132 SAFETY
(Continued)
Enhanced Accident Response System Reset Procedure
In order to reset the Enhanced Accident Response System
functions after an event, the ignition switch must be changed
from ignition AVV/START or MAR/RUN to ignition
STOP/OFF. Carefully check the vehicle for fuel leaks in the
engine compartment and on the ground near the engine
compartment and fuel tank before resetting the system and
starting the engine.
Maintaining Your Air Bag System
WARNING!
• Modifications to any part of the air bag system could cause it to fail when you need it. You could be injured
if the air bag system is not there to protect you. Do not
modify the components or wiring, including adding
any kind of badges or stickers to the steering wheel hub
trim cover or the upper passenger side of the instru -
ment panel. Do not modify the front bumper, vehicle
body structure, or add aftermarket side steps or
running boards.
• It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the air bag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who works on
your vehicle that it has an air bag system.
• Do not attempt to modify any part of your air bag system. The air bag may inflate accidentally or may not
function properly if modifications are made. Take your
vehicle to an authorized dealer for any air bag system
service. If your seat, including your trim cover and
cushion, needs to be serviced in any way (including
removal or loosening/tightening of seat attachment
bolts), take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. Only
manufacturer approved seat accessories may be used. If
it is necessary to modify the air bag system for persons
with disabilities, contact an authorized dealer.
WARNING! (Continued)
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157
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
Automatic Transmission
The gear selector must be in the PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
position before you can start the engine. Press the brake
pedal before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:
You must press the brake pedal before shifting out of PARK.
Normal Starting
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained
without pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the AVV (START) position and
release it when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start
within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the STOP
(OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
WARNING!
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others
could be seriously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the transmission gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children). A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
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158 STARTING AND OPERATING
Cold Weather Operation
To ensure reliable starting at low temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
To prevent possible engine damage while starting at low
temperatures, this vehicle will inhibit engine cranking when
the ambient temperature is less than -31°F (-35° C) and the oil
temperature sensor reading indicates an engine block heater
has not been used. The message “plug in engine heater” will
be displayed in the instrument cluster when the ambient
temperature is below -25°F (-32° C) at the time the engine is
shut off as a reminder.
Extended Park Starting
NOTE:
Extended Park condition occurs when the vehicle has not
been started or driven for at least 30 days.
1. Install a battery charger or jumper cables to the battery toensure a full battery charge during the crank cycle.
2. Cycle the ignition to the AVV/”START” position and release it when the engine starts. 3. If the engine fails to start within ten seconds, cycle the
ignition to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait five
seconds to allow the starter to cool, then repeat the
Extended Park Starting procedure.
4. If the engine fails to start after eight attempts, allow the starter to cool for at least 10 minutes, then repeat the
procedure.
If Engine Fails To Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the "Normal
Starting" or "Extreme Cold Weather" procedure, and has not
experienced an extended park condition as identified in
"Extended Park Starting" procedure it may be flooded. Push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there.
Crank the engine for no more than 15 seconds. This should
clear any excess fuel in case the engine is flooded. Leave the
ignition key in the MAR position, release the accelerator pedal
and repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank
continuously for more than 10 seconds at a time. Wait 10
to 15 seconds before trying again.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 163
(Continued)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 normally
and your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should
never exit a vehicle while the engine is running. Before
exiting a vehicle always come to a complete stop, then
apply the parking brake, shift the transmission into
PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the ignition
key. Once the key is removed, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the ignition key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with accessto an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to be in a
vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally
injured. Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the transmission gear
selector.
• Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children). A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, 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.
WARNING! (Continued)
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164 STARTING AND OPERATING
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Interlock
which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the
ignition can be turned to the full STOP (OFF/LOCK) (key
removal) position. The key can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the STOP (OFF/LOCK) posi-
tion, and once removed, the transmission is locked in PARK.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock system (BTSI) that holds the transmission gear
selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the ignition must be in the MAR/
RUN mode (engine running or not) and the brake pedal
must be pressed.
The brake pedal must also be pressed to shift from
NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE when the vehicle is
stopped or moving at low speeds.
Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission gear range (PRND) is displayed both
beside the gear selector and in the instrument cluster. To
select a gear range, press the lock button on the gear selector
and move the lever rearward or forward. You must also press the brake pedal to shift the transmission out of PARK
(or NEUTRAL, when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds). Select the DRIVE range for normal driving.
NOTE:
In the event of a mismatch between the gear selector position
and the actual transmission gear (for example, driver selects
REVERSE while driving forward), the position indicator will
blink continuously until the selector is returned to the proper
position, or the requested shift can be completed.
The electronically-controlled transmission adapts its shift
schedule based on driver inputs, along with environmental
and road conditions. 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 develop within a few hundred miles
or kilometers.
The nine-speed transmission has been developed to meet the
needs of current and future FWD/AWD vehicles. Software
and calibration is refined to optimize the customer’s driving
experience and fuel economy. By design, some vehicle and
driveline combinations utilize 9th gear only in very specific
driving situations and conditions.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 165
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
between these gears.
The transmission gear selector provides PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift
positions. Manual downshifts can be made using the ERS
shift control. Moving the gear selector into the ERS (-/+)
position (beside the DRIVE position) activates ERS mode,
displays the current gear in the instrument cluster, and
prevents automatic upshifts beyond this gear. In ERS mode,
toggling the gear selector forward (-) or rearward (+) will
change the highest available gear. Refer to "Electronic Range
Select (ERS) Operation" in this section for further informa-
tion.
NOTE:
If the gear selector cannot be moved to the PARK, REVERSE,
or NEUTRAL position (when pushed forward) it is probably
in the ERS (+/-) position (beside the DRIVE position). In ERS
mode, the transmission gear limit (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in
the instrument cluster. Move the gear selector to the right
(into the DRIVE [D] position) for access to PARK, REVERSE,
and NEUTRAL. Gear Selector
Gear Ranges
Do not depress the accelerator pedal when shifting 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 accelerating. This is especially
important when the engine is cold.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 167
The following indicators should be used to ensure that you
have properly engaged the transmission into the PARK posi-
tion:
• When shifting into PARK, push the lock button on the gear selector and firmly move the selector all the way forward
until it stops and is fully seated.
• Look at the transmission gear position display and verify that it indicates the PARK position.
• With brake pedal released, verify that the gear selector 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 complete stop.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those
in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should
never exit a vehicle while the engine is running. Before
exiting a vehicle always come to a complete stop, then
apply the parking brake, shift the transmission into
PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the ignition
key. Once the key is removed, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
• When exiting the vehicle, always remove the ignition key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to be in a
vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally
injured. Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the transmission gear
selector.
• Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children). A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
WARNING! (Continued)CAUTION!
• Before moving the transmission gear selector out of PARK, you must turn the ignition to the ON/RUN
mode, and also press the brake pedal. Otherwise,
damage to the gear selector could result.
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as this can damage
the drivetrain.
5
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STARTING AND OPERATING 169
If the transmission becomes extremely hot, the “Transmis-
sion Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate and the
transmission may operate differently until the transmission
cools down.
During cold temperatures, transmission operation may be
modified depending on engine and transmission tempera -
ture as well as vehicle speed. This feature improves warm up
time of the engine and transmission to achieve maximum
efficiency. Engagement of the torque converter clutch, and
shifts into 8th or 9th gear, are inhibited until the transmission
fluid is warm refer to the “Note” under “Torque Converter
Clutch” in this section. 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 conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission may
operate only in a fixed gear, or may remain in NEUTRAL.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be illuminated.
Limp Home Mode may allow the vehicle to be driven to an
authorized dealer for service without damaging the trans -
mission. 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 ignition 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
operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we recommend that
you visit your authorized dealer at your earliest possible
convenience. Your authorized dealer has diagnostic equip -
ment to assess the condition of your transmission. If the
transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer service is
required.
5
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