
Reasons given... Consider...
“I have an airbag” Airbags offer greater protection when
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags
are not designed to inflate in rear and
side crashes or rollovers.
“I’d rather be thrown clear” Not a good idea.Peoplewho are
ejected are 40 times more likely
to DIE.Safety belts help prevent
ejection, WE CAN’T “PICK OUR
CRASH”.
WARNING:Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt or insert a
latchplate into the buckle to avoid the Belt-Minderchime. To
do so may adversely affect the performance of the vehicle’s airbag
system.
Deactivating/activating the Belt-Minderfeature (if equipped)
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderare
deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating
one seating position, do not buckle the other position as this will
terminate the process.
Read Steps1-4thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
Note:The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderfeatures must be
disabled/enabled separately. Both cannot be disable/enabled during the
same key cycle.
The driver and front passenger Belt-Minderfeatures can be
deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
•The parking brake is set
•The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) and in neutral
(manual transmission)
•The ignition is off
•The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled
Seating and Safety Restraints
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Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission:If your vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission,
shifting the transmission into neutral permits “flat-towing” (all wheels on
the ground) for pulling behind a motorhome.
Before you tow your vehicle:
•Release the parking brake.
•Move the gearshift to the neutral position.
•Turn the key in the ignition to the off position.
•The maximum recommended speed is 70 mph (113 km/h).
•The maximum recommended distance is unlimited.
•The vehicle must be towed in the forward position to ensure no
damage is done to the internal transmission components.
In addition, it is recommended that you follow the instructions provided
by the aftermarket manufacturer of the towing equipment, if provided.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle, seeWrecker
towingin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission:
Do not tow the vehicle with the front drive wheels on the ground. It is
recommended to tow your vehicle with the front drive wheels on a dolly
or with all four (4) wheels off the ground on a car-hauling trailer.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle, seeWrecker
towingin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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WARNING:Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in
other enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open
the garage door before you start the engine. SeeGuarding against
exhaust fumesin this chapter for more instructions.
WARNING:If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Important safety precautions
When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the engine. If
the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have the vehicle
checked.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all occupants buckle their safety belts. For more
information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to theSeating
and Safety Restraintschapter.
2. Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.
If starting a vehicle with an automatic transmission:
•Make sure the parking brake is
set.
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•Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).
If starting a vehicle with a manual
transmission:
•Make sure the parking brake is
set.
•Press the clutch pedal to the
floor.
3. Turn the key to II (on) without
turning the key to III (start).
Some warning lights will briefly illuminate. SeeWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter for more information
regarding the warning lights.
Starting the engine
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with a push button start system, refer
toPush button start systemin this section for starting.
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1. Turn the key to II (on) without
turning the key to III (start).
2. Turn the key to III (start), then
release the key as soon as the
engine begins cranking. Your vehicle
has a computer assisted cranking
system that assists in starting the
engine. After releasing the key from
the III (start) position, the engine may continue cranking for up to
10 seconds or until the vehicle starts.
Note:Cranking may be stopped at any time by turning the key to the off
position.
3. After idling for a few seconds, release the parking brake, apply the
brake, shift into gear and drive.
Note:If the engine does not start on the first try, turn the vehicle to the
off position, wait 10 seconds and try Step 2 again. If the engine still fails
to start, press the accelerator to the floor and try Step 2 again, keeping
the accelerator on the floor until the engine begins to accelerate above
cranking speeds; this will allow the engine to crank with the fuel shut off
in case the engine is flooded with fuel.
Push button start system (if equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the
push button start system, you can
start your vehicle by pressing the
start button in combination with the
brake pedal (automatic
transmission) or clutch pedal
(manual transmission) rather than
using a key. The start button is
located on the instrument panel to
the right of the steering wheel.
In order to operate the push button
start system and start the vehicle, your Intelligent Access key (IA key)
must be present inside the vehicle.
Ignition modes
1. Off — press and release the START/STOP button without applying the
brake pedal (automatic transmission) or clutch pedal (manual
transmission) when your vehicle is in accessory or on modes or when the
engine is running.Note:When the vehicle is in motion, a single press
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and release of the START/STOP button will not switch off the engine. In
order to switch off the engine while the vehicle is in motion, press and
hold the START/STOP button for at least one second.
2. On — press the START/STOP button without applying the brake pedal
(automatic transmission) or clutch pedal (manual transmission). This will
power your vehicle’s electrical system and the warning lights in the
instrument cluster will illuminate, but the engine will remain off.
3. Start — press the START/STOP button (for any length of time) while
applying the brake pedal (automatic transmission) or clutch pedal
(manual transmission).Note:The indicator light on the start button will
illuminate when the vehicle is in on mode and when the engine is
started.
There may be areas inside your vehicle where the IA key is not detected.
If the message KEY NOT DETECTED appears on your multifunction
display when you press the START/STOP button, it may be necessary to
move your IA key to another area within the vehicle. The IA key may not
be detected near the roof (between the driver or passenger sunvisor and
the roof, or in the overhead console area) or in the extreme corners of
the rear package tray, near your audio speakers. It is not recommended
that you stow the IA key in these locations. If you move the IA key to a
location where it has been detected before and you still see the KEY
NOT DETECTED message, your IA key’s battery may be low or you may
be in an area with excessive radio frequency interference. If this occurs,
you can use the backup method to start your vehicle (see below).
Backup method of starting:Your
IA key uses a radio frequency signal
to communicate with your vehicle
and authorize your vehicle to start
when you press the START/STOP
button and apply the brake pedal or
clutch pedal. If excessive radio
frequency interference is present in
the area, or if the battery in your IA
key is low, it may be necessary to
start your car by holding the IA key
to the backup location near the steering column. After holding the IA
key to the backup location, use the START/STOP button and brake pedal
(automatic transmission) or clutch pedal (manual transmission) to start
your vehicle as usual. The vehicle should respond normally as long as the
IA key is at the backup location on the steering column. Once the vehicle
is started, the IA key can be moved from the backup location, if desired.
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Fast restart feature:The fast restart feature allows you to re-start
your vehicle within 10 seconds of switching the vehicle off, if a valid IA
key is not present when the vehicle is switched off. You can re-start the
vehicle (by applying the brake/clutch pedal and pressing the
START/STOP button) for up to 10 seconds, even though the IA key is
not present. After 10 seconds have expired, you can no longer start your
vehicle without the IA key present inside the vehicle. If the driver door is
opened within this 10 seconds, the fast restart timer expires immediately.
Switching the vehicle off when not in P (Park):It is recommended
that you shift into the P (Park) position before switching your vehicle
off. If you switch your vehicle off with the shifter in any position other
than P (Park), the message SHIFT TO PARK will be displayed in the
multifunction display. If the vehicle is left in this state, your key in
ignition chime will activate when the driver door is opened, and you may
drain your vehicle’s battery. In order to avoid draining your battery, it is
recommended that you always shift to P (Park) before or immediately
after switching your vehicle off.
Absence of the Intelligent Access key:Once the vehicle has started,
the vehicle will remain running until being turned off by the
START/STOP button, even if the IA key is no longer found in the vehicle.
Whenever a door is opened and then closed while the vehicle is running,
the system will search for an IA key inside the vehicle and the
multifunction display will display KEY OUTSIDE CAR if the IA key is no
longer present. This message is a reminder that someone else in the
vehicle may have taken the IA key when exiting the vehicle. If the IA key
is no longer present in the vehicle, you will not be able to re-start your
vehicle outside of the Fast Restart time (seeFast Restart Feature
above). It is important to be aware of where your IA key is located in the
vehicle, to avoid becoming stranded without an IA key.
Guarding against exhaust fumes
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.
WARNING:If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Important ventilating information
If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped for a long period of
time, open the windows at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) or adjust the heating or
air conditioning to bring in fresh air.
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•Be sure that areas where the vehicle is parked are clean and clear of
all combustibles such as petroleum products, dust, rags, paper and
similar items.
•Be sure that the engine block heater, heater cord and extension cord
are solidly connected. A poor connection can cause the cord to
become very hot and may result in an electrical shock or fire. Be sure
to check for heat anywhere in the electrical hookup once the system
has been operating for approximately a half hour.
•Finally, have the engine block heater system checked during your fall
tune-up to be sure it’s in good working order.
How to use the engine block heater
Ensure the receptacle terminals are clean and dry prior to use. To clean
them, use a dry cloth.
Depending on the type of factory installed equipment, your engine block
heater will use .4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours of energy per hour of use. Your
factory installed block heater system does not have a thermostat;
however, maximum temperature is attained after approximately three
hours of operation. Block heater operation longer than three hours will
not improve system performance and will unnecessarily use additional
electricity.
Make sure system is unplugged and properly stowed before driving the
vehicle. While not in use, make sure the protective cover seals the
prongs of the engine block heater cord plug.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding
or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn-out
and should be inspected by an authorized dealer. If the vehicle has
continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by an authorized dealer.
Refer toWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake
system warning light.
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