Midgate®
This vehicle is equipped with a Midgate®and a
removable rear glass panel. The Midgate allows you to
extend the length of the vehicle's cargo area.
For more information see Midgate
®on page 3‑12.
Tailgate
Use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or
power door lock switch to lock and unlock the tailgate.
Open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle while pulling
the tailgate toward you.
To close the tailgate, push it firmly upward until it
latches. Push and pull on the tailgate to be sure it is
latched securely.
Tailgate Removal
The tailgate is not to be removed. This may cause
damage to the electrical connector resulting in a loss of
lock/unlock and rear vision camera function.
SeeTailgate on page 3‑21.
Windows
The power window
switches are located
on the driver door.
In addition, each
passenger door has a
switch for its own window.
Press the switch to lower the window. Pull the switch
up to raise it.
For more information, see:
.Windows on page 3‑22.
.Power Windows on page 3‑23.
1-6
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle's safety belts.The manufacturer's instructions that come with the
booster seat state the weight and height limitations for
that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt
until the child passes the below fit test:
.Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees
bend at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
.Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder
belt rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try
using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See
“Rear
Safety Belt Comfort Guides” underLap-Shoulder
Belt
on page 2‑24for more information. If the
shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder,
then return to the booster seat.
.Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips,
touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return
to the booster seat.
.Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for the
length of the trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to
the booster seat.
.If you have the choice, a child should sit in a
position with a lap-shoulder belt and get the
additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
2-30
Midgate®
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to drive with the cargo area
covered and the tailgate and the Midgate®open
because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come
into your vehicle. You can not see or smell CO.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the cargo covers on and the
tailgate and Midgate
®open or if electrical wiring or
other cable connections must pass through the
seal between the body and the Midgate
®:
.Make sure all windows are shut.
.Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed on the setting that
brings in outside air. This will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Dual Automatic Climate
Control System
on page 4‑20.
(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
.If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See Engine Exhaust
on page 3‑44.
Midgate®Operation
Your vehicle is equipped with a Midgate®and a
removable rear glass panel. The Midgate®allows you
to extend the length of your vehicle's cargo area.
3-12
WARNING: (Continued)
You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into
a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should remain plugged in
depends on several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer in the
area where you will be parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Active Fuel Management™
Vehicles with V8 engines may have Active Fuel
Management™. This system allows the engine to
operate on either all or half of its cylinders, depending
on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as cruising at a
constant vehicle speed, the system will operate in the
half cylinder mode, allowing the vehicle to achieve
better fuel economy. When greater power demands are required, such as accelerating from a stop, passing,
or merging onto a freeway, the system will maintain
full-cylinder operation.
If the vehicle has an Active Fuel Management™
indicator, see
DIC Operation and Displays
on
page 4‑40for more information on using this display .
Automatic Transmission Operation
The vehicle has a Hydra-Matic®6L80 automatic
transmission, and has an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument panel cluster. The
electronic shift position indicator displays when the
shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
P (Park) : This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
3-35
2. Set the driver's and passenger's temperature.To find your comfort setting, start with a 23°C
(74°F) temperature setting and allow about
20 minutes for the system to regulate. Use the
driver or passenger temperature buttons to
adjust the temperature setting as necessary. If a
temperature setting of 15°C (60°F) is chosen, the
system remains at the maximum cooling setting.
If a temperature setting of 32°C (90°F) is chosen,
the system remains at the maximum heat setting.
Choosing either maximum setting will not cause
the vehicle to heat or cool any faster.
Do not to cover the sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel near the windshield. This sensor
regulates air temperature based on sun load and also
turns on the headlamps.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the fan until warm air is available.
The length of delay depends on the engine coolant
temperature. Pressing the fan switch will override this
delay and change the fan to a selected speed.Manual Operation
You may manually adjust the air delivery mode or fan
speed.
y 9 z(Fan Control): Press the up or down arrows
to increase or decrease the fan speed.
Pressing this button when the system is off will turn the
system on.
Pressing either arrow while using automatic operation
will place the fan in manual operation. The fan setting
will display and the AUTO light will turn off. The air
delivery will remain in automatic operation.
N(Air Delivery Mode Control): Press to change the
direction of the airflow in the vehicle. Repeatedly press
the button until the desired mode appears on the
display.
When the system is turned off, the display goes blank
after displaying the current status of the system.
H(Vent): Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
)(Bi-Level): Air is divided between the instrument
panel and floor outlets. Some air is directed towards the
windshield and side window outlets. Cooler air is
directed to the upper vents and warmer air to the floor
vents.
4-22
Driving Across an Incline
An off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a
hill. To decide whether to try to drive across the incline,
consider the following:
{WARNING:
Driving across an incline that is too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness of the incline, do not drive
across it. Find another route instead.
.A hill that can be driven straight up or down
might be too steep to drive across. When going
straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel
base—the distance from the front wheels to the
rear wheels —reduces the likelihood the vehicle
will tumble end over end. But when driving across
an incline, the narrower track width —the distance
between the left and right wheels —might not
prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.
Driving across an incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels which could cause a downhill slide
or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a problem. Loose
gravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass can cause
the tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle
slips sideways, it can hit something that will trip
it — a rock, a rut, etc. —and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with
the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop
into a rut or depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
For these reasons, carefully consider whether to try to
drive across an incline. Just because the trail goes
across the incline does not mean you have to drive it.
The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over.
If you feel the vehicle starting to slide sideways, turn
downhill. This should help straighten out the vehicle and
prevent the side slipping. The best way to prevent this
is to “walk the course” first, so you know what the
surface is like before driving it.
6-22