
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 sensing system has turned
off the passenger’s frontal airbag, 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
(With Passenger Sensing System)in the Index.
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 if one
is available and check with your dealer.
93

The passenger sensing system is designed to
enable (may inflate) 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.
94

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 inflate while someone is
working on your vehicle. Your dealer 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 437.
{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.
96

Instrument Panel Overview........................ 144
Hazard Warning Flashers.......................... 146
Other Warning Devices............................. 146
Horn.......................................................... 146
Tilt Wheel.................................................. 147
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................. 147
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................. 148
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.......... 149
Flash-to-Pass............................................ 149
Windshield Wipers..................................... 149
Windshield Washer.................................... 150
Cruise Control........................................... 151
Exterior Lamps.......................................... 154
Headlamps on Reminder........................... 155
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)................. 156
Instrument Panel Brightness...................... 156
Dome Lamps............................................. 156
Dome Lamp Override................................ 157
Entry Lighting............................................ 157
Exit Lighting.............................................. 157Reading Lamps......................................... 157
Battery Run-Down Protection..................... 158
Accessory Power Outlet(s)........................ 158
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter................ 159
Climate Controls......................................... 159
Climate Control System............................. 159
Outlet Adjustment...................................... 162
Rear Heating System................................ 163
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating
System.................................................. 164
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators..... 166
Instrument Panel Cluster........................... 167
Speedometer and Odometer...................... 168
Trip Odometer........................................... 168
Safety Belt Reminder Light........................ 168
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light....... 169
Airbag Readiness Light............................. 169
Airbag Off Light......................................... 170
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............. 172
Charging System Light.............................. 174
Section 3 Instrument Panel
141

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 162.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 147.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 167.
D. Shift Lever. SeeStarting the Engine on
page 122.
E. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 159.
F. Audio System(s). SeeAudio System(s) on
page 187.
G. Exterior Lamp Controls. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 154.
H. Tow/Haul Mode Button. See “Tow/Haul Mode”
underTowing a Trailer on page 266.I. Rear Heating System (If Equipped). SeeRear
Heating System on page 163.
J. Accessory Power Outlets/Cigarette Lighter. See
Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 158and
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter on page 159.
K. Airbag Off Switch. SeeAirbag Off Switch
on page 86.
L. Storage Compartment. SeeStorage Areas on
page 139.
M. StabiliTrak
®Button (If Equipped), Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator, and High-Idle System
(If Equipped). SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 235orPassenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 172.
145

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 doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Airbag Off Light
If your vehicle is equipped with an airbag off
switch, when you turn the right front passenger’s
airbag off, the airbag off light will come on and
stay on to remind you that the airbag has
been turned off. This light will go off when you turn
the airbag back on again. SeeAirbag Off Switch
on page 86for more on this, including important
safety information.
United StatesCanada
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