THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
A WORD ABOUT YOUR KEYS.............12
▫Ignition Key Removal...................12
▫Key-In-Ignition Reminder................15
SENTRY KEY.........................15
▫Replacement Keys.....................16
▫Customer Key Programming..............17
▫General Information....................18
VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM —
IF EQUIPPED..........................18
▫Rearming The System...................19▫To Arm The System.....................19
▫To Disarm The System...................20
ILLUMINATED ENTRY — IF EQUIPPED......21
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE)...........21
▫To Unlock The Doors....................22
▫To Lock The Doors.....................25
▫Convertible Top Operation Button — If
Equipped............................26
▫To Unlatch The Trunk...................26
▫Using The Panic Alarm..................26
2
The new Sentry Keyis programmed.The Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter will also be pro-
grammed during this procedure.
Repeat this procedure to program up to eight keys. If you
do not have a programmed Sentry Keycontact your
authorized dealer for details.
NOTE:If a programmed key is lost, see your authorized
dealer to have all remaining keys erased from the sys-
tems memory. This will prevent the lost key from starting
your vehicle. The remaining keys must then be repro-
grammed. All vehicle keys must be taken to your autho-
rized dealer at the time of service to be reprogrammed.
General Information
The Sentry Keysystem complies with FCC rules part 15
and with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following conditions:
•This device may not cause harmful interference.•This device must accept any interference that may be
received, including interference that may cause unde-
sired operation.
VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM — IF EQUIPPED
The Vehicle Security Alarm monitors the doors and trunk
for unauthorized entry and ignition switch for unauthor-
ized operation. While the Vehicle Security Alarm is
armed, interior switches for door locks and decklid
release are disabled.
If something triggers the alarm, the Vehicle Security
Alarm will signal for about 18 minutes. For the first 3
minutes, the horn will sound intermittently, the head-
lights will turn on, the park lamps and/or turn signals
will flash and the Vehicle Security Light in the cluster will
flash. Then the exterior lights will flash for another 15
minutes.
18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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
1. Remove the keys from the ignition switch and get out
of the vehicle.
2. Lock the door using either the power door lock switch
(one door must be open) or the LOCK button on the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter (doors can be
open or closed), and close all doors.
NOTE:The Vehicle Security Alarm will not arm if you
lock the doors with the manual door lock plungers.3. The Vehicle Security Light in the instrument cluster
will flash for 16 seconds. This shows that the Vehicle
Security Alarm is arming. During this period, if a door
is opened, the ignition switch is turned to ON/RUN,
or the power door locks are unlocked in any manner,
the Vehicle Security Alarm will automatically disarm.
NOTE:
•During the 16-second arming period, if a door is
opened or the ignition switch is turned to ON/RUN,
the Vehicle Security Alarm will automatically disarm.
•Once armed, the Vehicle Security Alarm disables the
unlock switch on the driver door trim panel and
passenger door trim panel, the trunk release button on
the instrument panel, and the HomeLink/Garage
Door Opener (if equipped).
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 19
ILLUMINATED ENTRY — IF EQUIPPED
The courtesy lights will turn on when you press the
unlock button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) trans-
mitter or open any door.
This feature also turns on the approach lighting in the
outside mirrors (if equipped). Refer to “Mirrors” in
“Understanding The Features Of Your Vehicle” for fur-
ther information.
The interior lights will fade to off after approximately 30
seconds or they will immediately fade to off once the
ignition switch is turned to ON/RUN from the OFF
position..NOTE:
•The front courtesy overhead console and door cour-
tesy lights will turn on if the dimmer control is in the
Dome ONposition (extreme top position).
•The Illuminated Entry system will not operate if the
dimmer control is in the “Dome defeat” position
(extreme bottom position).
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE)
This system allows you to lock or unlock the doors, open
the trunk, open the convertible top (if equipped), or
activate the Panic Alarm from distances up to 66 ft (20 m)
using a hand-held Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmit-
ter. The RKE transmitter does not need to be pointed at
the vehicle to activate the system.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 21
NOTE:Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
If your RKE transmitter fails to operate from a normal
distance, check for these two conditions:
1. Weak battery in the RKE transmitter. The expected life
of a battery is five years.
2. Closeness to a radio transmitter such as a radio station
tower, airport transmitter, military base, and some
mobile or CB radios.
REMOTE STARTING SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
This system uses the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter to start the engine conve-
niently from outside the vehicle while still
maintaining security. The system has a range of
approximately 66 ft (20 m).NOTE:
•The vehicle must be equipped with an automatic
transmission to be equipped with Remote Start.
•Obstructions between the vehicle and the Key Fob may
reduce this range.
How To Use Remote Start
All of the following conditions must be met before the
engine will remote start:
•Shift lever in PARK
•Doors closed
•Hood closed
•Trunk closed
•Hazard switch off
•Brake switch inactive (brake pedal not pressed)
28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
•Ignition key removed from ignition switch
•Battery at an acceptable charge level
•RKE PANIC button not pressed
•System not disabled from previous remote start event
•Vehicle theft alarm not active
WARNING!
•Do not start or run an engine in a closed garage or
confined area. Exhaust gas contains Carbon Mon-
oxide (CO) which is odorless and colorless. Carbon
Monoxide is poisonous and can cause serious in-
jury or death when inhaled.
•Keep Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitters
away from children. Operation of the Remote Start
System, windows, door locks or other controls
could cause serious injury or death.
Remote Start Abort Message On Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC) — If Equipped
The following messages will display in the EVIC if the
vehicle fails to remote start or exits remote start prema-
turely:
•Remote Start Aborted — Door Ajar
•Remote Start Aborted — Hood Ajar
•Remote Start Aborted — Trunk Ajar
•Remote Start Aborted — Fuel Low
•Remote Start Aborted — System Fault
The EVIC message stays active until the ignition is turned
to the RUN position.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29
Wind Buffeting
Wind buffeting can be described as the perception of
pressure on the ears or a helicopter-type sound in the
ears. Your vehicle may exhibit wind buffeting with one
window down in certain open or partially open posi-
tions. This is a normal occurrence and can be minimized.
If the buffeting occurs with one window open, then open
both windows together to minimize the buffeting.
TRUNK LOCK AND RELEASE
To unlatch the trunk lid from inside the vehicle, press and
release the TRUNK RELEASE Button located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.NOTE:The convertible top must be either closed and
latched or open and latched to release the trunk.
The trunk release button on the dash
will be disabled if the vehicle is locked
by pressing the power door lock
switch or by pressing the LOCK but-
ton on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter. The trunk release
button will be enabled when the ve-
hicle is unlocked by the RKE or if the
key is inserted into the ignition and
turned to ON/RUN or START.
NOTE:This provides a locked area in the vehicle even if
the convertible top is open.
To unlatch the trunk lid from outside the vehicle, press
and release the TRUNK RELEASE button on the RKE
transmitter two times.
Trunk Release
Button
38 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these cautions may cause interior
water damage, stains or mildew on the top material:
•Avoid high-pressure car washes, as they can dam-
age the top material. Also, increased water pressure
may force water past the weather strips.
•Remove any standing water from the top and dry
the surface before opening it. Operating the top,
opening a door or lowering a window while the top
is wet may allow water to drip into the vehicles
interior.
•Use care when washing the vehicle, water pressure
directed at the weather strip seals may cause water
to leak into the vehicles interior.
WARNING!
The convertible top does not provide the structural
protection that a reinforced metal roof does and the
fabric top cannot be expected to prevent the ejection
of the occupants in a collision. Therefore, it is impor-
tant that all occupants wear their seat belts at all
times. Death or serious injuries could occur if you are
ejected from the vehicle during a collision.
You can lower or raise the power convertible top from
inside the vehicle or lower the top remotely using the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. Either operation
takes approximately 30 seconds. The entire process, in-
cluding unlatching or latching the top at the windshield
header is automatic.
The top does take up some space in the trunk when
retracted. However, the trunk will still hold a significant
amount of cargo.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 101