
Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward
in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury
to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on
the seatback to be sure it is locked.
If the seats have manual reclining seatbacks, the lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard
side of the seat(s).
1-5

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation
Vehicles with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE), transmitter
functions work up to 30 feet (9 m) away from the vehicle.
There are other conditions which can affect the
performance of the transmitter. SeeRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2-4.
UNLOCK:Press to unlock
the driver door and turn on
the interior lamps. The
parking lamps may ash
and the horn may sound.
Press UNLOCK again within three seconds and all of
the doors unlock.LOCK:Press to lock all the doors. The parking lamps
may ash and the horn may sound.
If a door is open or ajar when LOCK is pressed, the horn
sounds several times to let you know the doors did not
lock and the content theft-deterrent system is not armed.
Pressing LOCK again while the horn is sounding or within
three seconds after the horn stops sounding, the doors
lock but the content theft-deterrent system does not arm
until the opened door is closed.
Different feedback modes can be programmed through
the Driver Information Center (DIC). See “Remote
Keyless Entry Feedback” underDIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-35.
L(Panic):Press to make the horn sound and the
headlamps and taillamps ash for up to 30 seconds.
To turn them off wait for 30 seconds, or press
Lagain,
or start the vehicle.
2-5

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
This vehicle has theft-deterrent features, however,
they do not make it impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
If your vehicle has the
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) system, the
vehicle has a content
theft-deterrent alarm
system.
To activate the content theft-deterrent system:
1. Close all the doors.
2. Lock the doors with the RKE transmitter. The
security light, located on the instrument panel
cluster, will ash.
If the lock button on the RKE transmitter is pressed, but
a door is open, the horn will chirp six times. Press
the lock button again, within three seconds, and the
doors will lock. Close the open door and the system will
be activated.If a locked door is not opened using the RKE transmitter,
or by OnStar
®, the pre-alarm will go off. If the engine
is not started or unlock not pressed within 10 seconds,
the front turn signal lamps will ash for two minutes,
and the horn will sound for two minutes, then will turn off
to save the battery power.
Remember, the theft-deterrent system will not activate if
you lock the doors with a key, the manual door lock,
or power door lock switch. The system can only
be activated using the RKE transmitter, or by OnStar
®.
SeeOnStar®System on page 2-43for additional
information. You should also remember that you can
start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the alarm
has been set off.
Here is how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
If you do not want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the
door key after the doors are closed.
Always unlock a door with the RKE transmitter.
Unlocking a door any other way will set off the
alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, you can turn off the
alarm by pressing unlock on the RKE transmitter.
The alarm will not stop if you try to unlock a door any
other way.
2-15

Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. From inside the vehicle, activate the system by
locking the doors with the RKE transmitter.
2. Unlock the door with the manual door lock and
open the door. This should set off the alarm.
3. To turn the alarm off, press the unlock button on
the RKE transmitter or start the engine.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the lights
ash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse
may be blown. To replace the fuse, seeFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-110.
If the alarm does not sound or the front turn signal
lamps do not ash, see your dealer/retailer for service.
Passlock®(U. S. Only)
Passlock®is a passive theft-deterrent system that
enables fuel if the vehicle is started with a valid key.
If an incorrect key is used or the ignition lock cylinder is
tampered with, the fuel system is disabled and the
vehicle does not start.
The security light turns off approximately ve seconds
after the engine is started. SeeSecurity Light on
page 3-34.
If the engine stalls and the security light ashes, wait
about 10 minutes until the light stops ashing before
trying to restart the engine. Release the key from
START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
the engine restarts if you turn the engine off. However,
the Passlock
®system is not working properly and
must be serviced by your dealer/retailer. The vehicle is
not protected by Passlock
®at this time. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-7.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
2-16

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-47for the trailer towing
capabilities of the vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has
four different positions.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the ignition to ON/RUN and
apply the regular brake pedal.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key to turn in the
ignition could cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key, make sure it is
all the way in, and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by hand, see your
dealer/retailer.
2-19

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
20 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Wipers
Power Windows
These features work when the key is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from
ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, power to these features
continue to work for up to 20 minutes or until a door is
opened.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The
engine will not start in any other position. To restart the
vehicle when it is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when the vehicle
is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in Neutral and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal down to the oor
and start the engine. The vehicle will not start if the
clutch pedal is not all the way down.
2-21

Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as the engine
warms. Do not race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and transmission
gently to allow the oil to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the engine
and protects components. If the ignition key is turned
to the START position, and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the engine will continue
cranking for a few seconds or until the vehicle starts.
If the engine does not start and the key is held in
START for many seconds, cranking will be stopped
after 15 seconds to prevent cranking motor damage.
To prevent gear damage, this system also prevents
cranking if the engine is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by turning the ignition
switch to ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try,
to let the cranking motor cool down.2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or−18°C),
it could be ooded with too much gasoline. Push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the oor and holding
it there as you hold the key in START for a maximum
of 15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool. When
the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If
the vehicle starts brie y but then stops again, repeat
the procedure. This clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and transmission
gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in the vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, the
engine might not perform properly. Any resulting
damage would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
2-22

Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before
starting the engine. The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You must fully
apply the brake pedal before you can shift from P (Park)
when the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever by
pushing the shift lever all the way into P (Park) as
you maintain brake application. Then move the shift
lever into another gear. SeeShifting Out of Park
(Automatic Transmission) on page 2-36.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-31.
N (Neutral):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when the
vehicle is are already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is rmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is
not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive):This position is for normal driving. It
provides the best fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to the next gear and
the vehicle will have more power.
2-25