Defrosters
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is inoper-
able.
Safety Checks You Should Make Outside The
Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect for tread cuts or sidewall
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of all exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes
are detected, the cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
before engine start. If the bulb does not come on when
turning the key from OFF to ON, have the condition
checked promptly.
Certain conditions such as a loose or missing gas cap,
poor fuel quality, etc. may illuminate the light after
engine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the light
stays on through several of your typical driving cycles. In
most situations the vehicle will drive normally and will
not require towing.
The Malfunction Indicator Light flashes to alert you to
serious conditions that could lead to immediate loss of
power or severe catalytic converter damage. The vehicle
should be serviced as soon as possible if this occurs.
6. Airbag Warning Light
This light turns on and remains on for 6 to 8
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition
switch is first turned ON. If the light is not onduring starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, have
the system inspected by an authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
7. Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light
This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System.
The light will turn on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position and may stay on for as long as
four seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving, it
indicates that the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system
is not functioning and that service is required. However,
the conventional brake system will continue to operate
normally if the BRAKE warning light is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be serviced
as soon as possible to restore the benefits of Anti-Lock
brakes. If the ABS light does not turn on when the
Ignition switch is turned to the ON position, have the
light inspected by an authorized dealer.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 175
4
12. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires are significantly under-inflated. Ac-
cordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible,
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation alsoreduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver 's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 177
4
19. Transmission Range Indicator
This display indicator shows the automatic transmission
gear selection.
20. Fuel Gauge
The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank when
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
21. Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Warning Light
This light informs you of a problem with the
Electronic Throttle Control system. If a problem
is detected the light will come on while the
engine is running. Cycle the ignition key when
the vehicle has completely stopped and the gear selector
is placed in the P (Park) position. The light should turn
off. If the light remains lit with the engine running your
vehicle will usually be drivable, however, see your dealer
for service as soon as possible. If the light is flashing
when the engine is running, immediate service is re-
quired and you may experience reduced performance, anelevated/rough idle or engine stall and your vehicle may
require towing. The light will come on when the ignition
is first turned on and remain on briefly as a bulb check.
If the light does not come on during starting, have the
system checked by an authorized dealer.
22. Front Fog Light Indicator LightÐ If Equipped
This light shows the front fog lights are ON.
23. Voltage Warning Light
This light monitors the electrical system voltage.
The light should turn on momentarily as the
engine is started. If the light stays on or turns on while
driving, it indicates a problem with the charging system.
Immediate service should be obtained.
24. Low Fuel Warning Light
When the fuel level reaches approximately 2.3 U.S.
Gallons (8.7 Liters) this light will come on and
remain on until fuel is added. The Low Fuel
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 181
4
Warning Light may turn on and off again, especially
during and after hard braking, accelerations, or turns.
This occurs due to the shifting of the fuel in the tank.
Also, a single chime will sound.
ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER
(EVIC)
The Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) fea-
tures a driver-interactive display. It is located on the
bottom of the tachometer in the instrument cluster. The
EVIC consists of the following:
²System Status
²Vehicle Information Warning Message Displays
²Personal Settings (Customer Programmable Features)
²Compass Display
²Outside Temperature Display
²Trip Computer Functions
Electronic Vehicle Information Center
182 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
²LEFT REAR LOW PRESSURE (Premium TPM System
Only)
²RIGHT REAR LOW PRESSURE (Premium TPM Sys-
tem Only)
Trip Functions
Press and release the MENU button until one of the
following Trip Functions displays in the EVIC:
²Distance To Empty
²Trip A
²Trip B
²Elapsed Time
²Service Distance
²Engine Oil Pressure
²Engine Oil Temperature
²Display Units of Measure in
Press the SCROLL button to cycle through all the Trip
Computer functions.
The Trip Functions mode displays the following informa-
tion:
²Distance To Empty (DTE)
Shows the estimated distance that can be traveled with
the fuel remaining in the tank. This estimated distance is
determined by a weighted average of the instantaneous
and average fuel economy, according to the current fuel
tank level. DTE cannot be reset through the FUNCTION
SELECT button.
NOTE:Significant changes in driving style or vehicle
loading will greatly affect the actual drivable distance of
the vehicle, regardless of the DTE displayed value.
186 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
²When the DTE value is less than 30 miles (48 km)
estimated driving distance, the DTE display will
change to a text display of9LOW FUEL.9This display
will continue until the vehicle runs out of fuel. Adding
a significant amount of fuel to the vehicle will turn off
the9LOW FUEL9text and a new DTE value will
display.
²Trip A
Shows the total distance traveled for trip A since the last
reset.
²Trip B
Shows the total distance traveled for trip B since the last
reset.
²Elapsed Time
Shows the total elapsed time of travel since the last reset
when the ignition switch is in the ACC position. Elapsed
time will increment when the ignition switch is in the ON
or START position.
²Engine Oil Pressure
Shows the current engine oil pressure. The scale will read
from 0±100 psi (0±689 kPa).
²Engine Oil Temperature
Shows the current engine oil temperature. The scale will
read from 140É ± 300ÉF (60É ± 149ÉC).
²Display Units of Measure in:
To make your selection, press and release the FUNC-
TION SELECT button until ªUSº or ªMETRICº appears.
To Reset The Display
Reset will only occur while a resettable function is being
displayed. Press and release the FUNCTION SELECT
button once to clear the resettable function being dis-
played. To reset all resettable functions, press and release
the FUNCTION SELECT button a second time within 3
seconds of resetting the currently displayed function
(>Reset ALL will display during this 3 second window).
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 187
4
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