Page 7 of 37

inside of the vehicle.Everyonein a motor vehicle should
be belted at all times to reduce or prevent injuries.
Lap/Shoulder Belts
All seating positions in your vehicle have combination
lap/shoulder belts. The belt webbing retractor is de-
signed to lock during very sudden stops or collisions.
This feature allows the shoulder part of the belt to move
freely with you under normal conditions. But in a colli-
sion, the belt will lock and reduce the risk of you striking
the inside of the vehicle or being thrown out.
WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat using
a seat belt properly.
•Wearing a seat belt incorrectly is dangerous. Seat
belts are designed to go around the large bones of
your body. These are the strongest parts of your
body and take the forces of a collision the best.
Wearing your belt in the wrong place could make
your injuries in a collision much worse. You might
suffer internal injuries, or you could even slide out
of part of the belt. Follow these instructions to
wear your seat belt safely and to keep your pas-
sengers safe, too.(Continued)
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 7
Page 12 of 37

Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage
In the front seat positions, the shoulder belt anchorage
can be adjusted upward or downward to position the belt
away from your neck. Push in on the anchorage near
your outside shoulder and slide it up or down to reach
the position that serves you best.WARNING!
Position the shoulder belt height adjusters so that the
belt rests across the middle of your shoulder. Failure
to adjust the safety belt properly could reduce the
effectiveness of the seat belt and increase the risk of
injury in a collision.
As a guide, if you are shorter than average, you will
prefer a lower position, and if you are taller than average,
you will prefer a higher position. When you release the
anchorage, try to move it up or down to make sure that
it is locked in position.
Seat Belt Pretensioners
The driver and front passenger seat belts are equipped
with a pretensioning device that is designed to remove
any slack from the seat belt systems in the event of a
collision. This device improves the performance of the
seat belt by assuring that the belt is tight around the
Adjusting Upper Shoulder Belt
12 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 20 of 37

The Advanced Front Airbags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions,
truck underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the other
hand, depending on the type and location of impact,
Advanced Front Airbags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe
initial deceleration.
The side airbags will not deploy in all side collisions. Side
airbag deployment will depend on the severity and type
of collision.
Because airbag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not
good indicators of whether or not an airbag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all crashes,
and also are needed to help keep you in position, away
from an inflating airbag.The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in the
START or ON positions. If the key is in the LOCK
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition, the
airbags are not on and will not inflate.
•Also, the ORC turns on the Airbag Warning
Light for six to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the
self-check, the Airbag Warning Light will
turn off. If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part
of the system, it turns on the Airbag Warning Light
either momentarily or continuously. A single chime
will sound if the light comes on again after initial
startup.
20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 24 of 37

•Turns on the interior lights, which remain on as long as
the battery has power or until the ignition key is
removed.
•Unlocks the doors automatically.
Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the airbag system is not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper or vehicle body struc-
ture.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee bolsters.
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an airbag system.
Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbag system ready to inflate
for your protection in an impact. The airbag system is
designed to be maintenance free. If any of the following
occurs, have an authorized dealer service the system
promptly:
•Does not come on during the six to eight seconds after
the ignition switch is first turned on.
•Remains on after the six to eight second interval.
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 29 of 37
STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ......... 30
4
Page 30 of 37
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three wire extension cord. The engine block
heater cord is found under the hood near the brake fluid
reservoir.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 Volt AC electrical cord could
cause electrocution.Use the heater when temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) are
expected to last for several days.
30 STARTING AND OPERATING
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Airbag................................ 15
Airbag Deployment ....................... 22
Airbag Light ............................ 24
Airbag Maintenance ....................... 24
Airbag, Side ............................ 21
Belts, Seat ............................... 7
Diagrams, Engine ........................ 32
Engine Block Heater .......................... 30
Compartment ......................... 32
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .......... 23
Extender, Seat Belt ........................ 14
Heater, Engine Block ...................... 30
Instrument Panel and Controls ............... 28Introduction
............................. 4
Lap Belts ............................... 7
Lap/Shoulder Belts ........................ 7
Lights Airbag .............................. 24
Occupant Restraints ....................... 6
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts .............. 14
Pretensioners Seat Belts ............................ 12
Reminder, Seat Belt ....................... 13
Restraints, Occupant ....................... 6
Scheduled Maintenance .................... 33
Seat Belt Reminder ....................... 13
36 INDEX
Page 37 of 37
Seat Belts............................... 7
Adjustable Upper Shoulder Anchorage ........ 12
And Pregnant Women ................... 14
Extender ............................. 14
Front Seat ............................. 7
Pretensioners .......................... 12 Shoulder Belt Upper Anchorage
.............. 12
Shoulder Belts ........................... 7
Side Airbag ............................. 21
Starting Engine Block Heater ..................... 30
Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag ........ 15
6
INDEX 37