AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may
occur if the following precautions
are not observed:
Shift into PARK only after thevehicle has come to a complete
stop.
Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop and the engine is
at idle speed.
Do not shift between PARK, RE- VERSE, NEUTRAL, or DRIVE
when the engine is above idle
speed.
Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
NOTE: You must press and hold
the brake pedal while shifting out
of PARK.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift out of PARK 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)
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 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 (or in a location acces-
sible 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.
236
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
CAUTION!(Continued)
Driving through standing watermay cause damage to your vehi-
cle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids
(i.e., engine oil, transmission,
axle, etc.) for signs of contamina-
tion (i.e., fluid that is milky or
foamy in appearance) after driv-
ing through standing water. Do
not continue to operate the ve-
hicle if any fluid appears con-
taminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehi- cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine.
Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.
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.
244
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.
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.
Parking Brake
245
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
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 maycontinue 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.
Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish their effectiveness
and may lead to a collision.
Pumping makes the stopping dis-
tance longer. Just press firmly on
your brake pedal when you need
to slow down or stop.
The Anti-Lock Brake System cannot prevent collisions, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another
vehicle too closely, or hydroplan-
ing.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
The capabilities of an ABS-equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner, which could jeopar-
dize the user’s safety or the safety
of others.
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from act-
ing on the vehicle, nor can it in-
crease braking or steering effi-
ciency beyond that afforded by
the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction
afforded.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be
the same size and type, and tires must
be properly inflated to produce accu-
rate signals for the computer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
WARNING LIGHT
The “Anti-Lock Brake
Warning Light” monitors
the anti-lock brake system.
The light will come on when
247