GMC Jimmy 2004, 2004 Jimmy Owner's Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems

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

Front Seats

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

Rear Seats

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

Safety Belts

.............................................. 1-8

Child Restraints

....................................... 1-30

Air Bag System

....................................... 1-52

Restraint System Check

............................ 1-59

Features and Controls

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

Keys

........................................................ 2-3

Doors and Locks

....................................... 2-8

Windows

................................................. 2-12

Theft-Deterrent Systems

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

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle

........... 2-20

Mirrors

.................................................... 2-44

HomeLink

®

Transmitter

............................. 2-46

Storage Areas

......................................... 2-51

Sunroof

.................................................. 2-64

Vehicle Personalization

............................. 2-66

Instrument Panel

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

Instrument Panel Overview

.......................... 3-2

Climate Controls

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

Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

......... 3-22

Audio System(s)

....................................... 3-37

Driving Your Vehicle

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

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle

........ 4-2

Towing

................................................... 4-46

Service and Appearance Care

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

Service

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

Fuel

......................................................... 5-4

Checking Things Under the Hood

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

Rear Axle

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

Four-Wheel Drive

..................................... 5-49

Front Axle

............................................... 5-50

Bulb Replacement

.................................... 5-51

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

......... 5-56

Tires

...................................................... 5-58

Appearance Care

..................................... 5-90

Vehicle Identification

................................. 5-98

Electrical System

...................................... 5-98

Capacities and Specifications

................... 5-104

Maintenance Schedule

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

Maintenance Schedule

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

Customer Assistance and Information

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

Customer Assistance and Information

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

Reporting Safety Defects

........................... 7-10

Index

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

2004 GMC Jimmy Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM,the GM Emblem, GMC,
the GMC Truck Emblem and the name JIMMY are
registered trademarks 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 GMC 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 copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:

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

Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. X2411 A First Edition

©

Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/12/03

All Rights Reserved

About Driving Your Vehicle

As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an
accident. Be sure to read the ‘‘on pavement’’ and
‘‘off-road’’ driving guidelines in this manual. See Your

Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle on page 4-2
and Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle on page 4-15.

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.

ii

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

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.

Vehicle Symbols

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

iv

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

v

Model Reference

This manual covers these models:

2-Door Utility

4-Door Utility

vi

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

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

Power Seats ..................................................1-3

Power Lumbar ...............................................1-3

Heated Seats .................................................1-4

Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4

Head Restraints .............................................1-6

Rear Seats .......................................................1-6

Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-6

Safety Belts .....................................................1-8

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-8

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-12

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-13

Driver Position ..............................................1-14

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-20

Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-21

Center Front Passenger Position .....................1-21

Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-22

Center Rear Passenger Position .....................1-26

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for

Children and Small Adults ..........................1-27

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30

Child Restraints .............................................1-30

Older Children ..............................................1-30

Infants and Young Children ............................1-33

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40

Top Strap ....................................................1-41

Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-43

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-44

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for

the LATCH System (Rear) ..........................1-46

Securing a Child Restraint in a

Rear Outside Seat Position .........................1-46

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right

Front Seat Position ....................................1-48

Center Seat Positions ....................................1-51

Air Bag System ..............................................1-52

Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-54

When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-55

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-56

How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-56

What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? .......1-56

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-58

Adding Equipment to Your

Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle ...........................1-58

Restraint System Check ..................................1-59

Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-59

Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash ............................................1-59

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

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.

Move the lever, located under the front of the manual
seat, up to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it
and release the lever. Try to move the seat with your
body to make sure the seat is locked into place.

1-2

Power Seats

If your vehicle has this feature, there will be a control on
the outboard side of your seat.

Horizontal Control: Raise or lower the front of the seat
by raising or lowering the forward edge of the control.
Raise or lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering
the rear edge of the control.

Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the whole
control toward the front or the rear of the vehicle.

Moving the whole control up or down raises or lowers
the whole seat.

Vertical Control: Move the reclining front seatback
forward or rearward by moving the control toward
the front or rear of the vehicle.

See Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-4 for more
information.

Power Lumbar

If your vehicle has this
feature, the control is
located on the outboard
side of the seat(s).

Press and hold the front of the control until you have
the desired lumbar support. To decrease lumbar
support, press and hold the rear of the control.

1-3

Heated Seats

If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls are
located on the outboard
side of the front seats.

This feature will heat the lower cushion and lower back
of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

Press the lower part of the switch to turn the heater on
low. Press the upper part of the switch to turn the
heater on high. Put the switch in the center position to
turn the heater off.

The passenger’s safety belt must be engaged for the
heated seat feature to work on the passenger’s seat.

Reclining Seatbacks

To adjust a manual
seatback, lift the lever
on the outboard side
of the seat.

Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want
it. To return the seat to an upright position, pull up
on the lever without pushing on the seatback.

If your vehicle is equipped with the vertical power seat
control described in Power Seats on page 1-3,
pressing it rearward allows the seatback to recline.

1-4

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.

{CAUTION:

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.

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.

1-5

Head Restraints

Head restraints are fixed on some models and
adjustable on others. Slide an adjustable head restraint
up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest
to the top of your head. This position reduces the
chance of a neck injury in a crash.

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Your vehicle has folding rear seatbacks which allows for
more cargo space.

The rear seat release handles are located on the rear
of the seatbacks. Push back on the seatbacks as
you pull up on the handles. The head restraint will
automatically fold out of the way when the seatback is
folded down.

1-6

To raise the seatbacks, lift up the seatbacks and pull
up. Push and pull on the seatbacks to check that
the latches have locked in the upright position. If they
haven’t, see your dealer for service.

To return the head restraints to the upright position,
reach behind the seats and pull the head restraint
up until it locks into position.

On two-door models with an inside mounted spare tire,
the driver’s side rear seat head restraint must be
lifted and held upright as the seatback is raised.
Otherwise, the head restraint will hit the spare tire
and prevent the seatback from properly latching.

Push and pull on the head restraints to check that they
have locked in the upright position. If they haven’t,
see your dealer for service.

{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.

{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.

1-7

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

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.
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 3-25.

1-8

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!

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.

1-9

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider

doesn’t stop.

1-10

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

or the instrument panel...

1-11

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.

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.

1-12

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.

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 1-30 or Infants and
Young Children on page 1-33. 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.

1-13

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.

1-14

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

If the belt isn’t long enough, see Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-30.

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.

1-15

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.

1-16

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.

1-17

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.

1-18

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.

1-19

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.

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.

1-20

Right Front Passenger Position

To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-14.

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.

Center Front Passenger Position

Lap Belt

If your vehicle has a front bench seat, someone can sit
in the center position.

When you sit in the center front seating position,
you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor.
To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it
along the belt.

1-21

To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown
until the belt is snug.

Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap
part of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt isn’t long
enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30.

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.

Rear Seat Passengers

It’s 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 aren’t 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.

Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions

1-22

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here’s how to wear one properly.

1. 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.

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way,
it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and
start again.

If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-30.

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.

1-23

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

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 a crash.

1-24

The safety belt also locks 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.

1-25

Center Rear Passenger Position

Four Door Models

Lap Belt

When you sit in the center rear seating position,
you have a lap safety belt which has a retractor.

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

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

3. Feed the lap belt into the retractor to tighten it.

1-26

4. Position and release it the same way as the lap
part of a lap-shoulder belt.

If the belt isn’t long enough, see Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-30. 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.

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults

Four Door Models

This feature will provide added safety belt comfort for
older children who have outgrown booster seats and for
small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the
comfort guide better positions the belt away from
the neck and head.

1-27

Here’s how to install a comfort guide and use the
safety belt:

1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of
the seatback and the interior body to remove the
guide from its storage clip.

2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic
cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide
over the belt, and insert the two edges of the
belt into the slots of the guide.

1-28

3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.
The elastic cord must be under the belt and the
guide on top.

4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as
described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-22.
Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the
shoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the
belt edges together so that you can take them out of the
guides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage
clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the
guide and clip inward and in between the seatback and
the interior body, leaving only the loop of the elastic
cord exposed.

1-29

Safety Belt Extender

If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.

But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
the extender will be long enough for you. The extender
will be just for you, and just for the seat in your
vehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it,
and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear
it, just attach it to the regular safety belt.

Child Restraints

Older Children

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

If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.

1-30

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.

{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.

1-31

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: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle,

but 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.
If the child is sitting in a rear outside position
of a four-door model, see Rear Safety Belt Comfort

Guides for Children and Small Adults on
page 1-27. If the child is so small that the shoulder

belt is still very close to the child’s face or neck,
you might want to place the child in a seat that has
a lap belt, if your vehicle has one.

1-32

{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.

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.

1-33

{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.

1-34

{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.

1-35

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

restraints?

A: Add-onchild 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.

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.

1-36

{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.

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.

1-37

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.

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.

1-38

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.

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.

1-39

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.

Where to Put the Restraint

Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
We, therefore, recommend that child restraints be
secured in a rear outside seat position including an
infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in
a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding
in a booster seat.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front
passenger seat. Here is why:

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating air bag.
Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in
a rear seat outside position.

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-40

CAUTION: (Continued)

If you secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in a rear
seat outside position.

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.

Top Strap

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, do not 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.

1-41

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.

{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.

Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchor
points. 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.

Raise the head restraint and route the top strap
under it. See Head Restraints on page 1-6.

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

1-42

Top Strap Anchor Location

Anchor brackets for the rear outside seat positions are
located on the floor in the cargo area of your vehicle.

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.

If your vehicle is equipped with the rear convenience
system, there will be plugs covering the anchor brackets.
To remove the plugs, grasp the edges of the plugs
and pull them out. See Rear Convenience System on
page 2-62 for more information. Don’t use the rear set
of tie-down brackets near the liftgate/tailgate or the
center tie-down bracket near the rear seats.

1-43

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
for Children (LATCH System)

If your vehicle is equipped with the LATCH System, it is
available in the second row outboard 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).

1-44

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

To assist you in locating the anchors for this child
restraint system, place your hand in a palm-up position
and reach up between the seat cushion and the
seatback.

{CAUTION:

If a LATCH-type child restraint isn’t attached
to its anchorage points, the restraint won’t 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. See “Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System”, “Securing a
Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position”
or “Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position” in the Index for information on
how to secure a child restraint in your vehicle.

1-45

Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System (Rear)

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.

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 1-41.

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 1-44. See Top Strap
on page 1-41 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.

1-46

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.

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.

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

1-47

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.

Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position

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

Children (LATCH System) on page 1-44. See Top Strap
on page 1-41 if the child restraint has one.

1-48

Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here is why:

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating air bag.
Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in
a rear seat.

A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing
child restraint. If you need to secure a forward-facing
child restraint in the right front seat, you will 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. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger’s
air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go before securing a forward-facing child restraint.
See Manual Seats on page 1-2 or Power Seats
on page 1-3.

2. Put the restraint on the seat.

3. 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.

1-49

4. 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.

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

1-50

6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into
the retractor while you push down on the child
restraint. You may find it helpful to use your knee to
push down on the child restraint as you tighten
the belt.

7. 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.

Center Seat Positions

Four Door Models

Don’t use child restraints in these position. The restraints
won’t work properly.

1-51

Air Bag System

This part explains the air bag system.
Your vehicle has air bags – one air bag for the driver

and another air bag for the right front passenger.
Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of

injury from the force of an inflating 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 system:

{CAUTION:

You can be severely injured or killed in a crash
if you aren’t 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 don’t replace them.
ir bags are designed to deploy only in
moderate to severe frontal and near frontal

CAUTION: (Continued)

CAUTION: (Continued)

A crashes. They aren’t designed to inflate at all
in rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes,
or in many side crashes. And, for some
unrestrained occupants, air bags may provide
less protection in frontal crashes than more
forceful air bags have provided in the past.
Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there’s an air
bag for that person.

{CAUTION:

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 before
and during a crash. Always wear your safety
belt, even with air bags. The driver should sit
as far back as possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle.

1-52

{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 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 Older Children on page 1-30 and Infants
and Young Children on page 1-33.

There is a air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the air bag symbol.

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 3-26.

1-53

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.

1-54

{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.

When Should an Air Bag Inflate?

An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal, or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate only
if the impact speed is above the system’s designed
'threshold level'. If your vehicle goes straight into a wall
that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is about
9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 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 air bag
is not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in
many side impacts because inflation would not help the
occupant.

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.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact
and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near-frontal impacts.

The air bag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough
terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See Off-Road

Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle on
page 4-15 for more tips on off-road driving.

1-55

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. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag, and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.

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. Air bags supplement 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 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 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.

What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates?

After an 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,
or the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s
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 doesn’t 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

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-56

CAUTION: (Continued)

the vehicle should get out as soon as it is 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.

• Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After

they inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t 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.

• Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,

which records information about the 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.

• Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag

system. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won’t 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, the bag
may not work properly. You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel or both the
air bag module and the instrument panel for
the right front passenger’s air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.

1-57

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle

Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-11.

{CAUTION:

For up to 10 minutes 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 wires wrapped
with yellow tape or 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 system does not need regular maintenance.

Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle

Q: If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the

front of my vehicle, will it keep the air bags
from working properly?

A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is

attached to your vehicle so that the vehicle’s
basic structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep
the air bags from working properly in a crash.

Q: Is there anything I might add to the front of

the vehicle that could keep the air bags from
working properly?

A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s

frame, bumper system, front end sheet metal or
height, they may keep the air bag system from
working properly. Also, the air bag system may not
work properly if you relocate any of the air bag
sensors. If you have any questions about this, you
should contact Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step
Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
on page 7-2.

1-58

Restraint System Check

Checking Your Restraint Systems

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.)

Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash

{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’ve 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.

1-59

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

If you ever see a label on
the driver’s or the right
front passenger’s safety
belt that says to replace
the belt, be sure to do so.
Then the new belt will
be there to help protect
you in a collision.
You would see this
label on the belt near
the door opening.

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

1-60

Keys ...............................................................2-3

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

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-6

Doors and Locks .............................................2-8

Door Locks ....................................................2-8

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

Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................2-9

Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-11

Lockout Protection ........................................2-11

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

Windows ........................................................2-12

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

Swing-Out Windows ......................................2-14

Rear Window ...............................................2-14

Sun Visors ...................................................2-17

Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-17

Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-17

Passlock

®

....................................................2-19

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-20

New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-20

Ignition Positions ..........................................2-20

Starting Your Engine .....................................2-22

Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-24

Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-25

Manual Transmission Operation ......................2-28

Four-Wheel Drive ..........................................2-30

Parking Brake ..............................................2-37

Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-38

Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-41

Parking Your Vehicle .....................................2-41

Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-42

Engine Exhaust ............................................2-42

Running Your Engine While You Are Parked .......2-43

Mirrors ...........................................................2-44

Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-44

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror ................2-44

Outside Manual Mirror ...................................2-45

Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-45

Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror ..................2-45

Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-46

Outside Heated Mirrors ..................................2-46

HomeLink

®

Transmitter ...................................2-46

Programming the HomeLink

®

Transmitter .........2-48

Section 2 Features and Controls

2-1

Storage Areas ................................................2-51

Glove Box ...................................................2-51

Overhead Console ........................................2-51

Front Storage Area .......................................2-58

Assist Handles .............................................2-58

Garment Hooks ............................................2-59

Luggage Carrier ...........................................2-59

Rear Storage Area ........................................2-61

Convenience Net ..........................................2-61

Rear Convenience System .............................2-62

Sunroof .........................................................2-64

Vehicle Personalization ...................................2-66

Memory Seat ...............................................2-66

Section 2 Features and Controls

2-2

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.

2-3

This vehicle has one
double-sided key for the
ignition, tailgate and
door locks. It will fit with
either side up.

When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides
the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key
code number.

The key code number tells your dealer or a qualified
locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in
a safe place. If you lose your keys, you’ll be able to
have new ones made easily using this number.

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.

If you ever do get locked out of your vehicle, contact
Roadside Assistance for help. See Roadside Assistance
Program on page 7-6 for more information.

2-4

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 2-6.

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

a qualified technician for service.

2-5

Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation

If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors from about 3 feet (1m) up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied
with your vehicle.

UNLOCK: Press UNLOCK to unlock the driver’s door.
The parking lamps will flash and the interior lamps
will go on.

If you press UNLOCK twice within three seconds, the
remaining doors will unlock.

LOCK: Press LOCK to lock all the doors. Press LOCK
again within three seconds and the horn will chirp
for confirmation.

REAR: Press REAR once to unlock the tailgate area.
When you press the REAR button twice within three
seconds to release the rear liftglass, the parking lamps
will flash and the interior lamps will go on. If your
vehicle has an automatic transmission, the transmission
must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If your vehicle
has a manual transmission, the parking brake must
be engaged.

L (Remote Alarm): Press this button to make the

horn sound and the headlamps and taillamps flash
for up to 30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing
the remote alarm button again, waiting for 30 seconds,
or starting the vehicle.

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 four
transmitters matched to it.

2-6

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 transmitter won’t
work at the normal range in any location. If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it’s 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. Insert an object like a thin coin in the slot between
the covers of the transmitter housing near the key
ring hole. Remove the bottom by twisting the object.

2. Remove and replace the battery with a three-volt
CR2032 or equivalent battery, positive (+) side up.

3. Align the covers and snap them together.

4. Check the operation of the transmitter.

2-7

Doors and Locks

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.

• 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:

• You can use the remote keyless entry system, if your

vehicle has this feature.

• You can use your key to unlock your door from the

outside.

• You can use the power lock switch (if equipped) to

lock or unlock the doors.

To manually lock or unlock
a door from the inside,
slide the manual lever
on your door.

You will see a colored area on the lever when the
door is unlocked.

2-8

Power Door Locks

If your vehicle has power door locks, the switches are
located on the driver’s and the passenger’s front
armrests. Remove the ignition key and press LOCK to
lock all the doors at once. To unlock the doors, press the
raised area to the right of the key symbol.

On four-door models use the manual door lock/unlock
lever on each rear door to lock or unlock those
doors from the rear seating area.

Programmable Automatic
Door Locks

If your vehicle has power door locks, they are
programmable.

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission it will be
programmed to have all the doors lock automatically
when the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P). All the
doors will unlock when the shift lever is moved back
into PARK (P).

On a vehicle with a manual transmission, all doors will
lock when the vehicle speed is greater than 15 mph
(24 km/h). The doors will unlock when the key is
removed from the ignition.

The following is a list of the available programming
options and how to set them after entering the
program mode:

All doors lock/Only the driver’s door unlocks: Press
the lock side of the power door lock switch once and
then the unlock side once. If your vehicle is not equipped
with remote keyless entry, you may not be able to
utilize this option.

All doors lock/All doors unlock: Press the lock side
of the power door lock switch once, and then the
unlock side twice.

2-9

All doors lock/None of the doors unlock: Press the
lock side of the power door lock switch once, and
then the unlock side three times.

No doors lock/None of the doors unlock: Press the
lock side of the power door lock switch twice. This turns
off the automatic lock feature. This is the factory setting.

For more information, see your dealer.
The following instructions detail how to program your

door locks. Choose one of the programming options
before entering the programming mode.

To enter the program mode, do the following:

1. Begin with the ignition in OFF. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever all the way toward you
and hold it while you perform the next step.

2. Turn your key to RUN and OFF twice. Then, with
the key in OFF, release the turn signal/multifunction
lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock
switch lock and unlock.

3. You are now ready to program the automatic door
locks. Select one of the previous four programming
options and follow the instructions. You will have
30 seconds to begin programming. If you exceed
the 30 second limit, the locks will automatically lock
and unlock to indicate you have left the program
mode. If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning
with Step 1. You can exit the program mode any
time by turning the ignition to RUN. The locks
will automatically lock and unlock to indicate you
are leaving the program mode. If the lock/unlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming
mode, the auto lock/unlock setting will not be
modified.

2-10

Rear Door Security Locks

With this feature, you can lock the rear doors so they
can’t be opened from the inside by passengers.

The security lock lever is
located on the inside edge
of each rear door.

To use the security locks, do the following:

1. Open one of the rear doors.

2. Slide the lever up to the lock symbol to engage
the lock.

3. Close the door.

4. Repeat these steps on the opposite rear door.

If you want to open the rear door when the security lock
is on, unlock the door and open the door from the
outside. To return the rear doors to normal use,
disengage the locks by sliding the lever to the unlock
symbol.

Lockout Protection

This feature protects you from locking your key in the
vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door
is open.

If the power door lock switch is pressed when a door is
open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors
will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock.

Leaving Your Vehicle

If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.

2-11

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.

2-12

Power Windows

If you have power windows, the controls are located on
the armrests on each of the side doors. The switches
operate the windows when the ignition is in RUN,
ACCESSORY or when Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. See “Retained Accessory Power (RAP)”
under Ignition Positions on page 2-20. The driver’s
door has a switch for the passengers windows as well.

Press the side of the switch with the down arrow to
lower a window. Press the side of the switch with the
up arrow to raise the window.

Express Down Window

The driver’s window has an express-down feature that
allows you to lower it without holding the window switch.
Press the down arrow on the switch marked AUTO
located on the driver’s door briefly to activate the
express-down feature. Lightly tap the switch to open
the window slightly. The express-down feature can be
interrupted at any time by pressing the up arrow on
the switch.

Window Lockout

Four-door vehicles have a lockout feature to prevent
passengers from operating the power windows. It is
located on the driver’s door armrest. Press LOCK
to activate this feature. Press NORM and the windows
will return to normal operation.

The driver will still be able to activate all the windows
when LOCK is active.

2-13

Swing-Out Windows

If your two-door vehicle
has rear swing-out
windows, unlatch them at
the clasps and push
out on the glass to
open them.

When you close the window, be sure the latch catches.

Rear Window

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to drive with the rear
window or endgate 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 rear window or endgate:

• 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 on page 3-18.

• If you have air outlets on or under the

instrument panel, open them all the way.

See Engine Exhaust on page 2-42.

2-14

Tailgate Release

To open the liftgate, tailgate or liftglass you must first
unlock them. To unlock manually, insert the key into the
tailgate area. If the vehicle has the power lock system,
you can open the tailgate by inserting the key into
any lock. All the doors will then unlock. If the vehicle
has a remote keyless entry system, either use the
transmitter or the push button to release the liftglass to
open the tailgate.

When the doors are
unlocked, press the button
located on the tailgate
to open the glass.

Reach inside the tailgate
to lift the handle and open
the tailgate.

The tailgate can be opened without a key if the driver’s
door is unlocked. The tailgate glass will not release
if the vehicle is in gear.

To lock a power door lock system from the outside,
insert the key into a lock button and turn clockwise.
All doors, the tailgate, liftgate, and liftglass will lock.

2-15

Remote Liftglass Release

The REAR HATCH button,
located to the right of
the steering wheel on
the instrument panel,
allows you to release
the liftglass from inside
the vehicle.

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, your shift
lever must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) for the
release to work.

If you have a manual transmission, you must apply your
parking brake or have the ignition off before you can
open the liftglass.

Emergency Release for Opening
Tailgate

1. Peel back or slit the carpet to expose the access
hole in the trim panel.

2. Use a thin object to
reach through the
access holes in both
the trim panel and
the hardware cover.

3. Pry the release lever toward the passenger’s side
until the glass latch pops open.

4. Reattach the carpet securely.

2-16

Tailgate-Mounted Spare

If your vehicle has a tailgate mounted spare tire carrier,
you must move the carrier arm out of the way to
open the liftglass.

Here’s how to move the arm:

1. Squeeze the release handle on the carrier arm.

2. Swing the carrier arm away from the tailgate, giving
it a slight tug.

3. To close the carrier arm, latch by swinging it toward
the tailgate and be sure it is locked.

Sun Visors

To block out glare, you can pull the visor down.
You can also swing the visor from side-to-side.

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. However, there are ways you
can help.

Content Theft-Deterrent

Your vehicle may be equipped with a Content
Theft-Deterrent alarm system.

With this system, the
SECURITY light will flash
as you open the door
if your ignition is off.

2-17

This light reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent
system. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the door.

2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should come on and stay on.

3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the SECURITY light goes off.

If a door is opened without the key or the remote
keyless entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your
vehicle’s headlamps will flash and the horn will sound
for 110 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery
power.

Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate
if you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that
you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if
the alarm has been set off.

Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:

• If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent

system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key after the doors are closed.

• Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote

keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any
other way will set off the alarm.

If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door
with the key. You can also turn off the alarm by pressing
UNLOCK on the remote keyless entry transmitter.
The alarm won’t stop if you try to unlock a door any
other way.

2-18

Testing the Alarm

The alarm can be tested by following these steps:

1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s window
and open the driver’s door.

2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open,
or with the remote keyless entry transmitter.

3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait
for the SECURITY light to go out.

4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the
door with the manual door lock and open the
door. This should set off the alarm.

If the alarm does not sound when it should but the
vehicle’s headlamps flash, check to see if the horn
works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace
the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-99.

If the alarm does not sound or the vehicle’s headlamps
do not flash, the vehicle should be serviced by an
authorized service center.

Passlock

®

Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock

®

theft-deterrent system.
Passlock®is a passive theft-deterrent system.

Passlock®enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.

During normal operation, the SECURITY light will
go off approximately five seconds after the key is
turned to RUN.

If the engine stalls and the SECURITY light flashes,
wait about 10 minutes until the light stops flashing before
trying to restart the engine. Remember to release the
key from START as soon as the engine starts.

If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.

If the engine is running and the SECURITY message
comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn
the engine off. However, your Passlock

®

system is not
working properly and must be serviced by your dealer.
Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock

®

at this time.
You may also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-99. See your dealer for
service.

In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance
Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.

2-19

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:

• Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for

the first 500 miles (805 km).

• 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 4-60 for more information.

Ignition Positions

With the key in the ignition, you can turn it to five
different positions.

Notice: Lengthy operation of features such as the
radio in the accessory ignition position may drain the
battery and prevent your vehicle from starting. Do not
operate your vehicle in the accessory ignition
position for a long period of time.

2-20

A (ACCESSORY): This position lets you use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers when the
engine is off. Push in the key and turn it toward you.
Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it
was before you inserted the key.

{CAUTION:

On manual transmission vehicles, turning the
key to LOCK will lock the steering column and
result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision. If you need to
turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to OFF. Do not press the key
release button while the vehicle is moving.

Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only
with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in.
If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while
you turn the key hard. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.

B (LOCK): This position locks your ignition when

the key is removed. The steering wheel locks
when equipped with a manual transmission. It’s a
theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove
your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK.

C (OFF): This position lets you turn off the engine
but still turn the steering wheel. Use OFF if you must
have your vehicle in motion while the engine is off
(for example, if your vehicle is being towed).

D (RUN): This is the position for driving.
E (START): This position starts your engine.

2-21

Key Release Button

The key cannot be
removed from the ignition
of manual transmission
vehicles unless the
key release button is
pressed.

To remove the key, turn the ignition switch to OFF.
Then turn the key to LOCK while pressing the key
release button. Pull the key straight out.

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)

Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features of
your vehicle to continue to work for up to 20 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to OFF.

Your radio, power windows, sunroof and overhead
console will work when the ignition key is in RUN or
ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from RUN
to OFF, these features will continue to work for up to
20 minutes or until a door is opened.

Starting Your Engine

Automatic Transmission

Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position – that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.

Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.

Manual Transmission

The gear selector should be in neutral and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor
and start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down – that’s a safety feature.

2-22

Starting Your V6 Engine

1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
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 doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.

When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°F or (–18°C), do this:

1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.

2. If your engine still won’t 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. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. 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.

Engine Speed Control

Your vehicle has an engine overspeed control that
shuts the fuel off if the engine reaches 5,600 rpm.

2-23

Engine Coolant Heater

Your vehicle may be equipped with this feature.
In very cold weather, 0°F (–18°C) or colder, the engine

coolant heater can help. You’ll 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 cord is located in the engine compartment
behind the underhood fuse block on the driver’s side
of the vehicle.

3. Plug it 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 don’t, 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’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.

2-24

Automatic Transmission Operation

Your automatic transmission may have a shift lever
located on the console between the seats or on
the steering column.

There are several different positions for your shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with a column shift lever,

it features an electronic shift position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster. This display must be powered
anytime the shift lever is capable of being moved
out of PARK (P). This means that if your key is in OFF,
but not locked, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over a
period of time. If you need to leave your key in the
ignition in OFF for an extended period, it is
recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.

PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your engine because
your vehicle can’t 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 2-38.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on
page 4-60.

2-25

{CAUTION:

If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll — even if your shift lever is
in PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. See Four-Wheel

Drive on page 2-30. See Shifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-38.

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You have to fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift
out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever; then,
while pressing the button on the console shift lever,
push the shift lever all the way in PARK (P) as
you maintain brake application. Then move the shift
lever into the gear you wish. See Shifting Out of Park (P)
on page 2-41.

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
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 transmission,

see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-44.

NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.

{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.

2-26

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

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you

need more power for passing, and you’re:

• Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your

accelerator pedal about halfway down.

• Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the

accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D) should not be used when towing a trailer,

carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for
off-road driving. Select THIRD (3) when operating the
vehicle under any of these conditions.

THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.
It offers more power and lower fuel economy than
DRIVE (D). You should use THIRD (3) when towing a
trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills
or winding roads or for off-road driving.

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). 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.

You can also use SECOND (2) for starting your vehicle
from a stop on slippery road surfaces.

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) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission won’t 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 transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

2-27

Tow/Haul Mode

Your vehicle may be
equipped with tow/haul
mode. The button will be
located on the floor
console.

If your vehicle is equipped with the tow/haul mode,
you can use this feature to more effectively tow or
haul a heavy load.

To select the tow/haul mode, press the button.
The TOW-HAUL light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on. To go back to normal operation, press the
button again. The indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster will go out. See ‘‘Tow/Haul Mode’’ under

Towing a Trailer on page 4-60 and Tow/Haul Mode Light
on page 3-36.

Manual Transmission Operation

Five-Speed

This is your shift pattern.

Here’s how to operate your manual transmission.
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST

(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.

You can shift into FIRST (1) when you’re going less
than 20 mph (30 km/h). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and it’s hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the
shift lever in Neutral and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).

2-28

SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.

THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH (3, 4 and 5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same
way you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.

To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to Neutral.

Neutral: Use this position when you start or idle your
engine.

REVERSE (R): To back up, press the clutch pedal,
wait about six seconds, then shift into REVERSE (R).
Then let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.

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

Use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.

2-29

Up-Shift Light

If you have a manual
transmission, you have
a SHIFT light on your
instrument panel cluster.

This light will show you when to shift to the next higher
gear for best fuel economy.

When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions let you.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift
when the light comes on.

While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go
on and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the SHIFT light when you downshift.

{CAUTION:

If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Don’t shift down more
than one gear at a time when you downshift.

If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped
with a manual transmission, disregard the up-shift light
when the transfer case is in 4LO.

Four-Wheel Drive

If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel
drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read
the part that follows before using four-wheel drive.
You should use two-wheel high (2HI) for most normal
driving conditions.

Notice: Driving on pavement in four-wheel drive for
an extended period of time may cause premature
wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive
in four-wheel drive on pavement for extended
periods of time.

2-30

Electronic Transfer Case

If your four-wheel-drive
vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the transfer
case buttons are to the
right of the steering wheel
on the instrument panel.

Use these buttons to shift into and out of four-wheel-drive.
You can choose among three driving settings:

2HI (Two-Wheel High): This setting is for driving in
most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not
engaged in two-wheel drive. When this lamp is lit, it is
about one-half as bright as the others.

4HI (Four-Wheel High): This setting engages your
front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use 4HI when you
need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads,
or in most off-road situations.

4LO (Four-Wheel Low): This setting also engages
your front axle to give you extra traction. You may never
need 4LO. It sends the maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose 4LO if you were driving
off-road in sand, mud or deep snow and climbing
or descending steep hills.

Indicator lights in the buttons show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly
when you turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the
lights do not come on, you should take your vehicle in
for service. An indicator light will flash while shifting.
It will remain illuminated when the shift is completed.

Shifting from 2HI to 4HI

Press and release the 4HI button. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically.

Shifting from 4HI to 2HI

Press and release the 2HI button. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically.

2-31

Shifting from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO

To shift from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO, the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) in vehicles equipped with
an automatic transmission or the clutch pedal engaged
in vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
The preferred method for shifting into 4LO is to have your
vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and
release the 4LO button. You must wait for the 4LO
indicator light to stop flashing and remain illuminated
before shifting your transmission into gear or releasing
the clutch pedal.

If the 4LO button is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will flash
for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and
the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N) or the clutch pedal
engaged.

On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, if your
transfer case does not shift into 4LO, your transmission
indicator switch may require adjustment. With your
transmission in NEUTRAL (N), press and release the
4LO button. While the 4LO indicator light is flashing, shift
your transmission into PARK (P). Wait until the 4LO
indicator light remains illuminated before shifting
your transmission into gear. This will get you into 4LO,
but you should take your vehicle in for service to
restore normal operation.

Shifting from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI

To shift from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI, your vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) or the clutch pedal
engaged. The preferred method for shifting out of
4LO is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph
(1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4HI button.
You must wait for the 4HI indicator light to stop flashing
and remain illuminated before shifting your transmission
into gear or releasing the clutch pedal.

If the 4HI button is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4HI indicator light will flash
for 30 seconds but not complete the shift unless
the vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N) or the clutch
pedal engaged.

On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, if your
transfer case does not shift into 4HI, your transmission
indicator switch may require adjustment. With your
transmission in NEUTRAL (N), press and release the
4HI button. While the 4HI indicator light is flashing, shift
your transmission into PARK (P). Wait until the 4HI
indicator light remains illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear. This will get you into 4HI, but you
should take your vehicle in for service to restore
normal operation.

2-32

Automatic Transfer Case

If your vehicle is equipped
with the automatic transfer
case, the transfer case
buttons are located to
the right of the steering
wheel on the instrument
panel.

Use these buttons to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive. You can choose among four driving settings:

2HI (Two-Wheel High): This setting is used for driving
in most street and highway situations. Your front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.

AUTO 4WD (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This
setting is ideal for use when road conditions are
variable. While driving your vehicle in AUTO 4WD,
the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent
only to the rear wheels. When the vehicle senses a
loss of traction, the system will automatically engage
four-wheel drive. Driving in this mode results in slightly
lower fuel economy than 2HI.

4HI (Four-Wheel High): Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages your front
axle to help drive your vehicle.

4LO (Four-Wheel Low): This setting also engages
your front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need 4LO. It sends maximum power to all four wheels.
You might choose 4LO if you are driving off-road in
deep sand, deep mud, deep snow and climbing
or descending steep hills.

2-33

{CAUTION:

Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on
page 2-37.

NEUTRAL: Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to

NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See

Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-46 or Towing
Your Vehicle on page 4-46 for more information.

Indicator lights in the buttons show which setting you
are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly when you
turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights
do not come on, you should take your vehicle to your

dealer for service. An indicator light will flash while
shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer
case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.

If the SERVICE 4WD light stays on, you should take
your vehicle to your dealer for service. See Service
Four-Wheel Drive Warning Light on page 3-35 for further
information.

Shifting to 4HI or AUTO 4WD

Press and release the 4HI or AUTO 4WD button.
This can be done at any speed, and the indicator light
will flash while shifting. It will remain illuminated
when the shift is complete.

Shifting to 2HI

Press and release the 2HI button. This can be done at
any speed.

2-34