STARTING PROCEDURESBefore starting your vehicle, adjust your seat,
adjust the inside and outside mirrors, fasten
your seat belt, and if present, instruct all other
occupants to buckle their seat belts.
WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allow-
ing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally in-
jured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the
shift lever.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, and do not leave a vehicle
equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go in the
ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could op-
erate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
Automatic TransmissionThe shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position before you can start the engine.
Apply the brakes before shifting into any driv-
ing gear.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the
following precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and
the engine is at idle speed.
• Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or
NEUTRAL into any forward gear when the
engine is above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
Using Fob With Integrated Key (Tip Start)
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or
pressing the accelerator pedal. Do not
press the accelerator. Use the Fob with
Integrated Key to briefly turn the ignition switch
to the START position and release it as soon as
the starter engages. The starter motor will con-
tinue to run, and it will disengage automatically
when the engine is running. If the engine fails to
start, the starter will disengage automatically in
10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” proce-
dure.
Keyless Enter-N-Go
This feature allows the
driver to operate the ig-
nition switch with the
push of a button, as
long as the ENGINE
START/STOP button is
installed and the Re-
mote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter is in
the passenger com-
partment.
216
Installing and Removing the ENGINE
START/STOP Button
Installing the Button
1. Remove the key fob from the ignition switch.
2. Insert the ENGINE START/STOP button into
the ignition switch with the lettering facing up
and readable.
3. Press firmly on the center of the button to
secure it into position.
Removing the Button
1. The ENGINE START/STOP button can be
removed from the ignition switch for key fob
use.
2. Insert the metal part of the emergency key
under the chrome bezel at the 6 o’clock posi-
tion and gently pry the button loose.
NOTE:
The ENGINE START/STOP button should
only be removed or inserted with the ignition
in the LOCK position (OFF position for Key-
less Enter-N-Go).Normal Starting
Using the ENGINE START/STOP Button
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or
pressing the accelerator pedal.
To start the engine, the transmission must be in
PARK or NEUTRAL. Press and hold the brake
pedal while pressing the ENGINE START/STOP
button once. The system takes over and at-
tempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to
start, the starter will disengage automatically
after 10 seconds. If you wish to stop the crank-
ing of the engine prior to the engine starting,
press the button again.
To Turn Off the Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button
1. Place the shift lever in PARK, then press and
release the ENGINE START/STOP button.
2. The ignition switch will return to the OFF
position.
3. If the shift lever is not in PARK, the ENGINE
START/STOP button must be held for two sec-onds and vehicle speed must be above 5 mph
(8 km/h) before the engine will shut off. The
ignition switch position will remain in the ACC
position until the shift lever is in PARK and the
button is pressed twice to the OFF position. If
the shift lever is not in PARK and the ENGINE
START/STOP button is pressed once, the EVIC
(if equipped) will display a “Vehicle Not In Park”
message and the engine will remain running.
Never leave a vehicle out of the PARK position,
or it could roll.
NOTE:
If the ignition switch is left in the ACC or
RUN (engine not running) position and the
transmission is in PARK, the system will
automatically time out after 30 minutes of
inactivity and the ignition will switch to the
OFF position.
Keyless Enter-N-Go Functions – With
Driver’s Foot OFF the Brake Pedal (In
PARK or NEUTRAL Position)
The Keyless Enter-N-Go feature operates simi-
lar to an ignition switch. It has four positions,
OFF, ACC, RUN and START. To change the
217
ignition switch positions without starting the
vehicle and use the accessories follow these
steps.
•Starting with the ignition switch in the OFF
position:
• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button once
to change the ignition switch to the ACC
position (EVIC displays “IGNITION MODE
ACCESSORY”),
• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a
second time to change the ignition switch to
the RUN position (EVIC displays “IGNITION
MODE RUN”),
• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a
third time to return the ignition switch to the
OFF position (EVIC displays “IGNITION
MODE OFF”).
Extreme Cold Weather
(Below 20°F or 29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these tempera-
tures, use of an externally powered electric
engine block heater (available from your autho-
rized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids
into the throttle body air inlet opening in an
attempt to start the vehicle. This could
result in a flash fire causing serious per-
sonal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle
to get it started. Vehicles equipped with an
automatic transmission cannot be started
this way. Unburned fuel could enter the
catalytic converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle. If the vehicle has a discharged
battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the
battery in another vehicle. This type of start
can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emer-
gencies” for further information. Clearing a Flooded Engine
(Using ENGINE START/STOP Button)
If the engine fails to start after you have fol-
lowed the “Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold
Weather
procedures, it may be flooded. To
clear any excess fuel, press and hold the brake
pedal, push the accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and hold it, then press and release the
ENGINE START/STOP button once. The starter
motor will engage automatically, run for 10 sec-
onds, and then disengage. Once this occurs,
release the accelerator pedal and the brake
pedal, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
Clearing A Flooded Engine
(Using Fob With Integrated Key)
If the engine fails to start after you have fol-
lowed the “Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold
Weather” procedures, it may be flooded. To
clear any excess fuel, push the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it. Then,
turn the ignition switch to the START position
and release it as soon as the starter engages.
The starter motor will disengage automatically
in 10 seconds. Once this occurs, release the
accelerator pedal, turn the ignition switch to the
218
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the
following precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and
the engine is at idle speed.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal
while shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Before exiting a
vehicle, always apply the parking brake,
shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the
PARK position, securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
• It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of
PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle
could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle
and hit someone or something. Only shift
into gear when the engine is idling normally
and when your foot is firmly pressing the
brake pedal.
(Continued)WARNING!(Continued)
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob and lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allow-
ing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally in-
jured.
• Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the shift
lever. Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle, and do not leave Keyless
Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode.
A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
Key Ignition Park InterlockThis vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition
Park Interlock which requires the shift lever to
be placed in PARK before the ignition switch
can be turned to the LOCK/OFF position. The
key fob can only be removed from the ignition
221
when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position
and once removed the shift lever is locked in
PARK.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmis-
sion Shift Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the
shift lever in the PARK position unless the
brakes are applied. To move the shift lever out
of the PARK position, the ignition switch must
be turned to the ON/RUN position (engine
running or not) and the brake pedal must be
pressed.
Five-Speed Automatic Transmission
(3.6L and 3.0L Diesel Engine) — If
Equipped
The shift lever position display (located in the
instrument panel cluster) indicates the trans-
mission gear range. You must press the brake
pedal to move the shift lever out of the PARK
position (refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift In-
terlock System” in this section). To drive, move
the shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to the
DRIVE position.The electronically-controlled transmission pro-
vides a precise shift schedule. The transmis-
sion electronics are self-calibrating; therefore,
the first few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition,
and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).
Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE
should be done only after the accelerator pedal
is released and the vehicle is stopped. Be sure
to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
moving the shift lever between these gears.
The transmission shift lever has only PARK,
REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift posi-
tions. Manual downshifts can be made using
the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
(refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS)” in this
section). Moving the shift lever to the left or right
(-/+) while in the DRIVE position will select the
highest available transmission gear, and will
display that gear in the instrument cluster as 4,
3, 2, 1.
Gear RangesDO NOT race the engine when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by
locking the transmission. The engine can be
started in this range. Never attempt to use
PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the
parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range.
When parking on a level surface, you may
place the shift lever in the PARK position first,
and then apply the parking brake.
Shift Lever
222
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK, other-
wise the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to move the
shift lever out of PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an
uphill grade.
WARNING!
•Never use the PARK position as a substi-
tute for the parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not completely in PARK.
Check by trying to move the shift lever
rearward (with the brake pedal released),
after you have placed it in PARK. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of
PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit some-
one or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and when your
foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Before exiting a
vehicle, always apply the parking brake,
shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the
PARK position, securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob and lock your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unat-
tended is dangerous for a number of rea-
sons. A child or others could be seriously or
fatally injured. Children should be warned
not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the shift lever. Do not leave the key fob in
or near the vehicle, and do not leave Key-
less Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN
mode. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
•Before moving the shift lever out of PARK,
you must turn the ignition switch from the
LOCK/OFF position to the ON/RUN posi-
tion, and also press the brake pedal. Oth-
erwise, damage to the shift lever could
result.
(Continued)
223
CAUTION!(Continued)
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be used to
ensure that you have engaged the shift lever
into the PARK position:
• When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever
all the way forward and to the left until it stops
and is fully seated.
• Look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position.
• With brake pedal released, verify that the
shift lever will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with engine running. The
engine may be started in this range. Set the parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You might
lose control of the vehicle and have a colli-
sion.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any
other reason with the transmission in NEU-
TRAL can result in severe transmission dam-
age. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in “Start-
ing And Operating” and “Towing A Disabled
Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest up-
shifts and downshifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically up-
shifts through underdrive first, second, and
third gears, direct fourth gear and overdrive
fifth gear. The DRIVE position provides opti-
mum driving characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travel-
ing into strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) feature (refer to “Electronic Range Select
(ERS)” in this section) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a lower
gear range will improve performance and ex-
tend transmission life by reducing excessive
shifting and heat buildup.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition is
detected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains in
the current gear until the vehicle is brought to a
stop. After the vehicle has stopped, the trans-
mission will remain in second gear regardless
224
of which forward gear is selected. PARK, RE-
VERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to operate.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be
illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows the ve-
hicle to be driven to an authorized dealer for
service without damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF
position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the transmis-
sion will return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible conve-nience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem
could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized
dealer service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows the driver to limit the highest available
gear when the shift lever is in the DRIVE
position. For example, if you shift the transmis-
sion into 3 (third gear), the transmission will
never shift above third gear, but will shift down
into second and first gear normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode
at any vehicle speed. When the shift lever is in
the DRIVE position, the transmission will oper-
ate automatically, shifting between all available
gears. Tapping the shift lever to the left (-) will
downshift the transmission, activate ERS mode,
display the current gear in the instrument clus-
ter, and maintain that gear as the top available
gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the shift lever
to the left (-) or right (+) will change the top
available gear.
To exit ERS mode, simply press and hold the
shift lever to the right (+) until “D” is once again
displayed in the shift lever position indicator in
the instrument cluster.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking
on a slippery surface. The drive wheels could
lose their grip and the vehicle could skid,
causing an accident or personal injury.
Screen Display
12 34D
Actual Gear(s)
Allowed 1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5
NOTE:
To select the proper gear position for maxi-
mum deceleration (engine braking), simply
press and hold the shift lever to the left (-).
The transmission will shift to the range from
which the vehicle can best be slowed down.
225