VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM — IF EQUIPPED
The Vehicle Security Alarm monitors the vehicle doors,
swing gate, and ignition for unauthorized operation.
While the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed, interior
switches for door locks are disabled. The Vehicle Security
Alarm provides both audible and visible signals when
alarming. The horn will sound, the headlights will turn
on, the park lamps and/or turn signals will flash repeat-
edly for three minutes. If the disturbance is still present
(driver’s door, passenger door, other doors, ignition) after
three minutes, the headlights, park lamps and/or turn
signals will flash for an additional 15 minutes.
NOTE:The Panic Alarm and the Vehicle Security Alarm
are quite different. Please take a moment to activate the
Panic Alarm and the Vehicle Security Alarm to hear the
differences in the horn. In case one should go off in the
future, you will need to know which mode has been
activated in order to deactivate it.
Rearming The System
If something triggers the alarm, and no action is taken to
disarm it, the Vehicle Security Alarm will turn off the
horn after three minutes, turn off all of the visual signals
after 15 minutes, and then the Vehicle Security Alarm will
rearm itself.
To Arm The System
The Vehicle Security Alarm will set when you use the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to lock the doors
and swing gate, or when you use the power door lock
switch while the door is open. After all the doors are
locked and closed, the Vehicle Security Light (located on
the instrument cluster) will flash rapidly for about 16 sec-
onds to signal that the Vehicle Security Alarm is arming.
During this 16-second arming period, opening any door
or the swing gate will cancel the arming. If the Vehicle
Security Alarm is successfully set, the Vehicle Security
Light will flash at a slower rate to indicate the Vehicle
Security Alarm is armed.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 19
UNLOCK button is pressed, the Illuminated Entry will
initiate and the parking lights will flash twice.
Remote Key Unlock On First Press
This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver’s side, or all doors and swing gate on the first
press of the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter.
•For vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle In-
formation Center (EVIC), refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)/Personal Settings
(Customer-Programmable Features)” in “Understand-
ing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
•For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, the Remote
Unlock feature can be enabled or disabled by perform-
ing the following steps:
1. Press and hold the LOCK button on a programmed
RKE transmitter. 2. Continue to hold the RKE transmitter LOCK button
for at least four seconds, but not longer than 10 seconds,
then press and hold the RKE transmitter UNLOCK
button.
3. Release both buttons at the same time.
4. Test this feature while outside of the vehicle by
pressing the LOCK/UNLOCK button on the RKE trans-
mitter.
NOTE:
Pressing the RKE transmitter LOCK button
while you are inside of the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the RKE transmitter UNLOCK button to deactivate
the Vehicle Security Alarm.
5. If the desired programming was not achieved or to
reactivate this feature, repeat the above steps.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
the headlights will turn on, the park lights will flash, the
horn will pulse on and off and the interior lights will turn
on.
The Panic Alarm will stay on for three minutes unless
you turn it off by pressing the PANIC button a second
time, or if the vehicle speed is 5 mph (8 km/h) or greater.
NOTE:When you turn off the Panic Alarm by pressing
the PANIC button a second time, you may have to move
closer to the vehicle due to the radio frequency noises of
the system.
To Turn Off Flash Lights With Lock
This feature will cause the turn signal lights to flash when
the doors are locked or unlocked with the RKE transmit-
ter. This feature can be turned on or turned off. To change
the current setting, proceed as follows:
•For vehicles equipped with the EVIC, refer to “Elec-
tronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/Personal Settings (Customer-Programmable Features)” in “Un-
derstanding Your Instrument Panel” for further infor-
mation.
•For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following steps:
1. Press the RKE transmitter UNLOCK button for 4 to
10 seconds.
2. While the UNLOCK button is pressed, (after four
seconds) press the RKE transmitter LOCK button. Re-
lease both buttons.
3. Test the “Flash Lights With Lock” feature outside of
the vehicle by pressing the RKE transmitter LOCK button
with the ignition in the LOCK position and the key
removed.
NOTE: Pressing the RKE transmitter LOCK button
while you are in the vehicle will activate the Vehicle
Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle Security
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
NOTE:
•Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim,
but they will open during air bag deployment.
•After any accident, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.
Air Bag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following air bag
system components:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Air Bag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Knee Impact Bolster
•Driver Advanced Front Air Bag
•Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
•Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
•Front and Side Impact Sensors
•Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and Seat Track Position Sensors
Advanced Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system provides
output appropriate to the severity and type of collision as
determined by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC),
which may receive information from the front impact
sensors.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. This low output
is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy output is
used for more severe collisions.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING!
•No objects should be placed over or near the air bag
on the instrument panel, because any such objects
could cause harm if the vehicle is in a collision
severe enough to cause the air bag to inflate.
•Do not put anything on or around the air bag covers
or attempt to open them manually. You may damage
the air bags and you could be injured because the
air bags may no longer be functional. The protec-
tive covers for the air bag cushions are designed to
open only when the air bags are inflating.
•If your vehicle is equipped with Supplemental
Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB), do not use
accessory seat covers or place objects between you
and the SAB; the performance could be adversely
affected and/or objects could be pushed into you,
causing serious injury.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•If your vehicle is equipped with SAB, do not
attach cupholders or any other objects on or
around the door. The inflating SAB could drive the
objects into occupants, causing serious injury.
•Do not cover or place items on the air bag covers.
These items may cause serious injury during in-
flation.
•Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
•Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band radios,
etc.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61
WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the air bags
to protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on as a bulb check when the ignition is first turned
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
air bag system immediately.
Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units
The Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units are located in the center of the steering
wheel and on the right side of the instrument panel.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags, it signals the inflator units. A large
quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
Advanced Front Air Bags. Different air bag inflation ratesare possible, based on the collision type and severity. The
steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side of
the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way as
the air bags inflate to their full size. The air bags fully
inflate in about 50 to 70 milliseconds. This is about half of
the time it takes to blink your eyes. The air bags then
quickly deflate while helping to restrain the driver and
front passenger.
The Advanced Front Air Bag gas is vented through the
vent holes in the sides of the air bag. In this way, the air
bags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
Inflator Units — If Equipped
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags Inflator
Units (if equipped) are designed to activate only in
certain side collisions.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65
Maintaining Your Air Bag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the air bag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the air bag 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 structure,
or add aftermarket side steps or running boards.
•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 air
bag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an air bag system.
Air Bag Warning Light
You will want to have the air bags ready to
inflate for your protection in a collision. The
Air Bag Warning Light monitors the internal
circuits and interconnecting wiring associated
with air bag system electrical components. While the air
bag system is designed to be maintenance free, if any of
the following occurs, have an authorized dealer service
the air bag system immediately.
•The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during
the four to eight seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned to the ON/RUN position.
•The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to
eight-second interval.
•The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or
remains on while driving.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 89