
KEY IGNITION PARK
INTERLOCK
This vehicle is equipped with a Key
Ignition Park Interlock which re-
quires the transmission to be in PARK
before the ignition switch can be
turned to the LOCK position. The key
fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the
LOCK position, and the transmission
is locked in PARK whenever the igni-
tion switch is in the LOCK position.
NOTE: If a malfunction occurs,
the system will trap the key fob in
the ignition switch to warn you
that this safety feature is inoper-
able. The engine can be started
and stopped but the key fob cannot
be removed until you obtain ser-
vice.
BRAKE/TRANSMISSION
SHIFT INTERLOCK
SYSTEM
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake
Transmission Shift Interlock System
(BTSI) that holds the shift lever in
PARK unless the brakes are applied.To shift the transmission out of PARK,
the ignition switch must be turned to
the ON/RUN position (engine run-
ning or not) and the brake pedal must
be pressed.
SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
The transmission gear position dis-
play (located in the instrument clus-
ter) indicates the transmission gear
range. You must press the brake pedal
to move the shift lever out of PARK
(Refer to Brake/Transmission Shift
Interlock System in this section). To
drive, move the shift lever from PARK
or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled trans-
mission provides a precise shift sched-
ule. The transmission 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 de-
velop within a few hundred kilome-
ters.
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or
REVERSE when the accelerator
pedal is released and the vehicle is
stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on
the brake pedal when shifting be-
tween these gears.
The transmission shift lever has only
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and
DRIVE shift positions. Manual down-
shifts can be made using the Elec-
tronic Range Select (ERS) shift con-
trol (described later in this section).
Moving the shift lever to the left or
right (–/ +) while in the DRIVE posi-
tion will select the highest available
transmission gear, and will display
that gear in the instrument cluster as
6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.Shift Lever
237

GEAR RANGES
DO NOT race the engine when shift-
ing from PARK or NEUTRAL into
another gear range.
NOTE: After selecting any gear
range, wait a moment to allow the
selected gear to engage before ac-
celerating. This is especially im-
portant when the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
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 shift the transmission into PARK
first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake before shifting the
transmission to PARK, otherwise the
load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to
move the shift lever out of PARK. Asan added precaution, 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
substitute 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 in- jure you and others if it is not
completely in PARK. Check by
trying to move the shift lever out
of PARK with the brake pedal
released. Make sure the transmis-
sion is in PARK before leaving the
vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
It is dangerous to shift out ofPARK 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 someone or
something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling nor-
mally and your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
Unintended movement of a ve- hicle could injure those in or near
the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Be-
fore exiting a vehicle, always ap-
ply the parking brake, shift the
transmission into PARK, turn the
engine OFF, and remove the key
fob. When the ignition is in the
LOCK position, the transmission
is locked in PARK, securing the
vehicle against unwanted move-
ment.
(Continued)
238

WARNING!(Continued)
When leaving the vehicle, alwaysremove the key fob 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 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, (or in a location ac-
cessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition (in a vehicle
equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go™) in the ACC or ON/RUN
position A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever outof PARK, you must place the ig-
nition from the LOCK/OFF posi-
tion to the ON/RUN position, and
also press the brake pedal. Other-
wise, 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 transmission into the PARK posi-
tion:
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 transmission gear posi- tion display and verify that it indi-
cates the PARK position.
With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever will not move out
of PARK.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
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.
239

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.WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as a substitute 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.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
Do not leave the key fob in or nearthe vehicle (or in a location acces-
sible to children), and do not
leave the ignition of a vehicle
equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go™ 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
246

CAUTION!(Continued)
Do not push or tow this vehiclewith another vehicle as damage to
the bumper fascia and transmis-
sion may result.
If the vehicle being towed re- quires steering, the ignition
switch must be in the ON/RUN or
ACC position, not in the LOCK/
OFF position.
Without The Key Fob
Special care must be taken when the
vehicle is towed with the ignition in
the LOCK/OFF position. The only
approved method of towing without
the key fob is with a flatbed truck.
Proper towing equipment is necessary
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
With Ignition Key
The manufacturer recommends tow-
ing your vehicle with all four wheels
OFF the ground using a flatbed. If
flatbed equipment is not available,
and the transmission is operable, the vehicle may be flat towed (with all
four wheels on the ground) under the
following conditions:
The transmission must be in NEU-
TRAL.
The towing distance must not ex- ceed 24 km.
The towing speed must not exceed 40 km/h.
If the transmission is not operable,
or the vehicle must be towed faster
than 40 km/h or farther than
24 km, it must be towed with the
front wheels OFF the ground (us-
ing a flatbed truck, towing dolly, or
wheel lift equipment with the front
wheels raised).
CAUTION!
Towing faster than 40 km/h or far-
ther than 24 km with front wheels
on the ground can cause severe
transmission damage. Such dam-
age is not covered by the New Ve-
hicle Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of
the above requirements can cause
severe transmission damage. Dam-
age from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
SHIFT LEVER
OVERRIDE
If a malfunction occurs and the shift
lever cannot be moved out of the
PARK position, you can use the fol-
lowing procedure to temporarily
move the shift lever:
1. Turn the engine OFF.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
Shift Lever Override Access Cover
300