Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Safety Belts
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system
parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-32for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry. SeeCare of Safety
Belts on page 5-89.
Airbags
The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled
maintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbag
readiness light is working. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-33for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,
or broken, the airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag coverings. If there
are any opened or broken airbag covers, have
the airbag covering and/or airbag module replaced.
For the location of the airbag modules, see
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-63.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
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Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems
in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death
in a crash. To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or
LATCH system (if equipped) parts?
After a very minor crash, nothing may be necessary.
But the belt assemblies that were used during any
crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your
dealer/retailer to have your safety belt assemblies
inspected or replaced.If your vehicle has the LATCH system and it was being
used during a crash, you may need new LATCH
system parts.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the
belt or LATCH system (if equipped), was not being used
at the time of the crash.
If an airbag in ates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier
in this section.
Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your
vehicle has been in a crash, if your airbag readiness
light stays on after you start your vehicle, or while you
are driving. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-33.
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Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers, especially children, can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle will not open it. You increase
the chance of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash if the doors are not
locked. So, wear safety belts properly
and lock the doors whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child can be overcome by extreme
heat and can suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke. Always
lock your vehicle whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors
can help prevent this from happening.
To lock or unlock the driver’s door, use the key from
the outside or the door lock from the inside.
Power Door Locks
T:The power door lock switches are located on the
driver’s door.
To unlock the doors, press the right side of the
switch.
Remove the ignition key and press the left side
of the switch to lock all of the doors.
Delayed Locking
A chime will sound to indicate a door or liftgate is
open when you try to lock the doors with the power
door lock switch. The doors will not lock, and the
theft-deterrent system will not arm until all the doors
are closed and ve seconds have passed.
Automatic Door Lock
The vehicle’s doors are programmed to lock when
the shift lever is moved into a forward gear.
If someone needs to get in or out of the vehicle after
the doors have been locked, place the shift lever
into PARK (P). You may also unlock all doors using
the power door lock switch or unlock one door using
the inside manual door lock.
The automatic door lock feature cannot be disabled.
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Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-7
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-8
Rainsense™ II Wipers.....................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Rear Window Wiper/Washer...........................3-11
Cruise Control..............................................3-11
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Wiper Activated Headlamps............................3-14
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-15
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-15
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-16
Dome Lamp .................................................3-17
Entry Lighting...............................................3-17
Reading Lamps............................................3-17
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-17
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-18Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
Automatic Climate Control System...................3-23
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-28
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-28
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-30
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-31
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-32
Trip Odometer..............................................3-32
Tachometer.................................................3-32
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-32
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-33
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-34
Charging System Light..................................3-36
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-37
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light. . . .3-37
Speed Sensitive Power Steering (SSPS)
Warning Light...........................................3-38
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light. . . .3-39
Electronic Stability Program Indicator Light.......3-39
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-40
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-41
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-43
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-28.
B. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-16.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-31.
E. Windshield Wiper Lever. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-8.
F. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-52.
G. Auxiliary Input Jack. SeeRadio(s) on page 3-55.
H. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 3-14. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped). See
Fog Lamps on page 3-16.
I. Instrument Panel Storage Area. SeeInstrument
Panel Storage on page 2-44.
J. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
K. Cruise Control Buttons. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-11.L. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
M. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
N. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-70.
O. Rear Window Wiper/Washer. SeeRear Window
Wiper/Washer on page 3-11.
P. Traction Control System Button. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-7.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
(Base) on page 2-22orAutomatic Transmission
Operation (Uplevel) on page 2-25.
R. Climate Control. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-19.
S. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
T. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-34.
U. Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Display.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-32.
V. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-43.
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Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven, in either miles or kilometers.
If your vehicle needs a new odometer installed, the new
one will be set to the mileage total of the old odometer.
If it cannot, it will be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading
when the new odometer was installed. If the mileage
is unknown, the label should then indicate “previous
mileage unknown.”
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 the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminders
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime will come on for
several seconds to remind people to fasten their safety
belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay
on for several seconds,
then it will ash for
several more.
This chime and light is repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driver’s belt
is already buckled, neither the chime nor the light will
come on.
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Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
Several seconds after the engine is started, a chime will
sound for several seconds to remind the front passenger
to buckle their safety belt. This would only occur if the
passenger airbag is enabled. SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-65for more information. The
passenger safety belt light will also come on and stay on
for several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come on.
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 1-55.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. The light
should go out and the
system is ready.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Driving Your Vehicle
Whenever we drive, we are taking on an important
responsibility. This is true for any motor
vehicle — passenger car, van, truck, sport utility.
Driver behavior, the driving environment, and the
vehicle’s design all affect how well a vehicle performs.
But statistics show that the most important factor, by far,
is how we drive.
Knowing how these three factors work together can help
you understand how your vehicle handles and what
you can do to avoid many types of crashes, including
a rollover crash.
Driver Behavior
The single most important thing is this: everyone in the
vehicle, including the driver, should buckle up. SeeSafety
Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1-14. In fact, most
serious injuries and fatalities to unbelted occupants can
be reduced or prevented by the use of safety belts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is signi cantly more
likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. In addition,
avoiding excessive speed, sudden or abrupt turns, and
drunken or aggressive driving can help make trips safer
and avoid the possibility of a crash, especially a rollover
crash. This section provides many useful tips to help you
drive more safely.
Driving Environment
You can also help avoid a rollover or other type of crash
by being prepared for driving in inclement weather, at
night, or during other times where visibility or traction
may be limited, such as on curves, slippery roads,
or hilly terrain. Unfamiliar surroundings can also have
hidden hazards.
To help you learn more about driving in different
conditions, this section contains information about city,
freeway, and off-road driving, as well as other hints
for driving in various weather conditions.
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