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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 or
keeps ashing after you start your
vehicle, it means the airbag system and
safety belt pretension 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.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has a passenger airbag status
indicator in the instrument panel.
The indicator next to the
passenger airbag status
indicator lights is the
passenger safety
belt reminder light.
SeeSafety Belt Reminder Light on page 161for
more information on that indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to ON, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and
OFF as a system check.
Then, after several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF if there is weight
on the seat or if the safety belt is buckled, to let you
know the status of the right front passenger’s frontal
and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped).
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If the word OFF is lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped). SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 74for information about the conditions that
may affect the airbag system and also important
safety information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights or the passenger
sensing system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag readiness
light ever come on together, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger seat may not have the
protection of an airbag. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 162.
Charging System Light
This light comes on
brie y when you turn on
the ignition, with the
engine not running, as a
check to show you it
is working.
It should go out when the engine starts. If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging
system. It could indicate that you have a loose
generator drive belt or another electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the
charging system light on, be certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in
your vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They
Are for Everyone on page 18.
{CAUTION:
Defensive driving really means “Be ready
for anything.” On city streets, rural roads,
or expressways, it means “Always expect
the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians
or other drivers are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. Rear-end
collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow
enough following distance. Defensive
driving requires that a driver concentrate
on the driving task. Anything that
distracts from the driving task makes
proper defensive driving more difficult
and can even cause a collision, with
resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help
do these things, or pull off the road in a
safe place to do them. These simple
defensive driving techniques could save
your life.
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An emergency like this requires close attention
and a quick decision. If you are holding the
steering wheel at the recommended 9 and
3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without removing either
hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you
have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your vehicle’s right wheels have
dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while you are driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below
the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy.
Ease off the accelerator and then, if there
is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle
straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn
the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until
the right front tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down
the roadway.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid (don’t over ll), engine oil,
drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 297.
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