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STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Do not leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
Before starting the engine fully apply the parking brake,
press the clutch pedal to the floor, and place the shift
lever in NEUTRAL.NOTE:
•The engine will not start unless the clutch pedal is
pressed to the floor.
•If the key will not turn and the steering wheel is
locked, rotate the wheel in either direction to relieve
pressure on the locking mechanism and then turn the
key.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
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For most city driving, you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, 5th gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal,
and never try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch
pedal partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear
on the clutch.
Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
NOTE:During cold weather, until the transaxle lubri-
cant is warm, you may experience slightly higher shift
efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the transaxle.
Recommended Shift Speeds
To use your manual transaxle for optimal fuel economy,
it should be upshifted as listed in the following table.
Manual Transaxle Recommended Shift Speeds
Units in mph (km/h)
Engine
SizeAccel-
eration
Rate1to2 2to3 3to4 4to5
All En-
ginesAccel 14 (23) 23 (37) 29 (47) 45 (72)
Cruise 12 (19) 18 (29) 25 (40) 32 (52)
Downshifting
Proper downshifting will improve fuel economy and
prolong engine life.
CAUTION!
If you skip more than one gear while downshifting
or downshift at too high a vehicle speed, you could
damage the engine, transmission, or clutch.
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AUTOSTICK— IF EQUIPPED
Autostickis a driver-interactive transmission that offers
six manual ratio changes to provide you with more
control. Autostickallows you to maximize engine brak-
ing, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and
improve overall vehicle performance. This system can also
provide you with more control during passing, city driv-
ing, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, trailer
towing, and many other situations. Automatic ratio
changes upward will only occur to protect the Continu-
ously Variable Automatic Transaxle (CVT) and/or the
engine from overspeed. Changes down will only happen
at minimum engine speed to prevent stalling.
Operation
NOTE:Autostickis not functional until the CVT
warms up in cold weather.
Autostickoperation is activated in the DRIVE position
by moving the shift lever side-to-side. Moving the shiftlever to the (+) side will activate Autostickand shift up
to the next higher manual ratio, unless you are already
operating in or near Overdrive, in which case 6th ratio
will be selected. In like manner, moving the shift lever to
(-) will activate Autostickand shift to the next lower
manual ratio. After Autostickis activated, the manual
ratio selected is displayed in the transmission ratio
display and tipping the shift lever to the (+) or (-)
direction will cause an upshift or downshift by one ratio.
Autostickis deactivated:
•By holding the shift lever to (+) momentarily
•When the shift lever is shifted out of DRIVE
•When in 6th position, touching the shift lever to the
right
•When heavy Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) applica-
tion is detected
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General Information
•
If a ratio other than 1st is selected and the vehicle is
brought to a stop, the transaxle control logic will
automatically select the 1st gear ratio.
•If a low range is selected and the engine accelerates to
the rev limit, the transaxle will automatically select the
next higher ratio.
•If a downshift would cause the engine to overspeed,
that shift will not occur until it is safe for the engine.
However. the CVT will stay in the manually selected
ratio.
•If the system detects powertrain overheating, the
transmission will revert to the automatic shift mode
and remain in that mode until the powertrain cools off.
•If the system detects a problem, it will disable the
Autostickmode and the transmission will return to
the automatic mode until the problem is corrected.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED
This feature provides full time, on-demand, four–wheel
drive (4WD).
Four-Wheel Drive Switch
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WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to “Maintenance”, Section 7 of
this manual. Follow the warnings under the “Cooling
System Pressure Cap” paragraph.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OVERHEATING
During sustained high speed driving or trailer towing up
long grades on hot days, the automatic transaxle oil may
become too hot.
If this happens, the transmission overheat in-
dicator light will come on, and the vehicle will
slow slightly until the automatic transaxle
cools down enough to allow a return to therequested speed. If the high speed is maintained, the
overheating will reoccur, as before, in a cyclic fashion.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
•Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. Never start or run
the engine while the vehicle is on a jack. If you
need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a
service center where it can be raised on a lift.
•The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing
tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the
vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should
be jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
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5. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
6. Block both the front and rear of the
wheel diagonally opposite the jacking
position. For example, if changing the
right front tire, block the left rear
wheel.
NOTE:Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
while the vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to
help prevent personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Always park on a firm, level surface as far from
the edge of the roadway as possible before raising
the vehicle.
•Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to
be raised.
•Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic
transmission in PARK; a manual transmission in
REVERSE.
•Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a
jack.
•Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a
jack.
•Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
•Only use the jack in the positions indicated and
for lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
(Continued)
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transaxle (CVT2) to go into “default mode” and turn on
the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). See your autho-
rized dealer to correct this condition.
1. When boosting from a battery in another vehicle, park
that vehicle within booster cable reach but without
letting the vehicles touch. Set the parking brake, place the
automatic transmission in PARK (the manual transmis-
sion in NEUTRAL) and turn the ignition to OFF for both
vehicles.
2. Turn off the heater, radio and all unnecessary electrical
loads.
3. Using the two finger screws on the cover, remove the
air intake duct covering the battery.
4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive
terminal of the booster battery. Connect the other end of
the jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dis-
charged battery.WARNING!
•Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution; do not
allow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin or cloth-
ing. Don’t lean over the battery when attaching the
clamps or allow the clamps to touch each other. If
acid splashes in your eyes or on your skin, flush
the contaminated area immediately with large
quantities of water.
•A battery generates hydrogen gas which is flam-
mable and explosive. Keep flame or spark away
from the vent holes. Do not use a booster battery
or any other booster source with an output that
exceeds 12-Volts.
5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery and then to the negative terminal of
the discharged battery. Make sure you have a good
contact.
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CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transaxle overheating and failure. It can
also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h). Do not spin the wheels continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
With Ignition Key
Automatic Transaxle
•
Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles can be towed with
the front wheels elevated or on a flatbed truck (all four
wheels off the ground).
•All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles must be towed on a
flatbed truck (all four wheels off the ground).
CAUTION!
DO NOT flat tow any vehicle equipped with an
automatic transmission. Damage to the drivetrain
will result.
Manual Transaxle
•
Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or All Wheel Drive (AWD)
vehicles can be flat towed (all four wheels on the
ground) with the transmission in NEUTRAL.
•FWD vehicles can be towed with the front or rear
wheels elevated.
•FWD or AWD vehicles can be towed on a flatbed truck
(all wheels off the ground).
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