Chevrolet Epica 2004 User Manual

2004 Chevrolet Epica Owner Manual M

Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats
Rear Seats
Safety Belts
Child Restraints
Air Bag Systems
Restraint System Check

Features and Controls

Keys
Doors and Locks
Windows
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
Mirrors
Storage Areas
Sunroof

Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel Overview
Climate Controls
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
Secondary Information Center (SIC)
Audio System(s)

............................................... 1-2

............................................... 1-9

............................................. 1-10

....................................... 1-28

...................................... 1-46

........................................................ 2-2

....................................... 2-7

................................................. 2-13

.................................................... 2-31

......................................... 2-33

.................................................. 2-35

............................................. 3-1

...................................... 3-18

....................................... 3-48

........................... 1-1

............................ 1-55

..................................... 2-1

............................ 2-15

.......................... 3-4

........... 2-18

........ 3-30

............ 3-46

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
Towing

Service and Appearance Care

Service
Fuel
Checking Things Under the Hood
Headlamp Aiming
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Vehicle Identification
Electrical System
Capacities and Specifications

Maintenance Schedule

Maintenance Schedule

Customer Assistance and Information

Customer Assistance and Information
Reporting Safety Defects

Index

................................................... 4-29

..................................................... 5-3

......................................................... 5-5

...................................................... 5-48

................................................................ 1

....................................... 4-1

.......................... 5-1

............... 5-10

..................................... 5-40

.................................... 5-41

..................................... 5-68

................................. 5-77

...................................... 5-78

..................... 5-85

..................................... 6-1

................................ 6-2

........................... 7-11

........ 4-2

......... 5-47

.............. 7-1

........... 7-2

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, and the CHEVROLET Emblem are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
The name EPICA is a trademark of General Motors
Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time
it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears
in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.

Canadian Owners

You can obtain a French language copy of this manual
from your dealer or from:

Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

How to Use This Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do
this, it will help you learn about the features and controls
for your vehicle. In this manual, you will find that pictures
and words work together to explain things.

Index

A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in
the manual, and the page number where you will find it.

Part No. 04EPICA A First Edition

ii

©

Copyright General Motors Corporation 10/01/03

All Rights Reserved

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things
that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

{CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.

You will also find a
circle with a slash
through it in this book.
This safety symbol means
“Don’t,” “Don’t do this”
or “Don’t let this happen.”

iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Vehicle Symbols

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.

A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

iv

Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
topics:

• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1

• Features and Controls in Section 2

• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3

• Climate Controls in Section 3

• Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3

• Audio System(s) in Section 3

• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

These are some examples of symbols you may find on your vehicle:

v

✍ NOTES

vi

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats ......................................................1-2

Manual Seats ................................................1-2

Driver Seat Height Adjuster ..............................1-3

Power Seat ...................................................1-3

Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-5

Heated Seats .................................................1-5

Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6

Head Restraints .............................................1-8

Rear Seats .......................................................1-9

Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-9

Safety Belts ...................................................1-10

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-10

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-15

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16

Driver Position ..............................................1-16

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-23

Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24

Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-24

Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-27

Child Restraints .............................................1-28

Older Children ..............................................1-28

Infants and Young Children ............................1-30

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-34

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-37

Top Strap ....................................................1-37

Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-39

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-40

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for

the LATCH System ....................................1-43

Securing a Child Restraint in a

Rear Outside Seat Position .........................1-43

Securing a Child Restraint in a

Center Rear Seat Position ..........................1-46

Securing a Child Restraint in the

Right Front Seat Position ............................1-46

Air Bag Systems ............................................1-46

Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-49

When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-51

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-52

How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-52

What Will You See After an Air Bag

Inflates? ...................................................1-53

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-54

Restraint System Check ..................................1-55

Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-55

Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash ............................................1-55

1-1

Front Seats

Manual Seats

{CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

Pull up and hold the bar
located under the front of
the seat to unlock it.

Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Then try to move the seat with your body, to make
sure the seat is locked into place.

1-2

Driver Seat Height Adjuster

Power Seat

Your vehicle may have a manual driver seat height
adjuster.

To adjust the height of
the driver’s seat cushion,
turn the knobs located
on the outboard side of
the seat cushion.

Turn the front knob to adjust the height of the front
portion of the seat cushion. Turn the rear knob to adjust
the height of the rear portion of the seat cushion.

If your vehicle has this feature, the eight–way power
seat controls are located on the outboard side of
the driver’s seat cushion.

This control allows you to move the seat up, down,
forward or rearward. It will also move the front or rear
of the seat cushion up or down, and tilt the seatback
forward or rearward.

To adjust the power seat, do the following:

Move the seat forward
or rearward by pushing
and holding the switch
toward the front or rear
of the vehicle.

1-3

Raise or lower the front
of the seat cushion by
pushing the front part of
the switch up or down.

Adjust the angle of the
seatback by pushing the
upper switch forward
or rearward.

Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by pushing
the rear part of the switch up or down.

Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by pushing the
entire switch up or down.

1-4

When the seat reaches the desired position, release
the switch.

Manual Lumbar

Heated Seats

To adjust the driver’s
front seat lumbar support,
use the lever located
on the outboard side of
the driver’s seatback.

Push the lever down to adjust the support for the lower
part of the seatback.

Pull the lever up to return the support to its original
position.

Your vehicle may have heated front seats.

The buttons are located
on the center console
above the ashtray.

There is a button for the driver’s seat and a button for
the passenger’s seat. Press the appropriate button
to turn on the heated seat feature. The indicator light
in the button will illuminate while the feature is on.
Press the appropriate button again to turn off the
heated seat feature.

1-5

Reclining Seatbacks

To adjust the seatback,
lift the lever located on
the outboard side of
the seat cushion and
move the seatback
to where you want it.

Release the lever and push rearward on the seatback
to make sure it is locked.

Pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback
and the seatback will go to an upright position.

But do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.

1-6

{CAUTION:

CAUTION: (Continued)

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job
when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash
the belt could go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at your
pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.

CAUTION: (Continued)

For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.

1-7

Head Restraints

Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces
the chances of a neck injury in a crash.

Pull up the head restraint in order to adjust the position
upward.

Push in the release button on the head restraint in order
to adjust the position downward.

1-8

The front head restraints
also tilt forward.

To tilt the head restraint, first put it in its upright position
by pushing it forward fully and releasing it. Then slowly
move the head restraint forward until it is in the desired
position.

To remove the head restraint, pull the head restraint all
the way up. Then push in the release button and lift
the head restraint from the guide sleeve.

Replace the head restraint and reset it in the original
position before driving.

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Your vehicle has a split folding rear seatback with a
center armrest. You can fold down either side of
the seatback to increase cargo space.

Folding the Seatback

To fold down the seatback, do the following:

1. Make sure that the front seats are not reclined.
If they are, the rear seatbacks will not fold down
all of the way.

2. Press down on the
release button located
on top of the rear
seatback.

1-9

3. Fold the rear seatback forward and down.

{CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.

To return the seatback to the upright position, do the
following:

1. Lift up the seatback and push it to its original
position. Ensure that the safety belts are not twisted
or caught under the seat cushion.

2. Push down firmly on the top of the seatback until it
latches securely in the fully upright position.

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

{CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.

1-10

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.

{CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.

CAUTION: (Continued)

CAUTION: (Continued)

You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.

{CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up.
See Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-33.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up
does matter... a lot!

1-11

Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.

Put someone on it.

1-12

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

1-13

or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.

1-14

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be – whether you’re wearing a safety

belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you’re upside down. And your chance
of being conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater
if you are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have

to wear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in

most of them in the future. But they are supplemental
systems only; so they work with safety belts – not
instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered
for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if
you’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to
buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not
only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and
other collisions.

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in

an accident – even one that isn’t your fault – you
and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

1-15

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-28
or Infants and Young Children on page 1-30. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver Position

This part describes the driver’s restraint system.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.
To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.

The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.

1-16

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is

positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely
to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of
the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

1-17

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt
adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the
height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered
on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your
face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder.

To move it down, squeeze the release button and move
the height adjuster to the desired position. You can
move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder
belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where you
want it, try to move it down without squeezing the
release button to make sure it has locked into position.

1-18

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder
belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move
forward too much, which could increase injury.
The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

1-19

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,
the belt would go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at the
pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt into the
buckle nearest you.

1-20

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should

be worn over the shoulder at all times.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to
the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder
bones. You could also severely injure internal
organs like your liver or spleen.

1-21

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is twisted across the body.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt.
In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of
the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is
twisted, make it straight so it can work
properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.

1-22

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
The belt should go back out of the way.

Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of
the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage
both the belt and your vehicle.

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt,
and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible,
below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

1-23

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Right Front Passenger Position

To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-16.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt – except for one thing.
If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the
way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature.
If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way
and start again.

Rear Seat Passengers

It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in
the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.

Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

1-24

Lap-Shoulder Belt

All rear seating positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here
is how to wear one properly.

1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.

The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.

If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the
latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it.

Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is

positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

1-25

3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.

1-26

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less
likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of
the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder
belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move
forward too much, which could increase injury.
The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.

Safety Belt Pretensioners

Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver
and right front passenger. They help the safety belts
reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to
severe crash in which the front of the vehicle hits
something.

Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a
crash, you’ll need to get new ones, and probably other
new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing
Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-55.

1-27

Child Restraints

Older Children

Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.

Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A: If possible, an older child should wear a

lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt
should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt
should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the
top of the thighs. It should never be worn over
the abdomen, which could cause severe or even
fatal internal injuries in a crash.

Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat.

In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.

1-28

{CAUTION:

Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.

The belt can’t properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a time.

Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,

but the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child’s face or neck?

A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window,

move the child toward the center of the vehicle.
If the child is sitting in the center rear seat
passenger position, move the child toward the
safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the
shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so
that in a crash the child’s upper body would have
the restraint that belts provide.

1-29

{CAUTION:

Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a

lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is
behind the child. If the child wears the belt in
this way, in a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied
right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause
serious or fatal injuries.

Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s
pelvic bones in a crash.

Infants and Young Children

Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes
infants and all other children. Neither the distance
traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes
the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact,
the law in every state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says children up to some age
must be restrained while in a vehicle.

1-30

Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,
they should have the protection provided by appropriate
restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s
adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice.
Instead, they need to use a child restraint.

{CAUTION:

People should never hold a baby in their
arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t
weigh much -- until a crash. During a crash a
baby will become so heavy it is not possible
to hold it. For example, in a crash at only
25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will
suddenly become a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on
a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in
an appropriate restraint.

1-31

{CAUTION:

Children who are up against, or very close to,
any air bag when it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer outstanding protection for adults
and older children, but not for young children
and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt
system nor its air bag system is designed for
them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide.

Q: What are the different types of add-on child

restraints?

A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by

the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular restraint should take
into consideration not only the child’s weight,
height and age but also whether or not the restraint
will be compatible with the motor vehicle in
which it will be used.

1-32

For most basic types of child restraints, there are
many different models available. When purchasing
a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be
used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will
have a label saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.

The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come
with the restraint, state the weight and height
limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,
there are many kinds of restraints available for
children with special needs.

{CAUTION:

Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck. This is
necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is
weak and its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in
a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so
the crash forces can be distributed across the
strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and
shoulders. Infants always should be secured in
appropriate infant restraints.

{CAUTION:

The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child’s
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash,
the belt would apply force on a body area
that’s unprotected by any bony structure.
This alone could cause serious or fatal
injuries. Young children always should be
secured in appropriate child restraints.

1-33

Child Restraint Systems

An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat
surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.

A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with
the seating surface against the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infant in place and,
in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in
the restraint.

1-34

A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for
the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes
with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner,
and some high-back booster seats have a five-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see
out the window.

1-35

Q: How do child restraints work?
A: A child restraint system is any device designed for

use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.

For many years, add-on child restraints have
used the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to
be secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s
belt system secures the add-on child restraint in
the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.

One system, the three-point harness, has straps that
come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and
buckle together at the crotch. The five-point harness
system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and
a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip
straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that
are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the
child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield
that swings up or to the side.

When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is,
it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.

Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may
find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system
or the LATCH system in your vehicle, but the child also
has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce
the chance of personal injury. When securing an add-on
child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with
the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint
instructions are important, so if they are not available,
obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.

1-36

Where to Put the Restraint

Top Strap

Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
In addition, the only seats in the vehicle that are designed
to accommodate a child restraint are the rear outboard
seating positions. Do not install a child restraint in the
front passenger’s seat and/or the rear center seating
position. The child restraint will not fit properly.

Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.

Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure
any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no
child is in it.

Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.”
It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored
to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints
are designed for use with or without the top strap
being anchored. Others require the top strap always
to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your child restraint. If yours requires
that the top strap be anchored, don’t use the restraint
unless it is anchored properly.

If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one
can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a
kit is available.

1-37

In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be
anchored. In the United States, some child restraints
also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a
top strap, it should be anchored.

Anchor the top strap to an anchor point specified in
Top Strap Anchor Location on page 1-39. Be sure to
use an anchor point located on the same side of
the vehicle as the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.

{CAUTION:

Each top tether bracket is designed to anchor
only one child restraint. Attaching more than
one child restraint to a single bracket could
cause the anchor to come loose or even break
during a crash. A child or others could be
injured if this happens. To help prevent injury
to people and damage to your vehicle, attach
only one child restraint per bracket.

Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be ready
to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top
strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions say.

1-38

Top Strap Anchor Location

Top strap anchors are already installed in your vehicle
for the rear seating positions.

Do not use a child restraint with a top strap in the right
front passenger’s position because there is no place
to anchor the top strap.

You will find the anchors behind the rear seat on the
filler panel.

Pull the front part of the
plastic cover upward to
access the top strap
anchors.

1-39

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)

Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You will find
anchors (A) for the rear outside seating positions.

This system, designed to make installation of child
restraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety
belts. Instead, it uses vehicle anchors (A, B) and child
restraint attachments to secure the restraints. Some
restraints also use another vehicle anchor to secure
a top tether strap (C).

1-40

In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle,
you need a child restraint designed for that system.

A B

To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this
child restraint system, each seating position with the
LATCH system has either label A or B on the seatback.

1-41

These labels are located at each lower anchor position,
near the base of the seat.

Child restraints and booster cushions that can be used
with the LATCH system are identified with label A.

{CAUTION:

If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to
its anchorage points, the restraint will not be
able to protect the child correctly. In a crash,
the child could be seriously injured or killed.
Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is
properly installed using the anchorage points,
or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions that came
with that restraint, and also the instructions
in this manual.

1-42

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System

1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seating
position you want to use, where the bottom of the
seatback meets the back of the seat cushion.
See Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-40.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

3. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on
the child restraint to the LATCH anchorages in
the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will
show you how.

4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and
tighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage.
The child restraint instructions will show you
how. Also see Top Strap on page 1-37.

5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the
top tether from the top tether anchorage and then
disconnect the LATCH attachments from the LATCH
anchorages.

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) on page 1-40. See Top Strap
on page 1-37 if the child restraint has one.

If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child
restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the
child restraint when and as the instructions say.

1. Put the restraint on the seat.

2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.

1-43

3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

1-44

4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.

5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor while you push down on the
child restraint. If you’re using a forward-facing child
restraint, you may find it helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child restraint as you
tighten the belt.

6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety
belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an
adult or larger child passenger.

1-45

Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear Seat Position

Do not use child restraints in this position. The restraints
will not work properly.

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position

Do not use child restraints in this position. The restraints
will not work properly.

Air Bag Systems

This part explains the frontal and side impact air bag
systems.

Your vehicle has a frontal air bag for the driver and a
frontal air bag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle
may also have a side impact air bag for the driver,
and another side impact air bag for the right front
passenger.

If your vehicle has a side impact air bag, the words
AIR BAG will appear on the air bag covering on the
side of the seatback closest to the door.

1-46

Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk
of injury from the force of an inflating frontal air bag.
But these air bags must inflate very quickly to do their
job and comply with federal regulations.

Here are the most important things to know about the
air bag systems:

{CAUTION:

You can be severely injured or killed in a crash
if you are not wearing your safety belt – even if
you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt
during a crash helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected
from it. Air bags are designed to work with
safety belts but do not replace them.

Frontal air bags for the driver and right front
passenger are designed to deploy only in
moderate to severe frontal and near frontal
crashes. They are not designed to inflate in

CAUTION: (Continued)

CAUTION: (Continued)

rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in
many side crashes. And, for some unrestrained
occupants, frontal air bags may provide less
protection in frontal crashes than more forceful
air bags have provided in the past.

A side impact air bag is designed to inflate only
in moderate to severe crashes where something
hits the side of your vehicle. It is not designed
to inflate in frontal, in rollover or in rear crashes.

Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety
belt properly – whether or not there is an air bag
for that person.

1-47

{CAUTION:

CAUTION: (Continued)

Both frontal and side impact air bags inflate
with great force, faster than the blink of an
eye. If you’re too close to an inflating air bag,
as you would be if you were leaning forward,
it could seriously injure you. Safety belts
help keep you in position for air bag inflation
before and during a crash. Always wear
your safety belt, even with frontal air bags.
The driver should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
Front occupants should not lean on or sleep
against the door.

{CAUTION:

Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-48

the best protection for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety
belt system nor its air bag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide. Always secure children properly in
your vehicle. To read how, see the part of this
manual called “Older Children” or “Infants and
Young Children.”

There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows AIR BAG.

The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-33.

Where Are the Air Bags?

The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.

The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.

1-49

If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact air bag is
in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.

1-50

If your vehicle has one, the passenger’s side impact air
bag is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest
to the door.

{CAUTION:

If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don’t let seat covers block the
inflation path of a side impact air bag.

When Should an Air Bag Inflate?

The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.”

If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is about
9 to 14 mph (14.5 to 23 km/h). The threshold level can
vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range.

If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation
would not help the occupant.

Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact air
bag. See “Air Bag Systems” in the Index. A driver’s side
impact air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to
severe side crashes involving the driver’s door. A side
impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity is
above the system’s designed “threshold level.” The
threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design.
A driver’s side impact air bag is not designed to inflate
in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear
impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant.

1-51

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle
of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact
air bags, inflation is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?

In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates
the air bag. The inflator, the air bag and related hardware
are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air bag
modules are located inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For vehicles with side impact air bags,
the air bag modules are located in the seatback closest to
the driver’s and/or right front passenger’s door.

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air
bags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the
air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many
types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal
collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward those air bags. Air
bags should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and
right front passenger’s frontal air bags, and only in
moderate to severe side collisions for vehicles with a
driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bag.

1-52

What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates?

After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module – the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, the instrument
panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the side of the
seatback closest to the door for the driver’s side impact
air bag – will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag
that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too
hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation
does not prevent the driver from seeing or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving
the vehicle.

{CAUTION:

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is

CAUTION: (Continued)

CAUTION: (Continued)

safe to do so. If you have breathing problems
but can’t get out of the vehicle after an air
bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional
windshield breakage may also occur from the right front
passenger air bag.

• Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an

air bag inflates, you will need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not be there to help protect you in
another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.

1-53

• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing

and diagnostic module, which records information
about the frontal air bag system. The module
records information about the readiness of the
system, when the system commands air bag
inflation and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
The module also records speed, engine rpm,
brake and throttle data.

• Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag

systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag
system will not work properly. See your dealer for
service.

Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or an air
bag covering on a seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s air bag, or the air bag module and
seatback for a side impact air bag. Do not open
or break the air bag coverings.

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle

Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the air
bag systems. To purchase a service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-12.

{CAUTION:

For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected,
an air bag can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close
to an air bag when it inflates. Avoid yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.

The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.

1-54

Restraint System Check

Checking Your Restraint Systems

Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash

Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.

Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.

Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)

{CAUTION:

A crash can damage the restraint systems
in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in
a crash. To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.

If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or
LATCH system parts?

After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new parts.

If the LATCH system was being used during a more
severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.

1-55

If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH
system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt
or LATCH system wasn’t being used at the time of
the collision.

If the frontal air bags inflate, you will also need to
replace the driver’s and right front passenger’s safety
belt pretentioners and safety belt. Be sure to do
so. Then the new pretensioner and safety belt will be
there to help protect you in a collision.

After a crash you may need to replace the driver and
right front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies,
even if the frontal air bags have not deployed. The
driver and right front passenger’s safety belt retractor
assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners.

Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your
vehicle has been in a collision, or if your air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or
while you are driving. See Air Bag Readiness Light
on page 3-33.

If your vehicle is equipped with side air bags, the front
seat assembly must be replaced after the side air
bag has been deployed.

If an air bag inflates, you will need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier
in this section.

1-56

Section 2 Features and Controls

Keys ...............................................................2-2

Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-4

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-5

Doors and Locks .............................................2-7

Door Locks ....................................................2-7

Central Door Unlocking System ........................2-8

Power Door Locks ..........................................2-9

Door Ajar Reminder ........................................2-9

Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-10

Lockout Protection ........................................2-10

Leaving Your Vehicle ....................................2-11

Trunk ..........................................................2-11

Windows ........................................................2-13

Power Windows ............................................2-14

Sun Visors ...................................................2-14

Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-15

Theft-Deterrent System ..................................2-15

Immobilizer ..................................................2-17

Immobilizer Operation ....................................2-17

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-18

New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-18

Ignition Positions ..........................................2-19

Starting Your Engine .....................................2-20

Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-21

Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-22

Parking Brake ..............................................2-26

Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-27

Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-28

Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-29

Engine Exhaust ............................................2-29

Running Your Engine While

You Are Parked ........................................2-30

Mirrors ...........................................................2-31

Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-31

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror ................2-31

Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-32

Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-33

Outside Heated Mirrors ..................................2-33

Storage Areas ................................................2-33

Glove Box ...................................................2-33

Cupholder(s) ................................................2-33

Coinholder(s) ................................................2-33

Sunglasses Storage Compartment ...................2-34

Center Console Storage Area .........................2-34

Rear Seat Armrest ........................................2-34

Sunroof .........................................................2-35

2-1

Keys

{CAUTION:

Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. They
could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. The
children or others could be badly injured or
even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle
with children.

2-2

One key is used for the
ignition, the doors and
all other locks.

When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes the
key tag and gives it to the first owner. The tag has a
code on it that tells your dealer how to make extra keys.

For vehicle security, keep the key tag in a safe place and
also record the key number somewhere other than inside
of the vehicle. If you lose your key, you will be able to
have a new one made easily using the tag.

Your vehicle may have an electronic immobilizer
designed to protect your car against theft. If so, only
keys with the correct electronic code can be used
to start the vehicle. Even if a key has the same profile,
it will not start the engine if the electronic code is
incorrect. If you need a new key, contact your dealer
who can obtain the correct key code. See Roadside
Assistance Program on page 7-6 for more information.

Notice: If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.

2-3

Remote Keyless Entry System

If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a
radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.

Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.

At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:

• Check the distance. You may be too far from your

vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.

• Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may

be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.

• Check to determine if battery replacement is

necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-5.

• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or

a qualified technician for service.

2-4

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation

The following functions
are available on your
vehicle’s remote keyless
entry system:

n (Lock/Unlock): Press this button to lock all of the

doors. If all of the doors and the trunk are closed, the
hazard lamps will flash once and the horn will chirp to
indicate that locking has occurred and the theft-deterrent
system will activate.

Press the button again to unlock all of the doors. The
hazard lamps will flash twice to indicate that unlocking
has occurred and the theft-deterrent system will
deactivate.

If the door is not opened or if the engine is not started
within 30 seconds after unlocking the doors with the
transmitter, all of the doors will automatically lock and the
theft-deterrent system will re-activate.

V(Trunk): Press this button to unlock the trunk. The

horn will chirp twice to indicate that the trunk is unlocked.
The LED on the transmitter will flash when the buttons

on the transmitter are pressed.
The lock/unlock and trunk buttons will not operate and

the theft-deterrent system will not activate while the
key is in the ignition.

Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle

Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded
the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of
two transmitters matched to it.

2-5

Battery Replacement

Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about two years.

You can tell the battery is weak if the LED fails to
illuminate or if the transmitter will not work at the normal
range in any location. If you have to get close to your
vehicle before the transmitter works, it is probably
time to change the battery.

Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not
to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage the
transmitter.

To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry
transmitter, do the following:

1. Remove the screw from the back of the cover and
open the cover of the transmitter.

2. Pull the transmitter out of the cover and carefully
detach the sticker from the unit. Keep the sticker
clean.

3. Remove the battery and replace it with the new
one. Make sure the positive side of the battery
faces up. Use one three-volt, CR1620, or
equivalent, type battery.

4. Attach the sticker and put the transmitter unit in
the cover.

5. Put the two halves back together and replace the
screw. Make sure the cover is on tightly, so water
will not get in.

6. Test the transmitter operation.

2-6

Doors and Locks

CAUTION: (Continued)

Door Locks

{CAUTION:

Unlocked doors can be dangerous.

• Passengers — especially children — can

easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle will not open it. You increase
the chance of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash if the doors are not
locked. So, wear safety belts properly and
lock the doors whenever you drive.

• Young children who get into unlocked

vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.

CAUTION: (Continued)

•

Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.

There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or the remote keyless

entry transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation on page 2-5.

To manually unlock the doors from the outside, insert
the key and turn it toward the front of the vehicle.
To manually lock the doors from the outside, insert the
key and turn it toward the rear of the vehicle.

All doors, except the driver’s door, can be locked from
the outside by pushing down the manual door lock
and then closing the door. The driver’s door lock cannot
be pushed in while the door is opened.

Upon leaving the vehicle, the driver’s door can only be
locked from the outside by using the key or the
remote keyless entry transmitter.

2-7

From the inside, you can lock and unlock all of the
doors by pushing or pulling the manual door lock located
on the window sill on each door.

From the inside, you can also lock and unlock the doors
with the power door lock switches located on each
front door trim pad.

Central Door Unlocking System

The central door unlocking system is activated from the
driver’s door.

From the outside, you can lock or unlock all of the
doors on your vehicle from the driver’s door by using
either the key or the remote keyless entry transmitter.
From the inside, you can lock or unlock all of the doors
using the driver’s or the passenger’s power door lock
switch. You can also lock or unlock all of the doors
by using the manual door lock on the driver’s door.

2-8

Power Door Locks

Door Ajar Reminder

With the power door locks,
you can unlock or lock the
doors on your vehicle
using either the driver’s or
front passenger’s door
lock switch.

Push down the right part of the switch to unlock the
doors. Push down on the left part of the switch to lock
the doors.

The driver’s door must be closed in order to lock all of
the doors using the driver’s or passenger’s power door
lock switches. If the driver’s door is open while trying to
lock the doors from the driver’s power door lock switch,
the doors will not lock. If the driver’s door is open while
locking the doors from the passenger’s power door
lock switch, all of the doors will lock, except for the
driver’s door.

The rear doors do not have power door lock switches.
Rear seat passengers must use the manual locks to
lock or unlock the rear doors.

If one of the doors on
your vehicle is not closed
properly, the door ajar
light on the secondary
information center
will come on and stay on
until the doors are closed.

2-9

Rear Door Security Locks

Your vehicle has rear
door security locks on
each rear door that help
prevent passengers
from opening the rear
doors on your vehicle
from the inside.

Using the Rear Door Security Lock

1. Move the lock upward to the lock position.

2. Close the door.

3. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.

Notice: Pulling the inside door handle while the
rear door security locks are engaged could damage
your vehicle. Do not pull the inside door handle
while the rear door security locks are engaged.

The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside while this feature is in use.

Opening a Rear Door When the
Security Lock is On

1. Unlock the door from the inside.

2. Then open the door from the outside.

If you do not cancel the security lock feature, adults or
older children who ride in the rear will not be able to
open the rear door from the inside. You should let adults
and older children know how to cancel the locks.

Canceling the Rear Door Security Lock

1. Unlock the door from the inside and open the
door from the outside.

2. Move the lock downward to the unlock position.

3. Do the same for the other rear door.

The rear door locks will now work normally.

Lockout Protection

This feature stops the power door locks from locking the
driver’s door when the driver’s door is open.

2-10

Leaving Your Vehicle

If you are leaving your vehicle, take your keys. All of
the doors, except for the driver’s door, can be locked
from the outside by pushing down the door lock and then
closing the door. The driver’s door can only be locked
from the outside by using the key or the remote keyless
entry transmitter.

Trunk

To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key and
turn the trunk lock cylinder or use the remote keyless
entry transmitter.

When closing the trunk, close from the center to ensure
it fully latches. Although you may use one hand to
unlock the trunk, it is recommended that two hands on
the upper surface be used to close the trunk.

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can not see or
smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid
open or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:

• Make sure all other windows are shut.

• Turn the fan on your heating or cooling

system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System in the Index.

• If you have air outlets on or under the

instrument panel, open them all the way.

See Engine Exhaust on page 2-29.

2-11

Remote Trunk Release

Emergency Trunk Release Handle

Press the remote trunk
release button, located
on the driver’s door trim,
to release the trunk lid.

Do not press the remote trunk release button while
your vehicle is moving because your trunk will open
whenever the remote trunk release button is pressed.

Notice: Using the emergency trunk release handle
as a tie-down or anchor point when securing items in
the trunk may damage it. Use the emergency trunk
release handle only to help you open the trunk lid.

There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk release
handle located on the underside of the trunk lid. This
handle will glow following exposure to light. Pull the
release handle down to open the trunk from the inside.

2-12

Windows

{CAUTION:

Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat and
suffer permanent injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless
adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with
the windows closed in warm or hot weather.

2-13

Power Windows

Window Lockout

The power window
switches are located
on the armrest on the
driver’s door. In addition,
each passenger door
has a switch for its
own window.

The ignition must be turned to ON to use the power
windows. To lower a window, press down on the switch.
To raise a window, lift up on the switch.

The rear windows do not go all the way down.

Express-Down Window

The driver’s window also has an express-down feature.
This switch is labeled AUTO. Press the switch all the
way down and then release it. The driver’s window will
then go all the way down.

To stop the window while it is lowering, press the switch
again. To raise the window, pull up and hold the switch.

2-14

The driver’s power
window controls also
include a lockout
button.

Press the lockout button to stop the front and rear
passengers from using their window switches.
The driver can still operate all the windows with the
lock on. Press the lockout button again to return
to normal window operation.

Sun Visors

To block out glare you can swing down the visors. You
can also remove them from the center mount and swing
them to the side. Pull out the extensions located on the
inboard side of the sun visors to block out glare.

Visor Vanity Mirror

Your vehicle has lighted vanity mirrors located on the
back of the sun visors. Swing down the sun visor and lift
the cover to expose the vanity mirror. The light will come
on when the cover is opened. The light will go out when
the cover is closed.

Theft-Deterrent Systems

Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal.

Theft-Deterrent System

Your vehicle has a theft-deterrent system.
The theft-deterrent system will not arm when you lock the

doors using the key or the manual door lock. It activates
only when you use the remote keyless entry transmitter.

Arming the System

To arm the system, do the following:

1. Turn the key to LOCK and remove the key from
the ignition.

If the key is inserted in the ignition, the transmitter
will not operate the theft-deterrent system.

2. Close the doors, the windows, the hood, and
the trunk.

Ensure that the windows are closed, as the system
can be activated even if the windows are open.

3. Lock the door using the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The transmitter must be used to activate
the theft-deterrent system.

• The LED on the transmitter will flash.

• All of the doors will lock.

• The hazard warning lamps will flash once and

the horn will chirp.

• The theft-deterrent mode will arm.

• The security light will flash once every second to

indicate that the theft-deterrent system is armed.
The security light is located on the top center
of the instrument panel, near the windshield.

To avoid activating the alarm by accident, do one of
the following:

• Unlock the driver’s or passenger’s front door using

the key.

• Press the lock/unlock button on the remote keyless

entry transmitter.

Unlocking a door any other way will activate the alarm
when a door or the trunk is opened.

If you do not want to arm the theft-deterrent system,
lock the vehicle using the key or the manual door locks.

2-15

Disarming the System

To disarm the system, do one of the following:

• Unlock the driver’s or passenger’s front door using

the key.

• Press the lock/unlock button on the transmitter.

− The LED on the transmitter will flash.

− All of the doors will unlock.

− The hazard warning lamps will flash twice.

− The theft-deterrent mode will disarm.

If the door is not opened or if the engine is not started
within 30 seconds after disarming the system with
the transmitter, all of the doors will automatically lock
and the theft-deterrent mode will re-arm.

How the System Alarm is Activated

If a door or the trunk is opened without using the key
or the remote keyless entry transmitter, the horn
will sound and the lamps will flash for up to 30 seconds.

How to Turn Off the System Alarm

If the system alarm is active, it can be deactivated using
one of the following methods:

• Press the lock/unlock button on the remote keyless

entry transmitter.

• Unlock the driver’s or passenger’s front door using

the key.

Otherwise, the alarm will automatically stop after
30 seconds. The system will then lock the doors and
reactivate the theft-deterrent system.

How to Detect a Tamper Condition

If the hazard lamps flash once when the lock/unlock
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is
pressed, the theft-deterrent system alarm was activated
while you were away.

2-16

Immobilizer

Immobilizer Operation

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. this device may not cause interference, and

2. this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. this device may not cause interference, and

2. this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.

Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.

Your vehicle may have a passive theft-deterrent system.
The immobilizer system prevents your vehicle from
being started by unauthorized persons.

If your vehicle has an immobilizer system, your vehicle
has a special key that works with the theft-deterrent
system. There is a transponder in the key head that is
electronically coded. The correct key will start the
vehicle. An invalid key immobilizes the engine. The
immobilizer system isolates the power supply to
the ignition system, the fuel pump and the fuel injectors.

The engine immobilizer is activated after the key is turned
to LOCK and removed from the ignition. The security light
located on the top center of the instrument panel, near
the windshield, will flash when the immobilizer is active. If
the light does not flash after removing the key, have the
system checked by your dealer.

The immobilizer system works when you turn the key to
START. If the immobilizer system does not recognize the
electronic code, the engine will not start and the security
indicator will continue blinking. If your key is ever
damaged, you may not be able to start your vehicle.

2-17

When trying to start the vehicle, if the engine does
not start and the security light continues flashing, the
key may have a damaged transponder. Turn the ignition
off and try again.

If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to
be undamaged, try another key. At this time, you may
also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-79. If the engine still does not start
with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your
vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty. See your
dealer who can service the theft-deterrent system to
have a new key made.

Up to four keys may be programmed for the vehicle.
If you lose or damage your keys, only a GM dealer
can service the theft-deterrent system to have new
keys made.

If you are ever driving and the security light comes on
and stays on, you will be able to restart your engine
if you turn it off. The theft-deterrent system, however,
is not working properly and must be serviced by
your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the
theft-deterrent system at this time.

In an emergency, contact Chevrolet Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 7-6.

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle

New Vehicle Break-In

Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:

• Do not drive at any one speed — fast or

slow — for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle starts.

• Avoid making hard stops for the first

200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every time
you get new brake linings.

• Do not tow a trailer during break-in.

See Towing a Trailer on page 4-35 for
more information.

2-18

Ignition Positions

With the key in the
ignition switch, you
can turn the key to
four different positions.

Notice: If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn
the steering wheel left and right while you turn
the key hard. Turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of these works, then
your vehicle needs service.

LOCK: This position locks your steering wheel, ignition,

shift lever and transaxle. This is the only position in
which you can insert or remove the key. For easier key
operation when unlocking the steering wheel, move the
steering wheel from right to left and turn the key to ACC.

ACC (ACCESSORY): This position operates some of
your electrical accessories, such as the radio, but
not the ventilation fan.

ON: This is the position to which the switch returns
after you start your engine and release the key.
The switch stays in ON when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate your electrical accessories, and to display
some instrument panel warning lights.

START: This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The switch will return to
ON for normal driving. Do not turn the key to START
if the engine is running.

Even if the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow
you to operate electrical accessories, such as the radio.

2-19

Starting Your Engine

Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that
is a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.

Notice: Shifting into PARK (P) with the vehicle
moving could damage the transaxle. Shift into
PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped.

1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.

Notice: Holding your key in START for longer
than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery
to be drained much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.

2. If it does not start, wait about 15 seconds and try
again to start the engine by turning the ignition key to
START. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.

When your engine has run about 10 seconds to
warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven.
Do not race your engine when it is cold.

If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C),
let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.

3. If your engine still will not start or starts but then
stops, it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal down for five or
six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from
the engine.

Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly.

2-20

Engine Coolant Heater

Your vehicle has an engine coolant heater. In very cold
weather 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater
can help. You will get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant
heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours
prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above
32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required.

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater

1. Turn off the engine.

2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The electrical cord is located near the battery.

3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt
AC outlet.

{CAUTION:

Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a fire. You could be seriously
injured.Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.

4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.

How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature,
the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that
you contact your dealer in the area where you will be
parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the
best advice for that particular area.

2-21

Automatic Transaxle Operation

The automatic transaxle
has a shift lever located
on the console between
the seats.

There are seven different positions for the automatic
transaxle.

The instrument cluster has a shift lever position indicator
that shows which position the shift lever is in. This
indicator is located on the top right side of the instrument
cluster.

Movement between certain positions requires pushing
the shift lever toward the passenger side while shifting.
This prevents you from changing positions unexpectedly
by blocking the straight movement of the shift lever
while the vehicle is moving. It is also necessary to push
down on the shift lever to shift from NEUTRAL (N) to
REVERSE (R).

PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.

{CAUTION:

It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.

Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle will not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle
shift lock control system. You have to apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition key is in ON. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P)
while holding the brake pedal down, see Shifting Out
of Park (P) on page 2-28.

2-22

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
When shifting from NEUTRAL (N) to REVERSE (R), you

must press down on the shift lever and push it toward
the passenger side of the vehicle while shifting.

Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift
to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped.

To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see If You
Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-28.

NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart while you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.

{CAUTION:

Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.

Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not racing when shifting
your vehicle.

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for

normal driving.
THIRD (3): This position gives you more power and

lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):

• When driving on hilly, winding roads.

• When going down a steep hill.

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.

Notice: Do not drive in SECOND (2) at speeds over
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage the transaxle.
Use THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) as
much as possible. Do not shift into SECOND (2)
unless you are going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h)
or you can damage your engine.

2-23

FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle will not shift
into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.

Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

Adaptive Shift Logic

Your automatic transaxle will automatically select from
three adaptive shift patterns based upon driver behavior:

• Economy mode provides a softer shift feel and

optimizes fuel economy.

• Normal mode provides a solid shift feel and is used

for normal driving conditions.

• Sport mode provides a firm shift feel and optimizes

performance.

The driver cannot manually select the shift pattern. The
adaptive shift logic tries to operate in economy mode
as much as possible. Normal and sport modes are used
as little as possible in order to maximize fuel economy.

The first few shifts of every drive cycle may be
somewhat rough until the adaptive shift logic has
learned the driver’s behavior. This is normal.

The transaxle also has the ability to adapt to changing
road grade conditions. It will shift between three
different load settings:

• Load 1 is designed for driving on moderate road

grades.

• Load 2 is designed for driving on steep road

grades.

• Load 3 is designed for driving downhill and allows

for better engine braking.

If there is a malfunction with the automatic transaxle, the
malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or the HOLD indicator
light will turn on or flash. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-39 or Hold Mode Light on page 3-38.

Have your vehicle fixed as soon as possible.

2-24

Hold Mode

Your vehicle’s transaxle has a hold mode.

Press the HOLD button
on the console below
the shift lever to turn
on hold mode.

Press the button again to turn off hold mode, and return
to normal automatic transaxle operation.

While on, the HOLD indicator light on the instrument
panel will light up. See Hold Mode Light on page 3-38.

When hold mode is activated, the transaxle operates
in the following ways:

• When the transaxle is in AUTOMATIC

OVERDRIVE (D), the transaxle operates in a gear
range of SECOND (2) to THIRD (3) to AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) and tries to maintain AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) for as long as possible.

• When the transaxle is in THIRD (3), the transaxle

operates in a gear range of SECOND (2) to
THIRD (3) and tries to maintain THIRD (3) for as
long as possible.

• When the transaxle is in SECOND (2), the transaxle

is fixed in that gear.

• When the transaxle is in FIRST (1), the transaxle is

fixed in that gear.

Hold Mode Functions

Winter Function

Select hold mode while in AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE(D),
THIRD (3) or SECOND (2) to help the vehicle maintain
traction on slippery road surfaces, such as snow, mud,
or ice.

Avoid Excessive Shifting

Select hold mode while in THIRD (3) to avoid excessive
shifting when the adaptive shift logic is not enough to
prevent excessive shifting when driving in hilly areas.

Manually Controlling Shift

Select hold mode to use your automatic transaxle like
a four-speed manual transaxle.

2-25

Parking Brake

The parking brake lever is located between the bucket
seats.

To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light will come on.
See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-35.

To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press
the release button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.

If you forget to release the parking brake prior to driving
away, a chime will sound to remind you to release
the parking brake.

Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.

2-26

Shifting Into Park (P)

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow.

1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking
brake.

2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing the
lever up and toward the driver’s side of the vehicle.

3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.

4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.

If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you
have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from PARK (P). If you can, it means
that the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).

2-27

Torque Lock

If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.

When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.

If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

3. Remove the cover over the shift-lock release slot
by prying it off using a small, flat object, like a
screwdriver. The shift-lock release slot is located at
the top of the shift lever.

4. Insert the key into
the shift-lock release
slot and press and
hold the key.

Shifting Out of Park (P)

Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift-lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is turned to ON. See Automatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-22.

If you cannot shift out of PARK (P) while holding the
brake pedal down, try this:

1. Set the parking brake.

2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key.

2-28

5. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).

6. Remove the key from the shift-lock release slot,
insert the key into the ignition and start the engine.

7. Replace the shift-lock release slot cover.

8. Apply and hold the regular brake fully and release
the parking brake.

9. Shift to the gear you want.

10. Have the system fixed as soon as you can.

Parking Over Things That Burn

{CAUTION:

Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.

Engine Exhaust

{CAUTION:

Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can not see
or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and
death.

You might have exhaust coming in if:

• Your exhaust system sounds strange

or different.

• Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.

• Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.

• Your vehicle was damaged when driving

over high points on the road or over
road debris.

• Repairs were not done correctly.

• Your vehicle or exhaust system had been

modified improperly.

If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:

• Drive it only with all the windows down

to blow out any CO; and

• Have your vehicle fixed immediately.

2-29

Running Your Engine While You Are Parked

{CAUTION:

It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.

{CAUTION:

Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-29.

Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even
if the climate control fan is at the highest
setting. One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.

Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See Winter Driving on page 4-24.

2-30

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P).

Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.

If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also see Towing a Trailer on page 4-35.

Mirrors

Manual Rearview Mirror

When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up
or down and side to side. The day/night adjustment
allows you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from any
headlamps behind you. Push the tab away from
you for daytime use; pull it toward you for night use.

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror

Your vehicle may have an automatic dimming rearview
mirror.

When the automatic dimming feature is turned on, the
mirror automatically changes to reduce glare from
the headlamps behind you. A photocell on the mirror
senses when it is becoming dark outside. Another
photocell built into the mirror face senses when
headlamps are behind you.

2-31

At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare. This change may
take a few seconds. The mirror will return to its clear
daytime state when the glare is reduced.

To activate the automatic dimming feature, press the
button (B) located below the rearview mirror. To turn
the feature off, press the button (B) again.

The ignition must be turned to ON to use the automatic
dimming rearview mirror. The indicator light (C) will
illuminate while this feature is active.

There are two light sensors (A) which detect ambient
light level and glare from vehicles behind you.
Do not cover the sensors as this will cancel the
automatic dimming operation.

Outside Power Mirrors

The control for the
power mirrors is located
on the driver’s side
instrument panel,
below the side outlet.

Move the outside power mirror control to L for the left
mirror and to R for the right mirror. If you place the
control in the center position, no movement of the mirror
will occur. To adjust a mirror, press the corresponding
edges located on the four-way control pad to move
the mirror in the direction that you want it to go.
The ignition must be turned to ON to adjust the mirrors.

The outside rearview mirrors can be folded flat against
the side of the vehicle by pushing them toward the
vehicle.

2-32

Outside Convex Mirror

Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from
the driver’s seat.

{CAUTION:

A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.

Outside Heated Mirrors

When you operate the rear window defogger, the heated
driver’s and passenger’s outside power mirrors are
warmed to help clear them of ice and snow. See “Rear
Window and Outside Mirror Defogger” under Climate

Control System on page 3-18 or Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-22 for more information.

Storage Areas

Glove Box

Open the glove box by pulling the bottom of the handle
upward. Close the glove box with a firm push.

Cupholder(s)

The cupholders are located in the center console and in
the rear seat center armrest. To use the front cupholder,
pull up on the edge of the opening. To use the rear
cupholder, pull down the rear seat center armrest.

Coinholder(s)

Your vehicle has a coinholder located to the left of
the steering wheel on the instrument panel. There is
also a card holder located at the top of the coinholder.
To use these feature, pull out the coinholder drawer.

2-33

Sunglasses Storage Compartment

The sunglasses storage compartment is located on
the headliner. To open the sunglasses storage
compartment, press the rear part of the cover. To close
the compartment, pull up and push it until it latches.

Center Console Storage Area

The center console has two separate storage areas.
The upper compartment is also the armrest. To open
the upper compartment, pull up on the left lever and lift
the lid. To open the lower compartment, pull up on
the right lever and lift the lid. To close the compartments,
push down on the lid until it latches securely.

Rear Seat Armrest

Your vehicle’s rear seat armrest contains two cupholders
and a rear console storage area. To access the
cupholders, pull the armrest down from the rear
seatback. To access the rear console storage area,
pull up on the lever and lift the lid. To close the storage
area, lower the lid and push it down until it latches.

2-34

Sunroof

If your vehicle has this feature, the sunroof switch is
located on the headliner between the sun visors. The
sunroof can be opened to a vent position or it can be
express-opened all of the way.

To open the sunroof to the vent position, first manually
open the sunroof shade and then push the front part
of the sunroof switch. To return the sunroof to its original
position, push the rear part of the switch and hold it
until the sunroof reaches the desired position.

To fully open the sunroof, push the rear part of the
sunroof switch. The sunroof will open automatically,
along with the sunroof shade, until you push either the
front or the rear part of the switch again.

To close the sunroof, push the front part of the switch and
hold it until the sunroof is closed. The sunroof will stop if
the switch is released during operation. The sunroof
shade needs to be closed manually.

In both the vent and fully open positions, the air flow can
be adjusted for driving comfort by pushing and holding
the switch until the sunroof moves to the desired position.

The sunroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed if
your vehicle has an electrical failure.

2-35

✍ NOTES

2-36

Section 3 Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel Overview ...............................3-4

Hazard Warning Flashers ................................3-6

Other Warning Devices ...................................3-6

Horn .............................................................3-6

Tilt Wheel .....................................................3-7

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever .........................3-7

Windshield Wiper Lever ...................................3-9

Cruise Control ..............................................3-10

Exterior Lamps .............................................3-13

Interior Lamps ..............................................3-15

Accessory Power Outlets ...............................3-17

Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter ........................3-18

Climate Controls ............................................3-18

Climate Control System .................................3-18

Automatic Climate Control System ...................3-22

Outlet Adjustment .........................................3-28

Passenger Compartment Air Filter ...................3-28

Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............3-30

Instrument Panel Cluster ................................3-31

Speedometer and Odometer ...........................3-32

Trip Odometer ..............................................3-32

Tachometer .................................................3-32

Safety Belt Reminder Light .............................3-33

Safety Belt Reminder Tone ............................3-33

Air Bag Readiness Light ................................3-33

Charging System Light ..................................3-34

Brake System Warning Light ..........................3-35

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light .............3-36

Speed Sensitive Power Steering (SSPS)

Warning Light ...........................................3-36

Traction Control System (TCS)

Warning Light ...........................................3-37

Traction Control System Active Light ...............3-38

Hold Mode Light ...........................................3-38

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage ..................3-39

Malfunction Indicator Lamp .............................3-39

Oil Pressure Light .........................................3-42

Cruise Control Light ......................................3-43

Highbeam On Light .......................................3-43

Daytime Running Lamps

Indicator Light ...........................................3-44

Fuel Gage ...................................................3-44

Low Fuel Warning Light .................................3-45

3-1

Section 3 Instrument Panel

Secondary Information Center (SIC) .................3-46

Clock ..........................................................3-46

Door Ajar Light .............................................3-47

Trunk Ajar Light ............................................3-47

Audio System(s) .............................................3-48

Radio with CD ..............................................3-48

Trunk-Mounted CD Changer ...........................3-55

3-2

Theft-Deterrent Feature ..................................3-58

Audio Steering Wheel Controls .......................3-59

Radio Reception ...........................................3-59

Care of Your CDs .........................................3-59

Care of Your CD Player ................................3-60

Backglass Antenna .......................................3-60