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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 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 ash for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag (if
equipped) if the system detects a
rear-facing child restraint, no system is
fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that
an airbag will not deploy under some
unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be secured in a rear seat,
even if the airbag is or airbags are off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol 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. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 86for more on this,
including important safety information.If, after several seconds, both 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/retailer for service.
{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. 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 airbag(s). SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 212for more on
this, including important safety
information.
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Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on brie y
when you turn on the
ignition, but the engine is
not running, as a check
to show you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it
stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the charging system.
It could indicate that you have problems with a
generator drive belt, or another electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
When this light comes on, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will also display the SERVICE
BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM message. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 239
for more information.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
Voltmeter Gage
When the engine is not
running, but the ignition
is turned to ON, this
gage shows the
battery’s state of charge
in DC volts.
When the engine is running, this gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The vehicle’s
charging system regulates voltage based on
the state of charge of the battery. The voltmeter
may uctuate. This is normal. Readings between
the low and high warning zones indicate the
normal operating range.
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Readings in the low warning zone may occur
when a large number of electrical accessories are
operating in the vehicle and the engine is left
idling for an extended period.
If there is a problem with the battery charging
system, a SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM message will appear in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) and/or the charging
system light will come on. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 239andCharging System
Light on page 216for more information.
However, readings in either warning zone may
indicate a possible problem in the electrical
system. Have the vehicle serviced as soon as
possible.Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on brie y when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
This light may also come on due to low brake
uid. SeeBrakes on page 410for more
information.
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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your
parking brake. The light will stay on if your parking
brake does not release fully. If it stays on after
your parking brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. Make sure the parking
brake is fully released. You may notice that the
pedal is harder to push or, the pedal may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 358.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS).
This light will come on
when your engine is
started and may stay on
for several seconds.
This is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to off. If the
light comes on and the chime sounds when
you are driving, pull your vehicle over to a safe
location and stop as soon as possible.
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Turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again
to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes,
but you do not have antilock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you do
not have antilock brakes and there is a problem
with your regular brakes. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 217earlier in this section.
The ABS warning light will come on brie y
when you turn the ignition key to ON. This is
normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
This warning light
should come on brie y
when the engine is
started.
If the warning light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem. If it stays on, or comes on when you are
driving, there may be a problem with your
StabiliTrak
®system and your vehicle may need
service. When this warning light is on, the system
is off and will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
This light will also ash when the StabiliTrak
®
system is active.
If the StabiliTrak
®system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time
when the system is turned on, your vehicle needs
service. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 329
for more information.
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Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning
light will come on when
the engine has
overheated.
If this happens you should pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 400for more information.
Notice:Driving with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on could cause your
vehicle to overheat. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 400. Your vehicle could be damaged,
and it might not be covered by your warranty.
Never drive with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on.
This light will also come on brie y when starting
your vehicle. If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
Under normal driving conditions the gage will
read 210°F (100 °C) or less. If the gage pointer is
near 260°F (125 °C), the engine is too hot.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions, you should pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 400for more
information.
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to make sure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The check engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be
indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This can prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed
to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after a while, the emission
controls might not work as well, your vehicle’s
fuel economy might not be as good, and the
engine might not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs that might not be
covered by your warranty.
Notice:Modi cations made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of your vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those of the same
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and can cause
this light to come on. Modi cations to these
systems could lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This could also
result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 377.
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