The lever on the left side of the steering column includes the following:
• | Turn and Lane Change Signals |
• | & Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer |
• | Flash-to-Pass Feature |
• | Windshield Wipers |
• | Windshield Washer |
• | Cruise Control (If Equipped) |
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down. When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument panel cluster will flash in the direction of the turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself when you release it. The bottom of the outside rearview mirrors may also be equipped with lane change indicators.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows flash more quickly than normal, a signal bulb may be burned out and other drivers won't see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you signal a turn, check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers and check for burned-out bulbs.
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring for the trailer lamps, a different turn signal flasher is used. With this flasher installed, the signal indicator will flash even if a turn signal bulb is burned out. Check the front and rear turn signal lamps regularly to make sure they are working.
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever to the off position.
To change the headlamps from low to high beam, push the lever toward the instrument panel. To return to low-beam headlamps, pull the multifunction lever toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are on, this indicator light on the instrument panel cluster will also be on.
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works even if your headlamps are in the automatic position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then release it.
If your headlamps are in the automatic position or on low beam, your high-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on as long as you hold the lever toward you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument panel cluster will come on. Release the lever to return to normal operation.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The closer to the top of the lever, the shorter the delay.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away from you to the first solid band past the delay settings. For high-speed wiping, turn the band further, to the second solid band past the delay settings. To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become worn or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Your vehicle may be equipped with Rainsense windshield wipers. When active, these wipers are able to detect moisture on the windshield and automatically turn on the wipers.
The moisture sensor is located next to the inside rearview mirror and is mounted on the windshield.
To turn on the Rainsense feature, the wipers must be set to one of the five delay settings on the multifunction lever. Each of the five settings adjusts the sensitivity of the rainsensor. For more wipes, select the higher settings; for fewer wipes, select the lower settings located closer to off on the multifunction lever.
The rainsensor will automatically control the frequency of the wipes from off to high speed according to the weather conditions. The wipers can be left in a rainsense mode even when it is not raining.
Notice: If you do not turn off the windshield wipers when driving through an automatic car wash, you could damage the wipers. Always turn off the windshield wipers before entering an automatic car wash.
Caution: In freezing weather, do not use your washer until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your vision.
This control is located to the right of the steering wheel on the instrument panel.
To turn the rear wiper on, turn the control to either 1, 2, or 3. For delayed wiping, turn the control to 1 or 2. For steady wiping, turn the control to 3. To turn the wiper off, turn the control to 0.
To wash the rear window, press the washer symbol located in the center of the control.
The rear window washer uses the same fluid bottle as the windshield washer. However, the rear window washer will run out of fluid before the windshield washer. If you can wash your windshield but not your rear window, check the fluid level.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a headlamp washer system. The button to operate this feature is located on the instrument panel and functions separately from your other washer systems.
To wash your headlamps, press the headlamp washer button briefly and release to activate the system. Two pressurized bursts of washer fluid will then be applied to the headlamps.
The cruise controls are located on the end of the turn signal/multifunction lever.
(On): Move the switch to this position to turn the cruise control system on.With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
Caution: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and you could lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.Caution: If you leave your cruise control on when you are not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise when you do not want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switch off until you want to use cruise control.
The cruise light on the instrument panel cluster will come on when the cruise control is engaged.
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off the cruise control. But you don't need to reset it.
Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can move the cruise control switch briefly from on to resume/accelerate.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, don't hold the switch at resume/accelerate.
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
• | Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. Press the button at the end of the lever, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the higher speed. |
• | Move the cruise switch from on to resume/accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the switch briefly to resume/accelerate. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. |
Press in the set button at the end of the lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it. Each time you do this, you'll go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on steep hills.
There are three ways to turn off the cruise control:
• | Step lightly on the brake pedal. |
• | Move the cruise switch to off, or |
• | Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N). |
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise control set speed memory is erased.