WARNING!
²Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, the airbags won't deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you have
airbags.
²Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during airbag deployment could cause seri-
ous injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back,
comfortably extending your arms to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.
²If the vehicle has side curtain airbags, they also
need room to inflate. Do not lean against the door
or window. Sit upright in the center of the seat.
Air Bag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
²Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
²Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (if equipped)
²Airbag Warning Light
²Driver Airbag
²Front Passenger Airbag
²Supplemental Side Curtain Airbags above Side Win-
dows (if equipped)
²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Interconnecting Wiring
²Seatbelt Reminder Light
²Knee Impact Bolsters
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
2
²Front Acceleration Sensors
²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
How The Airbag System Works
²
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC)determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from direction provided by the ORC. This ORC will
detect roll over.
²The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the knee bolster, the instru-
ment panel, and the steering wheel and column. If the
key is in the LOCK position, in the ACC position, or
not in the ignition, the airbags are not on and will not
inflate.
²The ORC also turns on the Airbag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for 6 to 8
seconds as a self-check when the ignition is
first turned on. After the self-check, the
Airbag Warning Light will turn off. If the ORC detects
a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns on the
Airbag Warning Light either momentarily or continu-
ously. A single chime will sound if the light comes on
again after initial start up.
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won't have the airbags to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have the airbag system checked right
away.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
²The Airbag Warning Light does not come on or flickers
during the 6 to 8 seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned on.
²The light remains on or flickers after the 6 to 8 second
interval.
²The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an accident, your vehicle is designed to
record up to 5 - seconds of specific vehicle data param-
eters (see list below) in an event data recorder prior to the
moment of airbag deployment, or near-deployment, and
up to a quarter second of high-speed deceleration data
during and/or after air bag deployment or near-
deployment. EDR data are ONLY recorded if an airbag
deploys, or nearly deploys, and are otherwise unavail-
able.
NOTE:
1. A near-deployment event occurs when the airbag
sensor detects severe vehicle deceleration usually indica-
tive of a crash, but not severe enough to warrant airbag
deployment.
2. Under certain circumstances, EDR data may not be
recorded (e.g., loss of battery power).
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
the accelerator pedal will increase vehicle speed like
normal. When either the brake or the accelerator is
released, HDC will control the vehicle back to the origi-
nal set speed.
HDC is only intended for low speed off-road driving. At
vehicle speeds above 31 mph (50 km/h) HDC will no
longer function. If the HDC indicator lamp begins to
flash it means that the brakes are getting too hot and the
vehicle should be stopped to allow the brakes to cool.
ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESP cor-
rects for over/under steering of the vehicle by applying
the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counter-
acting the over/under steer condition. Engine power
may also be reduced to help the vehicle maintain the
desired path. ESP uses sensors in the vehicle to determine
the vehicle path intended by the driver and compares itto the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path
does not match the intended path, ESP applies the brake
of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the
oversteer or understeer condition
²Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
²Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
ESP/TCS Indicator Light
The ªESP/TCS Indicator Lightº located in the instrument
cluster, starts to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESP system becomes active. The ªESP/TCS Indicator
Lightº also flashes when TCS is active. If the ªESP/TCS
Indicator Lightº begins to flash during acceleration, ease
up on the accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road conditions.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 141
3
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use tire sealant from a can, or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
23. Four-Wheel-Drive Light
This light indicates the vehicle is in 4WD locked mode.
24. Odometer/Trip Odometer
A vacuum fluorescent display indicates the total distance
the vehicle has been driven. Also, the cluster will display,replacing the odometer/trip odometer, vehicle warning
messages such as: door/gate ajar and loose gas cap.
Loose gas cap will be displayed from the Odometer/Trip
Odometer on all models.
NOTE:If vehicle is equipped with the optional Elec-
tronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) in the instru-
ment cluster, all warnings including ªdoorº, and ªgATEº
will only be displayed in the EVIC display. For additional
information, refer to ªElectronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter Ð If Equippedº in Section 3.
U.S. federal regulations require that upon transfer of
vehicle ownership, the seller certify to the purchaser the
correct mileage that the vehicle has been driven. There-
fore, if the odometer reading is changed during repair or
replacement, be sure to keep a record of the reading
before and after the service so that the correct mileage can
be determined.
176 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
NOTE:Magnetic materials should be kept away from
the Instrument Panel. This is where the compass sensor is
located.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 187
4
Premium System ± If Equipped
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses wireless
technology with wheel rim mounted electronic sensors to
monitor tire pressure levels. Sensors, mounted to each
wheel as part of the valve stem, transmit tire pressure
readings to the Receiver Module.
NOTE:It is particularly important, for you to check the
tire pressure in all of your tires regularly and to maintain
the proper pressure.
The TPMS consists of the following components:
²Receiver Module
²4 Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors
²3 Trigger Modules (mounted in three of the four wheel
wells)
²Various Tire Pressure Monitoring System Messages,
which display in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)
²Yellow Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Tire Pressure Monitoring Low Pressure Warnings
The Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Lamp will illumi-
nate in the instrument cluster, and an audible chime will
be activated when one or more of the four active road tire
pressures are low. The audible chime will sound once
every ignition cycle for each condition that it detects. In
addition, the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) will display a graphic of the pressure value(s)
with the low tire(s) flashing.
296 STARTING AND OPERATING
Display Settings
²Your system can be set to display pressure units in PSI,
kPa, or BAR.
NOTE:These display settings may not be available due
to Regulatory Authorities. In this case, the display will
only show approved units.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a compact spare
wheel and tire assembly that does not have a tire pressure
monitoring sensor. Therefore, it will not be monitored by
the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). In the event
that the compact spare tire is swapped with a low
pressure road tire, the next ignition key cycle will still
show the ªTire Pressure Monitoring Lampº to be ON, a
chime to sound, and the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) will still show the low tire pressure value
flashing on the graphic display. However, driving the
vehicle for up to 10 minutes above 15 mph (25 km/h) will
display a ªCHECK TPM SYSTEMº text message on theEVIC. This text message will then be followed by a
graphic, with ª- -ª in place of the flashing low pressure
value. For every subsequent key cycle, the ªTire Pressure
Monitoring Lampº will be ON, a chime will sound, a
ªCHECK TPM SYSTEMº text message will be display in
the EVIC, and the graphic display will have ª- -ª in place
of the pressure value of the spare tire location. Once the
original road tire has been properly repaired, and put
back onto the vehicle in place of the compact spare tire.
The TPMS will update the graphic display on the EVIC
with a new tire pressure value instead of ª- -ª, and the
ªTire Pressure Monitoring Lampº will be OFF as long as
none of the road tire(s) are below the low pressure
warning threshold. The vehicle may need to be driven for
up to 10 minutes above 15 mph (25 km/h) to receive this
information.
STARTING AND OPERATING 299
5