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your speed. When going downhill, you may have
to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes
you out of cruise control. Many drivers nd this
to be too much trouble and do not use cruise
control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to disengage the
cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; when cruise
control disengages, the cruise symbol in the
instrument panel cluster will go out.
Press the on/off button, this will turn off the
cruise control system.
Press the cancel button. When cruise control
disengages, the cruise symbol in the
instrument panel cluster will go out.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp switch has the following four
positions:
2(Headlamps):This position turns on the
headlamps, parking lamps, and taillamps.
;(Parking Lamps):This position turns on
the parking lamps and taillamps only.
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Light Sensor
Your vehicle has a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Make sure it is not covered
or the headlamps may remain on when you
do not need them. The light sensor for the
DRL and Automatic Headlamp features is
located on top of the instrument panel.
The automatic headlamp system may be on
when driving through a parking garage, heavy
outcast weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system turns on the headlamps at
the normal brightness along with other lamps
such as the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps,
and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights
will also be dim.
Your vehicle has a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel that controls the automatic
headlamp system. Make sure it is not covered
or the automatic headlamp system will be on
when it is not needed.There is a delay in the transition between the
daytime and nighttime operation of the DRL
and the automatic headlamp systems so that
driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL
and automatic headlamp systems will only be
affected when the light sensor sees a change
in lighting lasting longer than this delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage,
the automatic headlamp system comes on
immediately. Once you leave the garage, it takes
about one minute for the automatic headlamp
system to change to DRL if it is light outside.
During that delay, the instrument panel cluster may
not be as bright as usual. Make sure the instrument
panel brightness control is in the full bright position.
See “Instrument Panel Brightness Control” under
Instrument Panel Brightness on page 184.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, turn the ignition on and set the exterior
light switch to the off/on position. For Canadian
vehicles, the transaxle must stay in PARK (P) for
this function.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamps when they are needed.
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Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and
gages on your vehicle. The pictures help to
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 the details show 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 as 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.
Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
So please get to know your vehicle’s warning lights
and gages. They can be a big help.
Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let
you know at a glance how your vehicle is running.
You’ll know how fast you’re going, how much
fuel you’re using, and many other things you will
need to drive safely and economically.
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Your vehicle has this instrument panel cluster, which includes indicator warning lights and gages that are
explained on the following pages.
United States Base version shown, Canada and SS Model Similar
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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 82for 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
is 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.
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 sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag modules, the wiring
and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system,
seeAirbag System on page 72.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
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.
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DIC Warnings and Messages
These messages appear if there is a problem
detected in one of your vehicle’s systems.
A message will clear when that condition is no
longer present on the vehicle. To acknowledge a
message and clear it from the display, press
any of the three DIC buttons. If the condition is
still present, the warning message will come back
on the next time the vehicle is turned off and
back on. With most messages, a warning chime
sounds when the message displays. Your
vehicle may have other warning messages.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS OFF:This message
displays if the automatic headlamp system is
disabled with the headlamp switch.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS ON:This message
displays if the automatic headlamp system is
enabled with the headlamp switch.BRAKE FLUID:This message displays to
inform the driver that the brake uid level is low
while the ignition is in ON. The brake system
warning light on the instrument panel cluster
also comes on. SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 206for more information. Have the
brake system serviced by your dealer/retailer
as soon as possible.
CHANGE OIL SOON:This message displays
when the life of the engine oil has expired and it
should be changed.
When you acknowledge the CHANGE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, you still
must reset the engine oil life system separately.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 362,Engine
Oil on page 359, andScheduled Maintenance
on page 460for more information.
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LOW FUEL:This message displays along with
a low fuel warning light on the instrument panel
cluster when your vehicle is low on fuel. Re ll
the fuel tank as soon as possible. SeeFuel on
page 346andFilling the Tank on page 349.
LOW WASHER FLUID:This message displays
when your vehicle is low on windshield washer uid.
Re ll the windshield washer uid reservoir as soon
as possible. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 380.
POWER STEERING:This message displays
if a problem has been detected with the electric
power steering, if your vehicle has this feature.
Have your vehicle serviced immediately by your
dealer/retailer.PUSH PARK PEDAL:This message displays if
the parking brake is left engaged. SeeParking
Brake on page 132for more information.
SERVICE AIR BAG:This message displays
if there is a problem with the airbag system.
Have your vehicle serviced immediately by
your dealer/retailer.
TRUNK AJAR:If your vehicle has a trunk, this
message displays when the trunk lid is not closed
completely. Make sure that the trunk lid is closed
completely. SeeTrunk (Sedan) on page 108
for more information.
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This light is located on
the instrument panel
cluster.
It will come on when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage
the cruise control. SeeCruise Control on page 176.
The TCS operates in all transmission shift lever
positions except park or neutral. But the system
can upshift the transmission only as high as
the shift lever position you’ve chosen, so you
should use the lower gears only when necessary.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation (Base
Models) on page 124orAutomatic Transaxle
Operation (SS Models) on page 128.This light is located on
the instrument panel
cluster.
When the system is off, this warning light will
come on to let you know if there’s a problem, or if
the system has been turned off.
When the warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the TCS on.
But you can turn the system off if you prefer.
To turn the system on or off, press the TC button
located under the climate controls. In order to
effectively “rock” the vehicle, you will need to
turn off TCS.
If you press the TC button once, the traction
control system will turn off and the TCS warning
light will come on. Press the TC button again
to turn the system back on. The TCS warning
light will go off.
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