.
Check your vehicle’s mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and start your left lane change signal
before moving out of the right lane to pass.
When you are far enough ahead of the passed
vehicle to see its front in your vehicle’s inside
mirror, activate the right lane change signal and
move back into the right lane. Remember that
your vehicle’s passenger side outside mirror is
convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem
to be farther away from you than it really is.
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing
the next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too
rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not
ashing, it may be slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
252

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.
If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If
you do not have ABS, then in a braking skid,
where the wheels are no longer rolling, release
enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels
rolling again. This restores steering control.
Push the brake pedal down steadily when you
have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are
rolling, you will have steering control.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, you may need
to 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.
254

The most important advice on freeway driving is:
Keep up with traffic and keep to the right.
Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers
are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks
a smooth traffic ow. Treat the left lane on
a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads
to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the
freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you
should begin to check traffic. Try to determine
where you expect to blend with the ow. Try to
merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors, and
glance over your shoulder as often as necessary.
Try to blend smoothly with the traffic ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed
to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it
is slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want
to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then
use your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly
over your shoulder to make sure there is not
another vehicle in your blind spot.Once you are moving on the freeway, make
certain you allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After
driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may
tend to think you are going slower than you
actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If
you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make too
many miles that rst part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily
drive in.
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