
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot
see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness
and death.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
You might have exhaust coming in if:
The exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or the exhaust system has
been modi ed improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
2-30

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-30.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 4-13.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your
vehicle when the engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when it is on fairly level
ground, always set the parking brake and
move the automatic transmission shift lever
to PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift
lever to NEUTRAL.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will
not move. If you have an automatic transmission,
seeShifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission)
on page 2-27.
2-31

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-8
Other Warning Devices...................................3-8
Horn.............................................................3-8
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-9
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-9
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................3-10
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................3-10
Flash-to-Pass...............................................3-10
Windshield Wipers........................................3-11
Windshield Washer.......................................3-12
Rear Window Wiper/Washer (Hatchback).........3-12
Cruise Control..............................................3-13
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-15
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-16
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-16
Fog Lamps..................................................3-17
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-17
Dome Lamp.................................................3-18
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.....................3-18
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-18
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-19
Clock..........................................................3-20Climate Controls............................................3-20
Climate Control System.................................3-20
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-24
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-26
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-27
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-29
Trip Odometer..............................................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-30
Airbag Readiness Light.................................
.3-30
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator (Sedan).......3-31
Charging System Light..................................3-33
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-33
Antilock Brake System Warning Light...............3-34
Hold Mode Light...........................................3-35
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-35
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-36
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-36
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-39
Fog Lamp Light............................................3-40
Cruise Control Light......................................3-40
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

If your vehicle has a lever (base model), move the lever
to choose the recirculation mode.
Using the recirculation mode for extended periods may
cause your windows to fog. If this happens, select
the defrost mode.
:(Outside Air):This mode brings outside air into
the vehicle.
If your vehicle has a recirculation button (uplevel
model), press the button until the recirculation mode
is turned off. Your vehicle will then return to outside
air mode.
If your vehicle has a lever (base model), move the lever
to choose the outside air mode.
A/C (Air Conditioning):If your vehicle has air
conditioning, follow these steps to use the system.
Start the engine and set the fan control knob to
the desired speed. The air conditioning compressor
does not operate when the fan control knob is in the
off position. Press the A/C button to turn the air
conditioning compressor on and off. When the A/C
button is pressed, an indicator light in the button
comes on to show that air conditioning is activated.On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select the highest fan speed.
3. Press the A/C button.
4. Select the recirculation mode.
5. Select the coolest temperature.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of the vehicle to become too dry.
To prevent this from happening, after the air in the vehicle
has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip underneath
the vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine.
This is normal.
3-22

Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
or moisture condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate control system is used
properly. There are two modes to clear fog or frost from
your windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the
windows of fog or moisture and warm the passengers.
Use the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly.
For best results, clear all snow and ice from the
windshield before defrosting.
Select one of these available modes from the right knob.
É(Defog):This mode directs most of the air to the
windshield and the floor outlets. A small amount of air is
also directed to the outboard outlets for the side windows
and to the instrument panel side outlets. When this
mode is selected, the system runs the air-conditioning
compressor. To defog the windows faster, turn the
temperature control knob clockwise to the warmest
setting.
1(Defrost):This mode directs the air to the
windshield and the outboard outlets for the side windows.
A small amount of air is also directed to the instrument
panel side outlets. When this mode is selected, the
system runs the air-conditioning compressor. To defrost
the windows faster, turn the temperature control knob
clockwise to the warmest setting.
Do not drive the vehicle until all windows are clear.
Rear Window and Outside Mirror
Defogger
Your vehicle may have a rear window and outside
mirror defogger. This feature only works when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN.
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window. Before
using this feature, clear as much snow from the
rear window as possible.
<(Rear Window Defogger):Press this button to
turn the rear window and outside mirror defogger on
or off. An indicator light in the button comes to show
that the feature is activated.
If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, the rear
window defogger will remain on until the button is
pressed again or the engine is turned off.
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the rear window
defogger will turn off about 10 minutes after the button
is pressed. The defogger can also be turned off by
pressing the button again or by turning the engine off.
Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar to
the defogger grid.
3-23

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages on
your vehicle.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
the warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is
a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As the
details show on the next few pages, some warning lights
come on briefly when you start the engine just to let
you know they are working. If you are familiar with
this section, you should not be alarmed when this
happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when there is
a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
as you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells
you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s
advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly and even
dangerous. So please get to know your vehicle’s
warning lights and gages. They can be a big help.
3-26

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can record the number of miles, used
in the United States, or kilometers, used in Canada,
traveled for up to two trips.
You can cycle between the odometer and trip
odometers A and B by pressing the reset button
located in the lower right area of the speedometer.
By pressing the reset button, you can tell how many miles
or kilometers have been recorded on either Trip A or
Trip B since you last set the trip odometer back to zero.
To reset each trip odometer to zero, press and hold
the reset button. The reset button resets only the
trip odometer that is being displayed. Each trip
odometer must be reset individually.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays your engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine above 6,500 rpm,
your vehicle could be damaged, and the damages
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
operate the engine with the tachometer above
6,500 rpm.Hatchback
Sedan
3-29

Safety Belt Reminders
Safety Belt Reminder Light
The safety belt light will
come on when the engine
is started and stay on
until the driver’s safety belt
is buckled.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, the light will not
come on.
Safety Belt Reminder Tone
If your vehicle has this feature, a tone will sound for
several seconds when the engine is started to remind
people to fasten their safety belts. The tone will not
sound if the driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel
cluster, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the airbag sensor, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the airbag system,
seeAirbag System on page 1-56.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for
a few seconds. The light
should go out and the
system is ready.
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.
3-30