Page 169 of 429

WARNING!(Continued)
collisions, air bags won’t deploy at all. Always wear
your seat belts even though you have air bags.
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional protec-
tion by supplementing the seat belts. Front air bags are not
expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or
rollover collisions. The front air bags will not deploy in all
frontal collisions, including some that may produce sub-
stantial vehicle damage — for example, some pole colli-
sions, truck underrides, and angle offset collisions.
On the other hand, depending on the type and location of
impact, front air bags may deploy in crashes with little
vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe initial
deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not
good indicators of whether or not an air bag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all collisions,
and also are needed to help keep you in position, away
from an inflating air bag. When the ORC detects a collision requiring the front air
bags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side
of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way as
the air bags inflate to their full size. The front air bags fully
inflate in less time than it takes to blink your eyes. The
front air bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and front passenger, and position the front occu-
pants for improved interaction with the front air bags.
WARNING!
•
Do not drill, cut, or tamper with the knee impact
bolsters in any way.
• Do not mount any accessories to the knee impact
bolsters such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band
radios, etc.
5
SAFETY 167
Page 301 of 429

MS.90032) and distilled water for proper corrosion pro-
tection of your engine which contains aluminum com-
ponents.
• Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
• Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install ONLY
the correct type thermostat. Other designs may result in
unsatisfactory engine coolant (antifreeze) performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased emissions.
Brake System
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically. Refer
to the “Maintenance Plan” for the proper maintenance
intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and possi-
bly a collision. Driving with your foot resting or riding
on the brake pedal can result in abnormally high brake
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
temperatures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage. You would not have your full braking
capacity in an emergency.
Brake Master Cylinder
The fluid level in the master cylinder should be checked
when performing under hood services, or immediately if
the brake system warning light is on.
Be sure to clean the top of the master cylinder area before
removing the cap. If necessary, add fluid to bring the fluid
level up to the requirements described on the brake fluid
reservoir. Fluid level can be expected to fall as the brake
pads wear. The brake fluid level should be checked when
the pads are replaced. However, low fluid level may be
caused by a leak and a checkup may be needed.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a manual trans-
mission, the brake fluid reservoir supplies fluid to both the
brake system and the clutch release system. The two
systems are separated in the reservoir, and a leak in one
system will not affect the other system. The manual
transmission clutch release system should not require fluid
replacement during the life of the vehicle. If the brake fluid
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 299
Page 423 of 429

Radio FrequencyGeneral Information .....................21, 25
Radio Operation .......................... .401
Rear Axle (Differential) ..................... .304
Rear Camera ............................. .219
Rear Drive Assembly ........................304
Rear Liftgate (Sedan) .........................74
Rear Seat, Folding ...........................38
Rearview Mirrors ...........................44
Rear Wiper/Washer ..........................54
Recreational Towing ........................ .235
Reformulated Gasoline .......................335
Refrigerant ...............................290
Reminder, Seat Belt ........................ .149
Remote Control Security Alarm ...........................25
Remote Sound System (Radio) Controls ...........365
Remote Starting System .......................27
Replacement Bulbs ........................ .245
Replacement Keys ...........................24
Replacement Tires ..........................318
Reporting Safety Defects .....................409
Restraint, Head .............................40
Restraints, Child .......................... .174
Retractable Cargo Area Cover ...................75 Roll Over Warning
...........................4
Roof Type Carrier ...........................92
Rotation, Tires ............................ .324
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle ...................192
Safety Checks Outside Vehicle .................194
Safety Defects, Reporting .....................409
Safety, Exhaust Gas ........................ .191
Safety Information, Tire ..................... .305
Safety Tips ...............................191
Satellite Radio Antenna ..................... .361
Schedule, Maintenance .......................279
Seat Belt Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage ......154
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) ...........159
Energy Management Feature ................159
Lap/Shoulder Belt Operation...............
.152
Lap/Shoulder Belts .......................150
Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting ...............154
Pregnant Women ........................ .158
Seat Belt Extender ........................157
Seat Belt Pretensioner .....................159
Seat Belt Reminder .......................149
Seat Belt Maintenance .......................328
Seat Belt Reminder ........................ .149
12
INDEX 421