
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run
the lap and shoulder portions
of the vehicle’s safety belt
through or around the restraint.
The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
4. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle, so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt
all the way out of the retractor to
set the lock.6. To tighten the belt, push down
on the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the belt
and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing
a forward-facing child restraint,
it may be helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint
in different directions to be sure
it is secure.
2-52 Seats and Restraints

If the airbag is off, the off indicator
in the passenger airbag status
indicator will come on and stay
on when the vehicle is started.
If a child restraint has been
installed and the on indicator is lit,
see “If the On Indicator is Lit for a
Child Restraint” underPassenger
Sensing System on page 2-28for
more information.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the seat has a safety belt
guide, return the safety belt into
the guide by snapping the guide
around the webbing.
Seats and Restraints 2-53

Instruments and
Controls
Instrument Panel OverviewInstrument Panel Overview......4-4
ControlsSteering Wheel Adjustment.....4-6
Steering Wheel Controls.........4-6
Horn....................................4-7
Windshield Wiper/Washer.......4-7
Compass.............................4-8
Clock...................................4-8
Power Outlets.......................4-9
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators.....................4-9
Instrument Cluster...............4-10
Speedometer......................4-11
Odometer...........................4-11
Trip Odometer.....................4-11
Tachometer........................4-11
Fuel Gage..........................4-11
Engine Oil Pressure Gage......4-12Engine Oil
Temperature Gage.............4-13
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage.............4-14
Transmission
Temperature Gage.............4-14
Voltmeter Gage...................4-15
Safety Belt Reminders..........4-16
Airbag Readiness Light.........4-17
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator...........................4-18
Charging System Light.........4-19
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp..................4-19
Brake System Warning
Light................................4-22
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light...........4-23
Traction Off Light.................4-23
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light.......4-24
Traction Control System
(TCS) OFF/StabiliTrak
®OFF
Light................................4-24
Tire Pressure Light..............4-24
Engine Oil Pressure Light.....4-25
Immobilizer Light.................4-26
Fog Lamp Light...................4-26
Taillamp Indicator Light.........4-26
Cruise Control Light.............4-26
Information DisplaysDriver Information
Center (DIC).....................4-27
Vehicle MessagesBattery Voltage and
Charging Messages............4-30
Brake System Messages......4-31
Compass Messages.............4-31
Cruise Control Messages......4-31
Door Ajar Messages............4-31
Engine Cooling System
Messages.........................4-32
Engine Oil Messages...........4-32
Engine Power Messages......4-33
Fuel System Messages........4-33
Key and Lock Messages......4-33
Lamp Messages..................4-33
Object Detection System
Messages.........................4-34
Ride Control System
Messages.........................4-34
Airbag System Messages......4-35
Safety Belt Messages...........4-35
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Messages.........................4-35
Service Vehicle Messages.....4-35
Tire Messages....................4-36
Transmission Messages........4-36
Vehicle Reminder
Messages.........................4-37
Instruments and Controls 4-1

Readings between the low and high
warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in the low warning zone
can occur when a large number of
electrical accessories are operating
in the vehicle and the engine is left
idling for an extended period.
If there is a problem with the battery
charging system, a message
appears in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) and/or the charging
system light comes on. SeeBattery
Voltage and Charging Messages
on page 4-30andCharging System
Light on page 4-19for more
information.
However, readings in either warning
zone can indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
Have the vehicle serviced as soon
as possible.Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt reminder
light on the instrument panel cluster.
When the engine is started this light
and a chime come on and stay
on for several seconds to remind
drivers to fasten their safety belts.
The light also begins to flash.
This cycle repeats if the driver
remains unbuckled and the vehicle
is moving.
If the driver safety belt is already
buckled, neither the light nor chime
come on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
The passenger safety belt reminder
light is located on the overhead
console.
When the engine is started, this
light and the chime come on
and stay on for several seconds to
remind the passenger to fasten
their safety belt. The light also
begins to flash.
This cycle repeats if the passenger
remains unbuckled and the vehicle
is moving.
4-16 Instruments and Controls

If the passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt
warning light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the
seat such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop or other
electronic device. To turn off the
warning light and or chime, remove
the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt
Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module.For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on
page 2-21.
The airbag readiness light comes on
and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then the
light goes out.
If it stays on after the vehicle has
been started or comes on while
driving, the airbag system may not
work properly. Have the vehicle
serviced right away.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Instruments and Controls 4-17

Service Traction Control
This message displays when there
is a problem with the Traction
Control System (TCS). When this
message is displayed, the system
will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Service StabiliTrak
This message displays if there is
a problem with the StabiliTrak®
system. If this message appears,
try to reset the system. Stop; turn off
the engine and remove the key
from the ignition; open and close the
driver door and wait for at least
one minute. During this time you
should notice the lights on the
cluster turn off. After a minute has
passed start the engine again.
If this message still comes on,
it means there is a problem.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
The vehicle is safe to drive,
however, you do not have the
benefit of StabiliTrak, so reduce
your speed and drive accordingly.
Airbag System Messages
Service Airbag
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the airbag system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer/
retailer for service.
Safety Belt Messages
Buckle Seatbelt
This message displays as a
reminder when the safety belt is
not buckled.
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Messages
Theft Attempted
This message displays if the vehicle
detects a tamper condition.
Service Vehicle
Messages
Service AC System
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the air conditioning
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer for service.
Service Power Steering
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the power steering
system. Take the vehicle to
your dealer/retailer for service.
Service Vehicle Soon
This message is displayed if
there is a problem with the vehicle.
Take the vehicle to your dealer/
retailer for service.
Instruments and Controls 4-35

Driving Information
Driving for Better
Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
•Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
•Brake gradually and avoid abrupt
stops.
•Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
•When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control, if equipped.
•Always follow posted speed limits
or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
•Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
•Combine several trips into a
single trip.
•Replace the vehicle’s tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire’s sidewall
near the size.
•Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
your safety belt, seeSafety Belts on
page 2-6.
{WARNING
Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
drivers) are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate
what they might do and be ready.
In addition:
•Allow enough following
distance between you and
the driver in front of you.
•Focus on the task of driving.
Driver distraction can cause
collisions resulting in injury or
possible death. These simple
defensive driving techniques
could save your life.
8-2 Driving and Operating

Steering
Power Steering
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the
condition of the tires and the road
surface, the angle at which the curve
is banked, and vehicle speed. While
in a curve, speed is the one factor
that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed,
do it before entering the curve,
while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can
drive through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering
can be more effective than braking.
For example, you come over a hill
and find a truck stopped in your lane,
or a car suddenly pulls out from
nowhere, or a child darts out from
between parked cars and stops right
in front of you. These problems can
be avoided by braking — if you can
stop in time. But sometimes you
cannot stop in time because there
is no room. That is the time for
evasive action — steering around
the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First
apply the brakes. SeeBraking on
page 8-4. It is better to remove as
much speed as possible from a
collision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If holding the steering wheel at the
recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, it can be turned a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Driving and Operating 8-5