If your vehicle has this feature, the cruise control buttons are located on the steering wheel.
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 25 mph (40 km/h).
The cruise control will turn off when any of the following occur:
| • | The brakes are applied, |
| • | the clutch is applied (manual transaxle), |
| • | the parking brake is applied, or |
| • | the brake system warning light is on. |
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.Your vehicle may have Enhanced Traction System (ETS). See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) . If your vehicle is in cruise control while the ETS begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
- Press the cruise control ON OFF button. The indicator light above the button will turn on.
- Get up to the speed you want.
- Press the CST SET (Coast Set) button and release it. The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
- Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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.
Resuming a Set Speed
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 press the cruise control RES ACCL (Resume/Accelerate) button briefly.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there.
If you press the RES ACCL button longer, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the button or apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, don't hold down the RES ACCL button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
| • | Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. Press the CST SET button, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the higher speed. |
| • | Press the RES ACCL button. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the button. To increase your speed in very small amounts, press the RES ACCL button briefly and then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. |
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on the cruise control by pressing the CST SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using cruise control:
| • | Press the CST SET button until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it. |
| • | To slow down in very small amounts, press the CST SET button briefly. Each time you do this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. |
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 don't use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are five ways to turn off the cruise control:
| • | Step on the brake pedal. |
| • | Press the cruise control CANCEL button. |
| • | Press the cruise control RES ACCL button and the CST SET buttons at the same time. |
| • | Press the cruise control ON OFF button. The indicator light above the cruise control button will turn off. |
| • | Push the clutch pedal if your vehicle has a manual transaxle. |
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
