Page 137 of 321
4
Ignition switch / 4-2
Starting the engine / 4-4
Automatic transaxle / 4-5
Brake system / 4-10
Steering wheel / 4-17
Cruise control system / 4-19
Electronic stability control / 4-22
Instrument cluster / 4-25
Warnings and indicators / 4-31
Lighting / 4-38
Wipers and washers / 4-42
Defroster / 4-44
Hazard warning flasher / 4-45
Automatic climate control system / 4-46
Windshield defrosting and defogging / 4-56
Driving your vehicle
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Driving your vehicle24Illuminated ignition switchWhenever a door is opened, the ignition
switch will be illuminated for your con-
venience, provided the ignition switch is
not in the ON position. The light will go off
approximately 10 seconds after closing
the door or when the ignition switch is
turned on.
Ignition switch and anti-theft
steering column lock Ignition switch positionLOCKThe steering wheel locks to protect
against theft. The ignition key can be
removed only in the LOCK position.
When turning the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, push the key inward at
the ACC position and turn the key toward
the LOCK position.ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel is unlocked and elec-
trical accessories are operative.
✽ ✽
NOTICEIf difficulty is experienced turning the
ignition switch to the ACC position, turn
the key while turning the steering wheel
right and left to release the tension.ON
The warning lights can be checked
before the engine is started. This is the
normal running position after the engine
is started.Do not leave the ignition switch ON if the
engine is not running to prevent batterydischarge.START
Turn the ignition key to the START posi-
tion to start the engine. The engine will
crank until you release the key; then it
returns to the ON position. The brake
warning lamp can be checked in this
position.
IGNITION SWITCH
1GHA3201
1GHA3201A
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43
Driving your vehicle
Automatic transaxleWhen turning the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, the shift lever must be in
the P (Park) position.
WARNING
- Ignition switch
• Never turn the ignition switch toLOCK or ACC while the vehicle is
moving. This would result in loss
of directional control and braking
function, which could cause an
immediate accident.
The anti-theft steering column lock is not a substitute for the
parking brake. Before leaving the
driver’s seat, always make sure
the shift lever is engaged in P
(Park), set the parking brake fully
and shut the engine off.
Unexpected and sudden vehicle
movement may occur if these pre-
cautions are not taken.
Never reach for the ignition switch, or any other controls
through the steering wheel while
the vehicle is in motion. The pres-
ence of your hand or arm in this
area could cause a loss of vehicle
control, an accident and serious
bodily injury or death.
Do not put any movable things around the driver’s seat as they
can disturb your driving and may
cause accidents.
WARNING
When you intend to park or stop the
vehicle with the engine on, be care-
ful not to depress the accelerator
pedal for a long period of time. It
may overheat the engine or exhaust
system and cause fire.
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Driving your vehicle441. Make sure the parking brake isapplied.
2. Place the transaxle shift lever in P (Park). Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when the shift lever is in the N (Neutral)
position.
3. Turn the ignition switch to START and hold it there until the engine starts (a
maximum of 10 seconds), then
release the key.
4. In extremely cold weather (below -18°C / 0°F) or after the vehicle has
not been operated for several days, let
the engine warm up without depress-
ing the accelerator.Whether the engine is cold or warm, itshould be started without depressingthe accelerator.STARTING THE ENGINE
CAUTION
If the engine stalls while you are inmotion, do not attempt to move the shift lever to the P (Park) position. Iftraffic and road conditions permit,you may put the shift lever in the N(Neutral) position while the vehicleis still moving and turn the ignition switch to the START position in anattempt to restart the engine.
WARNING
Always wear appropriate shoes
when operating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski
boots,etc.) may interfere with your
ability to use the brake and acceler-
ator pedal.
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Driving your vehicle64Automatic transaxle operationAll normal forward driving is done with
the shift lever in the D (Drive) position.
To move the shift lever from the P (Park)
position, the brake pedal must be
depressed and the lock release button
must be depressed.For smooth operation, depress the brakepedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to a forward or reverse gear.
✽ ✽
NOTICE• To avoid damage to your transaxle, do
not accelerate the engine in R
(Reverse) or any forward gear posi-
tion with the brakes on.
• When stopped on an upgrade, do not hold the vehicle stationary with
engine power. Use the service brake
or the parking brake.
• Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R (Reverse)
when the engine is above idle speed.
Transaxle rangesP (park)This position locks the transaxle and pre-
vents the front wheels from rotating.
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into this position.
WARNING
- Automatic
transaxle
Before leaving the driver’s seat,
always make sure the shift lever is
in the P (PARK) position; then set
the parking brake fully and shut the
engine off. Unexpected and sudden
vehicle movement can occur if
these precautions are not followed
in the order identified.
WARNING
Shifting into P (Park) while the
vehicle is in motion will cause the
drive wheels to lock which will
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
Do not use the P (Park) position in place of the parking brake.
Always make sure the shift lever
is latched in the P (Park) position
so that it cannot be moved unless
the lock release button is pushed
in, AND set the parking brake
fully.
(Continued)
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47
Driving your vehicle
R (reverse)Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.✽ ✽NOTICEAlways come to a complete stop before
shifting into or out of R (Reverse); you
may damage the transaxle if you shift
into R while the vehicle is in motion,
except as explained in “Rocking the
Vehicle”, in this manual.
N (neutral)With the gearshift in the N position, the
wheels and transaxle are not locked. The
vehicle will roll freely even on the slight-
est incline unless the parking brake or
service brakes are applied.D (drive)This is the normal forward driving posi-
tion. The transaxle will automatically shift
through a 5-gear sequence, providing the
best fuel economy and power.
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing grades, depress the
accelerator fully, at which time the
transaxle will automatically downshift to
the next lower gear.✽ ✽NOTICEAlways come to a complete stop before
shifting into D (Drive).
(Continued)
Before leaving the driver’s seat,
always make sure the shift lever
is in the P (PARK) position. Set
the parking brake fully, shut the
engine off and take the key with
you. Unexpected and sudden
vehicle movement can occur if
you do not follow these precau-
tions in the order specified.
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
CAUTION
The transaxle may be damaged ifyou shift into P (Park) while thevehicle is in motion.
WARNING
Always apply the brake pedal when
you stop the vehicle on an inclined
road with the shift lever in the D
(Drive) position. Do NOT rely on the
engine and transaxle to prevent the
vehicle from rolling down the hill.
Before attempting to backup on an
inclined road, always apply the
brake pedal before moving the shift
lever to the R (Reverse) position.
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Driving your vehicle10
4Power brakes Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
usage.
In the event that the power-assisted
brakes lose power because of a stalled
engine or some other reason, you can
still stop your vehicle by applying greater
force to the brake pedal than you nor-
mally would. The stopping distance, how-
ever, will be longer.
When the engine is not running, the
reserve brake power is partially depleted
each time the brake pedal is applied. Do
not pump the brake pedal when the
power assist has been interrupted.
In the event of brake failure If service brakes fail to operate while the
vehicle is in motion, you can make an
emergency stop with the parking brake.
The stopping distance, however, will be
much greater than normal.
BRAKE SYSTEM
WARNING
- Parking brake
Depressing the parking brake while
the vehicle is moving at normal
speeds can cause a sudden loss of
control of the vehicle. If you must
use the parking brake to stop the
vehicle, use great caution in apply-
ing the brake.
WARNING
- Brakes
Do not drive with your foot rest-
ing on the brake pedal. This will
create abnormal high brake tem-
peratures, excessive brake lining
and pad wear, and increased
stopping distances.
When descending a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear and
avoid continuous application of
the brakes. Continuous brake
application will cause the brakes
to overheat and could result in a
temporary loss of braking per-
formance.
(Continued)
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411
Driving your vehicle
Disc brakes wear indicator Your vehicle has disc brakes.
When your brake pads are worn and it's
time for new pads, you will hear a high-
pitched warning sound from your front
brakes or rear brakes. You may hear this
sound come and go or it may occur
whenever you depress the brake pedal.
Please remember that some driving con-
ditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when you first apply (or lightly
apply) the brakes. This is normal and
does not indicate a problem with your
brakes.
✽ ✽NOTICETo avoid costly brake repairs, do not
continue to drive with worn brake pads.
WARNING
- Brake wear
This brake wear warning sound
means your vehicle needs service.
If you ignore this audible warning,
you will eventually lose braking per-
formance, which could lead to a
serious accident.
CAUTION
Always replace brake pads as com-
plete front or rear axle sets.
(Continued)
Wet brakes may result in the vehi- cle not to slow down at the usual
rate and make it pull to one side
when the brakes are applied.
Applying the brakes lightly will
indicate whether they have been
affected in this way. Always test
your brakes in this fashion after
driving through deep water. To
dry the brakes, apply them lightly
while maintaining a safe forward
speed until brake performance
returns to normal.