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WARNING!(Continued)
Allowing children to be in a ve- hicle unattended is dangerous for
a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fa-
tally 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. A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever outof PARK, you must turn the igni-
tion switch from the LOCK/OFF
position to the ON/RUN position,
and also press the brake pedal.
Otherwise, damage to the shift
lever could result.
DO NOT race the engine when
shifting from PARK or NEU-
TRAL 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, firmly
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 dis- play 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 com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with
the engine running. The engine may
be started in this range. Apply the parking brake and shift the transmis-
sion 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 prac-
tices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions.
You might lose control of the ve-
hicle and have a collision.CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or
driving for any other reason with
the transmission in NEUTRAL can
cause severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting 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 upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
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transmission automatically upshifts
through underdrive first, second,
third, and fourth gears, direct fifth
gear and overdrive sixth gear. The
DRIVE position provides optimum
driving characteristics under all nor-
mal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting
occurs (such as when operating the
vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into
strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the Electronic
Range Select (ERS) shift control (de-
scribed below) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a
lower gear range will improve perfor-
mance and extend transmission life
by reducing excessive shifting and
heat buildup.
During cold temperatures, transmis-
sion operation may be modified de-
pending on engine and transmission
temperature as well as vehicle speed.
This feature improves warm up time
of the engine and transmission to
achieve maximum efficiency. Engage-
ment of the torque converter clutch isinhibited until the transmission fluid
is warm (refer to the “Note” under
“Torque Converter Clutch” in this
section). During extremely cold tem-
peratures (27°C or below), operation
may briefly be limited to third gear
only. Normal operation will resume
once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion remains in third gear regardless
of which forward gear is selected.
PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL
will continue to operate. The Mal-
function Indicator Light (MIL) may
be illuminated. Limp Home Mode al-
lows the vehicle 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 engine OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If
the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal op-
eration.
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
diagnostic equipment to deter-
mine if the problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset,
authorized dealer service is required.
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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 transmis-
sion will not shift above third gear
(except to prevent engine overspeed),
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 posi-
tion, the transmission will operate au-
tomatically, shifting between all
available gears. Tapping the shift le-
ver to the left (-) will activate ERS
mode, display the current gear in the
instrument cluster, 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 en-
gine braking on a slippery surface.
The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid,
causing an accident or personal in-
jury.
Odometer Screen Display
1 2 3 4 5 6 D
Actual Gear(s) Allowed 1 1–2 1–3 1–4 1–5 1–6 1–6
NOTE: To select the proper gear
position for maximum decelera-
tion (engine braking), tap the shift
lever to the left (-) repeatedly as the
vehicle slows. The transmission
will shift to the range from which
the vehicle can best be slowed
down. Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes
an electronically controlled Overdrive
(sixth gear). The transmission will
automatically shift into the Overdrive
gear if the following conditions are
present:
the shift lever is in the DRIVE po-
sition, the transmission fluid has reached
an adequate temperature,
the engine coolant has reached an adequate temperature,
vehicle speed is sufficiently high, and
the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
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Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel
economy has been included in the au-
tomatic transmission on your vehicle.
A clutch within the torque converter
engages automatically at calibrated
speeds. This may result in a slightly
different feeling or response during
normal operation in the upper gears.
When the vehicle speed drops or dur-
ing some accelerations, the clutch au-
tomatically disengages.
NOTE: The torque converter
clutch will not engage until the
transmission fluid and engine
coolant are warm [usually after 2
to 5 km of driving]. Because the
engine speed is higher when the
torque converter clutch is not en-
gaged, it may seem as if the trans-
mission is not shifting into Over-
drive when cold. This is normal.
Using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) shift control, when the
transmission is sufficiently warm,
will demonstrate that the trans-
mission is able to shift into and out
of Overdrive.DRIVING ON SLIPPERY
SURFACES
ACCELERATION
Rapid acceleration on snow covered,
wet, or other slippery surfaces may
cause the driving wheels to pull errati-
cally to the right or left. This phenom-
enon occurs when there is a difference
in the surface traction under the front
(driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery sur-
faces is dangerous. Unequal trac-
tion can cause sudden pulling of the
front wheels. You could lose control
of the vehicle and possibly have a
collision. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to
be poor traction (ice, snow, wet,
mud, loose sand, etc.).
TRACTION
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
it is possible for a layer of water to
build up between the tire and road surface. This is known as hydroplan-
ing and may cause partial or complete
loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the
following precautions should be ob-
served:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or
when roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if the road has standing
water or puddles.
3. Replace the tires when tread wear
indicators first become visible.
4. Keep the tires properly inflated.
5. Maintain sufficient distance be-
tween your vehicle and the vehicle in
front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
DRIVING THROUGH
WATER
Driving through water more than a
few centimeters deep will require ex-
tra caution to ensure safety and pre-
vent damage to your vehicle.
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FLOWING/RISING WATERWARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or
path where water is flowing and/or
rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing water can wear away the road
or path's surface and cause your
vehicle to sink into deeper water.
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising
water can carry your vehicle away
swiftly. Failure to follow this warn-
ing may result in injuries that are
serious or fatal to you, your passen-
gers, and others around you.
SHALLOW STANDING
WATER
Although your vehicle is capable of
driving through shallow standing wa-
ter, consider the following Caution
and Warning before doing so.
CAUTION!
Always check the depth of the
standing water before driving
through it. Never drive through
standing water that is deeper than
the bottom of the tire rims mounted
on the vehicle.
Determine the condition of the road
or the path that is under water and
if there are any obstacles in the way
before driving through the standing
water.
Do not exceed 8 km/h when driving
through standing water. This will
minimize wave effects. (Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Driving through standing water
may cause damage to your vehicle’s
drivetrain components. Always in-
spect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., en-
gine oil, transmission, axle, etc.) for
signs of contamination (i.e., fluid
that is milky or foamy in appear-
ance) after driving through stand-
ing water. Do not continue to oper-
ate the vehicle if any fluid appears
contaminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehicle’s
engine can cause it to lock up and
stall out, and cause serious internal
damage to the engine. Such dam-
age is not covered by the New Ve-
hicle Limited Warranty.
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WARNING!
Driving through standing waterlimits your vehicle’s traction ca-
pabilities. Do not exceed 8 km/h
when driving through standing
water.
Driving through standing water
limits your vehicle’s braking ca-
pabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after
driving through standing water,
drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to
dry the brakes.
Getting water inside your vehi-
cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
Failure to follow these warnings may result in injuries that are se-
rious or fatal to you, your passen-
gers, and others around you. POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system
will give you good vehicle response
and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will pro-
vide mechanical steering capability if
power assist is lost.
If for some reason the power assist is
interrupted, it will still be possible to
steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions, you will observe a substantial
increase in steering effort, especially
at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
NOTE:
Increased noise levels at the end
of the steering wheel travel are
considered normal and do not
indicate that there is a problem
with the power steering system.
Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering
pump may make noise for a
short amount of time. This is due
to the cold, thick fluid in the
steering system. This noise
should be considered normal, and it does not in any way dam-
age the steering system.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced
power steering assist could pose a
safety risk to yourself and others.
Service should be obtained as soon
as possible.CAUTION!
Prolonged operation of the steering
system at the end of the steering
wheel travel will increase the steer-
ing fluid temperature and it should
be avoided when possible. Damage
to the power steering pump may
occur.
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Checking the power steering fluid
level at a defined service interval is
not required. The fluid should only be
checked if a leak is suspected, abnor-
mal noises are apparent, and/or the
system is not functioning as antici-
pated. Coordinate inspection efforts
through an authorized dealer.
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CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
power steering system as the
chemicals can damage your power
steering components. Such damage
is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.WARNING!
Fluid level should be checked on a
level surface and with the engine off
to prevent injury from moving parts
and to ensure accurate fluid level
reading. Do not overfill. Use only
manufacturer's recommended
power steering fluid.
If necessary, add fluid to restore to the
proper indicated level. With a clean
cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all
surfaces. Refer to “Fluids, Lubri-
cants, and Genuine Parts” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further in-
formation. PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure
that the parking brake is fully applied
and place the shift lever in the PARK
position.
The foot operated parking brake is
positioned below the lower left corner
of the instrument panel. To apply the
park brake, firmly push the park
brake pedal fully. To release the park-
ing brake, press the park brake pedal
a second time and let your foot up as
you feel the brake disengage.
When the parking brake is applied
with the ignition switch in the ON
position, the “Brake Warning Light”
in the instrument cluster will illumi-
nate.NOTE:
When the parking brake is ap-
plied and the automatic trans-
mission is placed in gear, the
“Brake Warning Light” will
flash. If vehicle speed is de-
tected, a chime will sound to
alert the driver. Fully release the
parking brake before attempting
to move the vehicle.
This light only shows that the parking brake is applied. It does
not show the degree of brake ap-
plication.
When parking on a hill, it is important
to turn the front wheels toward the
curb on a downhill grade and away
from the curb on an uphill grade. For
vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK,
otherwise the load on the transmis-
sion locking mechanism may make it
difficult to move the shift lever out of
PARK. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied whenever the driver
is not in the vehicle.
Parking Brake
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WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as asubstitute for the parking brake.
Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and
possible injury or damage.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key fob from the igni-
tion and lock your vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a
vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Allowing children
to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of rea-
sons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren 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
EnterNGo™ in the ACC or ON/
RUN mode. A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
If the Brake System Warning Light
remains on with the parking brake
released, a brake system malfunc-
tion is indicated. Have the brake
system serviced by an authorized
dealer immediately.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM (ABS)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
provides increased vehicle stability
and brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system oper-
ates with a separate computer to
modulate hydraulic pressure to pre-
vent wheel lock-up and help avoid
skidding on slippery surfaces.
ABS is activated during braking un-
der certain road or stopping condi-
tions. ABS-inducing conditions can
include ice, snow, gravel, bumps, rail-
road tracks, loose debris, or panic
stops. You may experience the following
when the brake system goes into anti-
lock:
The ABS motor running (it may
continue to run for a short time
after the stop)
A clicking sound of solenoid valves
Brake pedal pulsations
A slight drop or fall away of the brake pedal at the end of the stop
WARNING!
The Anti-Lock Brake Systemcontains sophisticated electronic
equipment that may be suscep-
tible to interference caused by
improperly installed, or high out-
put radio transmitting equip-
ment. This interference can cause
possible loss of anti-lock braking
capability. Installation of such
equipment should be performed
by qualified professionals.
(Continued)
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