53
Driving your vehicle
E020100AUN
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside mir-ror(s), and outside lights are clean.
Check the condition of the tires.
Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you intend to back up.
E020200AUN
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid
should be checked on a regular basis, with
the exact interval depending on the fluid.
Further details are provided in section 7,
“Maintenance”.
E020300AUN
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all controls are
easily reached.
Adjust the inside and outside rearview mirrors.
Be sure that all lights work.
Check all gauges.
Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position.
Release the parking brake and make sure the brake warning light goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are famil-
iar with your vehicle and its equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING
All passengers must be properly
belted whenever the vehicle is mov-
ing. Refer to “Seat belts” in section
3 for more information on their
proper use.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSI-
TION 65 WARNING
Engine exhaust and a wide variety
of automobile components and
parts, including components found
in the interior furnishings in a vehi-
cle, contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, cer-
tain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component
wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm.
WARNING
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for people,
especially children, before putting a
car into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).
WARNING
Driving while distracted can result in
a loss of vehicle control, that may
lead to an accident, severe personal
injury, and death. The driver’s pri-
mary responsibility is in the safe and
legal operation of a vehicle, and use
of any handheld devices, other
equipment, or vehicle systems which
take the driver’s eyes, attention and
focus away from the safe operation
of a vehicle or which are not permis-
sible by law should never be used
during operation of the vehicle.
Driving your vehicle
16
5
E060000AEN
E060100ABH
Automatic transmission operation
The automatic transmission has 5 (or 6)
forward speeds and one reverse speed.
The individual speeds are selected auto-
matically, depending on the position of
the shift lever.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
The first few shifts on a new vehicle, if
the battery has been disconnected, may
be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and the shifting sequence will
adjust after shifts are cycled a few times
by the TCM (Transmission Control
Module) or PCM (Powertrain Control
Module).
For smooth operation, depress the brake
pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to aforward or reverse gear.
E060101ABK
Transmission ranges
The indicator in the instrument cluster
displays the shift lever position when the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into P (Park). This position locks
the transmission and prevents the drive
wheels from rotating.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OBK059006
Depress the brake pedal when shifting.
The selector lever can be shifted freely. + (UP)
- (DOWN)WARNING- Automatic
transmission
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for peo-
ple, especially children, before
shifting a car into D (Drive) or R
(Reverse).
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 iden-
tified.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to your trans- mission, do not accelerate theengine in R (Reverse) or any for- ward gear position with thebrakes on.
When stopped on an incline, do not hold the vehicle stationarywith engine power. Use the serv-ice brake or the parking brake.
Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R(Reverse) when the engine isabove idle speed.
517
Driving your vehicle
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.N (Neutral)
The wheels and transmission are not
engaged. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or service brakes are applied.
D (Drive)
This is the normal forward driving posi-
tion. The transmission will automatically
shift through a 5 (or 6)-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 trans-
mission will automatically downshift to
the next lower gear (or gears, as appro-
priate).
✽ ✽
NOTICE
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into D (Drive).
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
and set the parking brake fully.
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
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.
CAUTION
The transmission may be damagedif you shift into P (Park) while thevehicle is in motion.
CAUTION
Always come to a complete stopbefore shifting into or out of R (Reverse); you may damage thetransmission if you shift into Rwhile the vehicle is in motion,except as explained in “Rocking thevehicle” in this section.
Driving your vehicle
50
5
WARNING
Overloading your vehicle can
cause heat buildup in your
vehicle's tires and possible
tire failure that could lead to a
crash.
Overloading your vehicle can cause increased stopping dis-
tances that could lead to a
crash.
A crash resulting from poor handling, vehicle damage, tire
failure, or increased stopping
distances could result in seri-
ous injury or death.
WARNING - Loose cargo
Items you carry inside your
vehicle can strike and injure
occupants in a sudden stop or
turn, or in a crash.
Put items in the cargo area of your vehicle. Try to spread the
weight evenly.
Never stack items, like suit- cases, inside the vehicle
above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the vehicle, secure it.CAUTION
Overloading your vehicle may
cause damage. Repairs wouldnot be covered by your warran-ty. Do not overload your vehicle.
Using heavier suspension com- ponents to get added durabilitymight not change your weightratings. Ask your dealer to helpyou load your vehicle the rightway.
I3
Index
CareExterior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
········7-61
Interior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········7-66
Tire care··················\
··················\
··················\
···············7-33
Cargo capacity ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········5-47
Cargo weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-51
Center console storage ··················\
··················\
···············4-92
Central door lock switch··················\
··················\
············4-17
Certification label ··················\
··················\
··················\
····5-49
Changing a tire with TPMS ··················\
··················\
·········6-7
Changing tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········6-13
Chains Tire chains··················\
··················\
··················\
··5-43, 7-45
Checking tire inflation pressure··················\
··················\
·7-34
Child restraint system ··················\
··················\
················3-25 Auto lock mode (Passenger seat belt) ··················\
·····3-27
Lower anchor system ··················\
··················\
············3-31
Tether anchor system··················\
··················\
·············3-29
Climate control system (Automatic) ··················\
···········4-79 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-84
Automatic heating and air conditioning··················\
··4-80
Manual heating and air conditioning ··················\
······4-81
Climate control system (Manual) ··················\
···············4-70 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-75
Heating and air conditioning··················\
··················\
·4-71 Climate control air filter··················\
··················\
···4-77, 7-25
Clock (Digital) ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-96
Combined instrument, see instrument cluster ···············4-42
Compact spare tire ··················\
··················\
··················\
···6-18
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
··················\
7-38
Consumer information ··················\
··················\
·················8-8
Coolant ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-17
Cooling fluid, see engine coolant ··················\
················7-18
Crankcase emission control system ··················\
·············7-67
Cruise control system ··················\
··················\
················5-32
Cup holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············4-94
Curtain air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-50
Dashboard, see instrument cluster ··················\
···············4-42
Dashboard illumination, see instrument
panel illumination··················\
··················\
··················\
4-43
Defogging (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
············4-90
Defogging logic (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
···4-91
Defroster (Rear window) ··················\
··················\
···········4-69
Defrosting (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
············4-90
Digital clock··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-96
Dimensions ··················\
··················\
··················\
················8-2
Display illumination, see instrument panel illumination··················\
··················\
··················\
4-43
Displays, see instrument cluster ··················\
··················\
4-42
D