
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the
instrument panel cluster ever comes on
and stays on, it means that something
may be wrong with the airbag system.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If this ever happens, have the vehicle
serviced promptly, because an adult-size
person sitting in the right front passenger’s
seat may not have the protection of the
frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 131for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material such as a
blanket, or aftermarket equipment such as seat
covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers can
affect how well the passenger sensing system
operates. Remove any additional material from the
seat cushion before reinstalling or securing the
child restraint and before a small occupant,
including a small adult, sits in the passenger
position. You may want to consider not using seat
covers or other aftermarket equipment if your
vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 55for more information about
modi cations that can affect how the system
operates.
53

Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder
light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates,
retractors and anchorages are working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety
belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have
it repaired. SeeCare of Safety Belts on page 317
for more information.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers,
and have them repaired or replaced. The airbag
system does not need regular maintenance.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the
driver’s or the right front passenger’s airbag,
the airbag may not work properly. You may
have to replace the airbag module in the
steering wheel or both the airbag module
and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s airbag. Do not open or break the
airbag coverings.
56

Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems
in your vehicle. A damaged restraint
system may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in serious injury
or even death in a crash. To help make
sure your restraint systems are working
properly after a crash, have them inspected
and any necessary replacements made as
soon as possible.
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be
necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they
would be if worn during a more severe crash,
then you need new parts.If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have
safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New
parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt
was not being used at the time of the collision.
If an airbag in ates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system
earlier in this section.
If the frontal airbags in ate, you will also need
to replace the driver’s and passenger’s safety belt
retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the
new retractor assembly will be there to help protect
you in a collision.
After a crash you may need to replace the driver
and front passenger’s safety belt retractor
assemblies, even if the frontal airbags have not
deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety
belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt
pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners
checked if your vehicle has been in a collision,
or if your airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle or while you are driving.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 131.
57

Remote Trunk Release
To open the trunk from inside the vehicle, press
the remote trunk release button located in the
glovebox.
The remote trunk release will only work when
either the ignition is off or in ACC, the parking
brake is engaged, or the vehicle speed is less than
2 mph (3 km/h).
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
Notice:Do not use the emergency trunk
release handle as a tie-down or anchor point
when securing items in the trunk as it
could damage the handle. The emergency
trunk release handle is only intended to aid a
person trapped in a latched trunk, enabling
them to open the trunk from the inside.
There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk
release handle located inside the trunk on
the driver’s side. This handle will glow following
exposure to light. If someone is locked in the trunk,
they can pull the release handle and push the
trunk lid open from the inside to open the trunk.
69

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some
cities. Although your vehicle has a number of
theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put on it can make it impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have a content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
The security light,
located on the
instrument panel cluster,
will turn on to indicate
that arming has
been initiated.
Once the system is armed, the security light will
ash once every three seconds.
If the security light is ashing twice per second,
this means that a door is open.
Arming the System
While the ignition is off, press the remote keyless
entry transmitter lock button, to arm the system.
The system will arm after either of these
things occur:
Thirty seconds after all the doors are closed.
Sixty seconds with any door open.
If you press the lock button on the transmitter a
second time while all the doors are closed,
the system will arm immediately. The system arms
in 60 seconds if a door is open, or after the
open door is closed.
If you do not want to arm the system, lock the car
with the manual door lock knobs.
72

Disarming the System
You can disarm the system by doing any one of
the following:
Press the unlock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
Turn the ignition on.
If the system is armed and the trunk is opened
using the trunk release button on the transmitter,
the system will temporarily disarm itself and re-arm
when the trunk has been closed. This allows you to
exit the vehicle, lock the doors using the transmitter,
or open the trunk using the transmitter without
having to disarm and re-arm the system.
Once the system is disarmed, the security light will
stop ashing.
How the System Alarm is Activated
If the system is armed, it can be activated by:
Opening the driver’s door or trunk. This causes
a ten second pre-alarm chirping noise followed
by the horn sounding and lights ashing for
30 seconds.
Opening a passenger’s door. This immediately
causes a full alarm of the horn sounding and
lights ashing for 30 seconds.
After the 30 second alarm ends, the system will
re-arm itself.
How to Turn Off the System Alarm
To turn off the system alarm, do one of the
following:
Press the lock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The system will then
re-arm itself.
Press the unlock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. This will also disarm the
system.
Insert the key in the ignition and turn it on.
This will also disarm the system.
73

When the PASS-Key®III+ system senses that
someone is using the wrong key, it prevents
the vehicle from starting. Anyone using a
trial-and-error method to start the vehicle will be
discouraged because of the high number of
electrical key codes.
When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does
not start and the security light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on, the key may have a
damaged transponder. Turn the ignition off and
try again.
If the engine still does not start, and the key
appears to be not damaged, try another ignition
key. At this time, you may also want to check the
fuse, seeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 326. If the engine still does not start with the
other key, your vehicle needs service. If your
vehicle does start, the rst key may be faulty. See
your dealer who can service the PASS-Key
®III+
to have a new key made. In an emergency,
contact Roadside Assistance. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 368.It may be possible for the PASS-Key
®III+ decoder
to “learn” the transponder value of a new or
replacement key. Up to 10 keys may be
programmed for the vehicle. The following
procedure is for programming additional keys only.
If your vehicle was rst sold in Canada, or if all
the currently programmed keys are lost or do not
operate, you must see your dealer or a locksmith
who can service PASS-Key
®III+ to have keys
made and programmed to the system.
See your dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to get a new key blank that is cut
exactly as the ignition key that operates the
system.
To program the new key do the following:
1. Verify that the new key has a
1stamped on it.
2. Insert the already programmed key in the
ignition and start the engine. If the engine
will not start, see your dealer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to
LOCK, and remove the key.
75