.Make sure the area around the vehicle
is clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible,
or at least whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appear-
ance and condition. Also check tires for
proper inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head re-
straints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passen-
gers to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position. (See “Warning/indica-
tor lights and audible reminders” in the
“2. Instruments and controls” section.)1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
or N (Neutral) position. (P is recom-
mended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the selector lever is in either of
the above positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal and
push the ignition switch to start the
engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal with the
ignition switch in any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when
restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and while holding, crank
the engine. Release the accelerator
pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to startbecause it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine
with your foot off the accelerator
pedal
by depressing the brake pedal
and pushing the push-button igni-
tion switch to start the engine. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, repeat
the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than 15
seconds at a time. If the engine does not
start, push the ignition switch to OFF and
wait 10 seconds before cranking again,
otherwise the starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a
minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before
shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time
may make the vehicle more difficult to
Starting and driving5-13
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-14Starting and driving
start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000
rpm (VK56VD engine) or 4,500 rpm
(VQ37VHR engine) or more under no
load condition, the engine will enter the
fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the selector lever to the P (Park) position and push
the ignition switch to the OFF position.
In preparation for the next engine start,
the engine may have a slightly delayed
shutoff after pushing the ignition
switch to the OFF position, depending
on the driving conditions (VK56VD
engine models).
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume battery
power when the engine is not running
(Phone chargers, GPS, DVD players,
etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances. In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled by a transmis-
sion control module to produce maximum
efficiency and smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the
recommended operating procedures for
this transmission. Follow these procedures
for maximum vehicle performance and
driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the selector
lever button before shifting the selector
lever to the R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D
(Drive) or Manual shift mode position. Be
sure the vehicle is fully stopped before
attempting to shift the selector lever.
This automatic transmission model is
designed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shifting from P
(Park) to any drive position while the
ignition switch position is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition switch
is pushed to the LOCK, OFF or ACC
position.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressedand push the selector lever button to
shift into a driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle
in motion.
WARNING
. Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or
manual shift mode. Always depress the
brake pedal until shifting is completed.
Failure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
. Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while vehicle is moving forward. Never
shift to P (Park) or D (Drive) while vehicle
is moving rearward. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have
an accident.
CAUTION
.When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
. Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Doing so can cause a loss of engine
braking which may result in a collision,
serious personal injury or death. In
addition, coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
SSD0973
Selector lever
To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the selector lever
from P (Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D
(Drive) or Manual shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be
selected without pushing the button.
Starting and driving5-15
5-16Starting and driving
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll away
and result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
and the transmission is in the P (Park)
position.
P (Park) position:
Use this selector position when the vehicle
is parked or when starting the engine.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped.The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the selector lever button
pushed in to move the selector lever from
the N (Neutral) position or any drive
position to the P (Park) position. Apply
the parking brake. When parking on a hill,
apply the parking brake first, then move the selector lever to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be
sure the vehicle is completely stopped
before selecting the R (Reverse) position.
The brake pedal must be depressed and
the selector lever button pushed in to
move the selector lever from the P (Park)
position, the N (Neutral) position or any
drive position to the R (Reverse) position.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to the N (Neutral)
position and restart a stalled engine while
the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
SSD1099
Paddle shifters (if so equipped)
Manual shift mode
When the selector lever is in the manual
shift gate, the transmission is ready for the
manual shift mode. Shift ranges can be
selected manually by moving the selector
lever up or down, or pulling the right-side
or left-side paddle shifter (if so equipped).
When shifting up, move the selector lever
to the + (up) side or pull the right-side
paddle shifter (+)
*A(if so equipped). The
transmission shifts to the higher range.
When shifting down, move the selector
lever to the −(down) side or pull the left-
side paddle shifter (−)
*B(if so equipped).
JVS0080X
3. Highlight the“Lane Departure Warning”
key, select ON (enabled) or OFF (dis-
abled) and push the ENTER
*2button.
Temporary disabled status at high
temperature
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight
under high temperature conditions (over
approximately 1048 F (408C) and then
started, the LDW system may be deacti-
vated automatically. The lane departure
warning light (orange) will flash.
When the interior temperature is reduced,
the LDW system will resume operating
automatically and the lane departure warning light (orange) will stop flashing.
LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION
(LDP) SYSTEM
Precautions on LDP system
WARNING
.
The LDP system will not steer the vehicle
or prevent loss of control. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely, keep the vehicle in the traveling
lane, and be in control of vehicle at all
times.
. The LDP system is primarily intended for
use on well-developed freeways or high-
ways. It may not detect the lane markers
in certain roads, weather or driving
conditions.
. Using the LDP system under some
conditions of road, lane marker or
weather, or when you change lanes
without using the lane change signal
could lead to an unexpected system
operation. In such conditions, you need
to correct the vehicle’s direction with
your steering operation to avoid acci-
dents. .
When the LDP system is operating, avoid
excessive or sudden steering maneu-
vers. Otherwise, you could lose control
of the vehicle.
. The LDP system will not operate at
speeds below approximately 45 MPH
(70 km/h) or if it cannot detect lane
markers.
. The LDP system may not function
properly under the following conditions,
and do not use the LDP system:
—During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,
wind, etc.).
—When driving on slippery roads,
such as on ice or snow, etc.
—When driving on winding or uneven roads.
—When there is a lane closure due to
road repairs.
—When driving in a makeshift lane.
—When driving on roads where thelane width is too narrow.
—When driving with a tire that is notwithin normal tire conditions (for
example, tire wear, low tire pressure,
installation of spare tire, tire chains,
Starting and driving5-27
5-94Starting and driving
the tone will sound continuously.
Keep the corner/center sonar (located on
the bumper fascia) free from snow, ice and
large accumulations of dirt (do not clean
the sonar with sharp objects). If the sonar
is covered, it will affect the accuracy of the
sonar system.
The sensitivity level of the corner/center
sonar can be adjusted (higher or lower) in
the SONAR setting display. (See“How to
use SETTING button” in the“Monitor,
climate, audio, phone and voice recogni-
tion systems” for the“Sonar” settings.)
SSD0928
*1Rear view monitor display
*ACorner sonar indicator
*BCenter sonar indicator
SONAR INDICATOR
With the “Sonar Display” key ON in the
“Sonar” settings, when the corner/center
sonar detects obstacles near the bumper, a
tone will sound and the sonar indicator will
appear in the center display. When the rear
view monitor is displayed, the sonar
indicator will appear in the upper corner
of the display
*1.
The sonar indicators
*Aand*Bindicate
the position of the object and the distance to the object with its color and rate of
blinking.
When an object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks (the tone
sounds intermittently). When the vehicle
moves closer to the object, the color of the
indicator turns yellow and the rate of
blinking increases (the rate of the tone
increases). When the bumper is very close
to the object, less than 11.8 in (30 cm)
away, the indicator stops blinking and
turns red (the tone sounds continuously).
When the rear view monitor is displayed,
the colors of the sonar indicator and the
distance guide lines in the rear view
indicate different distances to the object.
The sonar indicator can be turned off in the
SONAR setting display. (See
“How to use
SETTING button” in the“Monitor, climate,
audio, phone and voice recognition sys-
tems” for the “Sonar” settings.) When the
sonar indicator is off, only a tone sounds
when the sonar detects obstacles.
10 Index
Number
4 Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) system ............... 5-103
4 Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) warning light ....... 2-13
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ......................... 5-99
Active noise control ........................................ 5-106
Adjustable headrests .......................................... 1-8
Air bag systemFront-seat mounted side-impact supplemental
air bag system ............................................. 1-49
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental
air bag system ............................................. 1-49
Air bag warning labels ...................................... 1-52
Air bag warning light ............................... 1-52, 2-16
Air cleaner housing filter ................................... 8-22
Air conditioner Air conditioner specification label ................ 9-13
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ............................ 9-7
Automatic climate control ............................ 4-34
In-cabin microfilter ....................................... 4-48
Air filter In-cabin microfilter ....................................... 4-48
Alarm
How to stop alarm (see vehicle
security system) ........................................... 2-30
Alcohol, drugs and driving .................................. 5-8
Antenna ............................................................ 4-85 Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......................... 5-99
Appearance care
Exterior appearance care ................................ 7-2
Interior appearance care ................................ 7-4
Armrest ............................................................. 1-10
Ashtrays (See cigarette lighter and ashtrays) .... 2-47
Audible reminders ............................................ 2-19
Audio operation precautions ............................. 4-49
Audio system .................................................... 4-49 Steering wheel audio controls ...................... 4-84
Auto closure ..................................................... 3-20
Autolight system ............................................... 2-35
Automatic
Automatic climate control .................. 4-37, 4-41
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ............... 8-16
Climate control ............................................ 4-34
Driving with automatic transmission ............ 5-14
Automatic door locks .......................................... 3-6
Automatic drive positioner ................................ 3-28
Automatic moonroof.......................................... 2-56
Automatic seat positioner ................................. 3-28
Average fuel consumption and speed ................ 2-27
Avoiding collision and rollover ............................ 5-7
B
Battery .............................................................. 8-19 Battery replacement, Intelligent Key ............... 3-2
Battery saver system ................................... 2-37
Intelligent Key .............................................. 8-29 Variable voltage control system ................... 8-20
Before starting the engine ................................ 5-13
Belts (See drive belts) ....................................... 8-21
Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) ON
indicator light ................................................... 2-17
Bluetooth
®hands-free phone system
(models with navigation system) ....................... 4-86
Bluetooth
®hands-free phone system
(models without navigation system) .................. 4-97
Bluetooth
®streaming audio ............................. 4-76
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................... 5-99
Brake fluid ................................................... 8-17
Brake force distribution ............................. 5-101
Brake system ............................................... 5-95
Parking brake operation ............................... 5-19
Brake warning light ........................................... 2-11
Break-in schedule ............................................. 5-90
Brightness control Display ON/OFF button ................................ 4-10
Bulb check/instrument panel ............................ 2-10
Bulb replacement .............................................. 8-31
C
Cabin air filter ................................................... 4-48
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ...... 9-2
Car phone or CB radio ...................................... 4-86
Card holder ....................................................... 2-51