With cruise control, you can maintain a speed without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise control does not work unless the vehicle speed is at least 25 mph (40 km/h). The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display a message when cruise control is enabled. See Trip Computer .
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.Setting Cruise Control
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 control lever is on the left side of the steering column. The ON-OFF/CANCEL switch is at the end of the lever and is activated by pushing in towards the direction of the steering column.
To set cruise control, do the following:
- Turn on the ignition.
- Press the ON-OFF/CANCEL switch. The CRUISE message appears on the trip computer.
- Get up to the speed you want.
- Rotate the lever down to SET-DECEL. The CRUISE ACTIVE message appears on the trip computer.
- Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and release the cruise control lever.
Adjusting Speed While Using Cruise Control
You may do one of the following:
| • | Turn the lever down to SET-DECEL until the car slows down to the desired speed, then release it. |
| • | Turn the lever up to RES-ACCEL until the car accelerates up to the desired speed, then release it. |
Minor changes in speed can be achieved by momentarily turning the lever up or down. When reducing speed, remember that the cruise control is not designed to operate under 25 mph (40 km/h).
Pausing Cruise Control
To pause cruise control, press the brake pedal on either an automatic or manual transmission, or the clutch pedal on a manual transmission, or press the ON-OFF/CANCEL switch once.
This deactivates the cruise control but retains the speed in its memory. The CRUISE ACTIVE message and cruise control symbol on the trip computer will turn off. To regain the memory speed, momentarily turn the lever up to the RES-ACCEL position, provided you are travelling over 25 mph (40 km/h). Holding the lever in the RES-ACCEL position for longer than one second causes the vehicle to accelerate.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
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.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
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 have 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 do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
Pressing the ON-OFF/CANCEL switch once pauses the cruise control but keeps the system ready and the speed in memory.
Press the ON-OFF/CANCEL switch twice to turn off cruise control completely. The cruise control symbol and message will turn off.
A third press turns the system back on to ready, without any speed memory.
Turning off the ignition completely turns off cruise control and wipes the speed memory clear.
Cruise control will be canceled if the Traction Control System (TCS) becomes active. See Traction Control System (TCS) .
Erasing Speed Memory
Pressing the ON-OFF/CANCEL switch twice to turn off the cruise control or turning off the ignition will erase the cruise control set speed memory.
