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The air conditioning in this system is automatic.
Pressing this button while in AUTO mode will
cause the LED to flash three times and remain off.
This indicates that the system is in AUTO and requesting
the air conditioning is not necessary.
The system will automatically control recircu-
lation. However, pressing this button will tem-
porarily put the system in recirculation mode.
This can be used when outside conditions such
as smoke, odors, dust, or high humidity are present. This
will cause the LED to illuminate.
NOTE:
²The surface of the climate control panel, and the top
center of the instrument panel should be kept free of
debris due to the climate control sensor's location.
Mud on the windshield may also cause poor operation
of this system.
²To provide you with maximum comfort in the auto-
matic mode, during cold start-ups the blower fan will
remain off until the engine warms up. However, the
fan will engage immediately if the defrost mode is
selected or if you manually select a blower speed.
²Under certain conditions (after the vehicle is turned
off) the climate control system may recalibrate and a
noise may be heard for 20 seconds. This is part of
normal operation.
²Most of the time, when in Automatic operation, you
can temporarily put the system into recirculation
mode by pressing the Recirc button. However, under
certain conditions in automatic the system is blowing
air out of the defrost vents. When these conditions are
present and the Recirc button is pressed the indicator
will flash and remain off. This tells you that you are
unable to go into recirculation mode at this time. If you
would like to go to Recirculation mode, you must first
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 231
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Operating Tips
Window Fogging
Windows will fog on the inside when the humidity inside
the vehicle is high. This often occurs in mild or cool
temperatures when it's rainy or humid. In most cases
turning on the Air-conditioning (pressing the snowflake
button) will clear the fog. Adjust the temperature control,
air direction and blower speed to maintain comfort.
As the temperature gets colder it may be necessary to
direct air onto the windshield. Adjust the temperature
control and blower speed to maintain comfort. Higher
blower speeds will reduce fogging. Interior fogging on
the windshield can be quickly removed by selecting the
defrost mode.
Regular cleaning of the inside of the windows with a
non-filming cleaning solution (vinegar and water works
very well) will help prevent contaminates (cigarettesmoke, perfumes, etc.) from sticking to the windows.
Contaminates increase the rate of window fogging.Summer Operation
Air conditioned vehicles must be protected with a high
quality antifreeze coolant during summer to provide
proper corrosion protection and to raise the boiling point
of the coolant for protection against overheating. A 50 %
concentration is recommended. Refer to Recommended
Fluids and Genuine Parts for the proper coolant type.
When using the air conditioner in extremely heavy traffic
in hot weather especially when towing a trailer, addi-
tional engine cooling may be required. If this situation is
encountered, operate the transmission in a lower gear to
increase engine RPM, coolant flow and fan speed. When
stopped in heavy traffic, it may be necessary to shift into
N (Neutral) and depress the accelerator slightly for fast
idle operation to increase coolant flow and fan speed.
236 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
mStarting Procedures.....................242
NNormal Starting......................243
NExtremely Cold Weather (Below220ÉF Or
229ÉC).............................243
NIf Engine Fails To Start.................244
NAfter Starting........................245
mAutomatic Transmission..................245
NShift Lock Manual Override Ð If Equipped . . . 246
NBrake/Transmission Interlock System.......247N5±Speed Automatic Transmission..........247
NGear Ranges.........................248
NRocking The Vehicle...................249
mAutoStick............................250
NAutoStick Operation...................251
NAutoStick General Information............252
mParking Brake.........................253
mAnti-Lock Brake System..................254
mPower Steering........................258
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mTire Safety Information...................259
NTire Markings........................259
NTire Identification Number (TIN)..........262
NTire Loading And Tire Pressure...........263
mTires Ð General Information...............267
NRun Flat Tires........................267
NTire Pressure.........................267
NTire Inflation Pressures.................269
NTire Pressures For High Speed Operation....270
NRadial-Ply Tires......................271
NTire Spinning........................271
NTread Wear Indicators..................272
NLife Of Tire.........................272NReplacement Tires.....................273
NAlignment And Balance.................274
mTire Rotation Recommendations............275
mTire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........275
NPremium System......................275
NGeneral Information...................278
mFuel Requirements......................278
N6.1L Engine.........................278
NReformulated Gasoline.................279
NGasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............279
NMMT In Gasoline.....................280
NMaterials Added To Fuel................280
NFuel System Cautions..................280
240 STARTING AND OPERATING
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STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.WARNING!
²Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Don't leave the keys in
the ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
²Do not leave animals or children inside parked
vehicles in hot weather; interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
²Be sure to turn off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition switch if you want to rest or sleep
in your car. Accidents can be caused by inadvert-
ently moving the gear selection lever. Accidents can
also be caused by pressing the accelerator pedal.
This may cause excessive heat in the exhaust sys-
tem, resulting in overheating and vehicle fire,
which may cause serious or fatal injuries.
242 STARTING AND OPERATING
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Normal Starting
The gear selector must be in the ªNº (Neutral) or ªPº
(Park) position before you can start the engine. Apply the
brakes before shifting into any driving gear.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or depressing the
accelerator pedal.
Do notpress the accelerator. Use the Fob with Integrated
Key to briefly turn the ignition switch to the START
position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The
starter motor will continue to run, and it will disengage
automatically when the engine is running. If the engine
fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in 10
seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
normal starting procedure.
Extremely Cold Weather (below220ÉF or229ÉC)
To insure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your dealer) is recommended.
STARTING AND OPERATING 243
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If Engine Fails to Start
WARNING!
²Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
²Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Un-
burned fuel could enter the catalytic converter and
once the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be
dangerous if done improperly. Refer to Section 6
of this manual for proper jump starting proce-
dures and follow them carefully.
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
ªNormal Startingº or ªExtreme Cold Weatherº proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the normal starting procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15
seconds before trying again.
244 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 246 of 405
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
²Shift into P (Park) only after the vehicle has come
to a complete stop.
²Shift into or out of R (Reverse) only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
²Do not shift from R (Reverse), P (Park), or N
(Neutral) into any forward gear when the engine is
above idle speed.
²Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
STARTING AND OPERATING 245
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