
Listed are four situations you may experience with your  f~~el gage: 
At the gas station. the fuel pump shuts  off before  the gage reads  full. 
It lakes a little more or less  fuel  to fill up  than  the  fuel gage indicated. 
For  example,  the gage  may have  indicated  the  tank  was  half 
full, but it 
actually took a little more  or less  than  half  the tank's  capacity to fill the 
, tank. 
The  gage  moves a little when  you turn a corner or speed  up. 
The  gage  doesn't go back  to  empty when  you turn off the ignition. 
None  of these indicate 
a problem with the  fuel  gage. 
For information on how to fill your fuel tank,  see "Fuel - Filling  Your 
Tank" 
in the Index. 
For your  fuel tank  capacity,  see "Fuel  -Tank  Capacity" in the Index. 
Engine  Coolant  Temperature  Gage 
This  gage  shows  the engine  coolant  temperature. Most of  the time. the gage 
pointer 
will show your coolant  temperature  at 2 10°F (99"C), or  less. But, if 
you  are pulling a heavy  load or driving LIP hills, your coolant temperature 
may  rise and 
fall near  the  red  260°F ( 128°C) mark. This is normal. If the 
gage  pointer  moves to the  red  260°F 
(128°C) mark, your engine  is too hot! 
It means that your engine coolant  has overheated. You should pull off the 
road, 
stop your vehicle.  and  turn off the engine as soon as possible. 
Hot Coolant Can Burn  You  Badly! 
In "Problems  on  the Road," this manual  shows what to do. See "Engine 
Overheating" 
in thc Index. 
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Before using your  vehicle's air  conditioning. open  the windows  to clear  the. 
vehicle  of  hot air. 
Using the recirculation  function  can also help. See "Recirculation Buttor:" 
in this section for more  information. 
The  knob  on  the  left  side of the heating  system control  panel controls  the 
fan  speed.  The knob  has four speed  positions. To increase  the air 
flow. move 
the  knob toward 
HI. To decrease  the air flow. move it toward LO. To turn 
the  fan  off. move  the knob 
to OFF. If you  have  the air conditioner  on. 
moving  the fan knob 
to OFF also turns off'  the A/C compressor. 
The  middle knob  on the control  panel lets you  select  the relative 
temperature  of the  air  flowing  into  the passenger 
area of your  vehicle.  This 
knob 
will allow  you to adjust  the relative  air temperature  independently of' 
the function  knob setting. Move  the knob  right  toward  the  red area  for 
warmer air. Move  the knob  left toward the blue area for  cooler air. With 
A/C 
on,  move the knob  to  MAX for maximum  cooling. 
This  setting  puts the system 
in the recirculation  mode  and helps to maximize 
your  air conditioner's  performance and your vehicle's  fuel economy.  This 
setting  also  cools  the air the  fastest.  After the vehicle's  interior reaches 
a 
comfortable  temperature,  move the knob  clockwise  to place the air 
conditioning  system 
in the  normal mode. 
The  right  knob 
on the control  panel changes  the heatedair  conditioning 
setting. 
VENT - This  setting, with the  arrow pointing  at the  figure's  head. directs 
air  through  the instrument  panel vents. 
VENT/HEAT 
- Use  this setting, with the arrows  pointing at the figure's 
feet  and head,  to divide airflow between  the heater  floor vents  and 
instrument panel  vents. 
HEAT 
- This  setting. with the  arrow pointing  at  the figure's  feet. directs  air 
through the  heater  floor  vents. This setting  is  useful  for cold weather. 
HEAT/DEFROST 
- Use this  setting, with the arrow pointing  at  the figure's 
feet  and  the  defroster  symbol near the  figure's head. to divide airflow 
between  the heater  floor vents and windshield. 
DEFROST 
- This  setting with the  defrost symbol  directs  air  through the 
windshield  defroster vents. This setting  is  useful  when  you  have fog 
or ice 
on  the windshield. 
The  control  knob can  be placed 
in any position  between  two  heatedair 
conditioning  settings  to  blend  the flow 
of air. The  closer  the knob is to a 
setting  symbol,  the  more the air flow will represent  that symbol's  air  flow 
arrows. 
RECIRCULATION 
BUTTON - This  button,  between the left and middle 
knobs,  allows the air inside your vehicle 
to be recirculated.  This  setting 
helps  to  maximize  your  air  conditioner's  performance  and your vehicle's 
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fuel economy. This setting also  cools the air  the fastest and can  be  used to 
keep  “unwanted odors”  and/or dust from  entering the vehicle. When  using 
the air conditioner,  turn  off recirculation  after  the vehicle reaches 
a 
comfortable  interior temperature. 
When 
the right  knob  on the control  panel is between  HEAT  and DEFROST, 
the recirculation  feature will  not  function. 
A/C - This button, between the middle and  right knobs. allows  the air 
coming  into your  vehicle 
to be cooled and directed through the instrument 
panel  vents. This setting  is  useful for normal  cooling 
on hot days. When  you 
first  use 
A/C with the recirculation  button pushed in, turn off recirculation 
as soon as the vehicle reaches  a  comfortable interior temperature. 
Engine  Coolant  Heater 
If your vehicle has  a diesel  engine, it is equipped with  an engine  coolant 
heater. 
An engine  coolant heater  is optional on gas  engine  vehicles. If you 
use  the engine  coolant heater before starting your  engine 
(in cold weather 
(20” F, (-8” C),  or lower) your heating  system will produce warmer  air 
faster, to heat the passenger  compartment 
in cold weather. 
The  use 
of an engine  coolant  heater also reduces the time it takes for the 
engine  to  reach normal  operating  temperature.  and shortens  the time it takes 
the heater 
to reach full output. For more information,  See “Engine  Coolant 
Heater”  in  the Index. 
Diesel  Engine  Heater  Output 
If you idle your diesel  engine for a long time  when  it’s cold outside, your 
heater  may blow out  cool  air. This is normal. When  you increase  the engine 
speed,  your heater  should  blow out warmer  air. 
If it doesn’t, your coolant 
level  may be too  low. See “Engine  Coolant” 
in the Index  to see  how  to 
check  your  coolant level. 
Rear  Window  Defogger  (Option) 
You can tell if your vehicle has this option  by looking  at the rear window. If 
you see lines running across the glass,  you have it. These  are the  wire-like 
elements  which  heat  your window. 
I NOTICE: 
Scraping  the  inside of your  rear  window  could  cut  and  damage 
the  defogger. 
Your warranty  would  not  cover  this  damage. And, 
don’t  put  decals  there, you might  have  to  scrape  them off. 
For best  results,  clear  the window of as much snow  or ice  as possible  first. 
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Driving  Guidelines 
Off-Road Driving  with Your Four-wheel  Drive 
Vehicle 
This  off-road  guide is for vehicles that have  four-wheel drive. 
Also,  see “Anti-Lock  Brakes” 
in the Index. 
If your vehicle doesn’t have  four-wheel drive, you shouldn’t  drive off-road 
unless  you’re 
on a  level, solid surface. 
Off-road  driving can be great  fun. But it does  have  some  definite hazards. 
The  greatest  of these 
is the terrain itself. 
“Off-roading”  means you’ve  left  the great North American  road system 
behind. Traffic lanes aren’t  marked. Curves aren’t banked.  There are no 
road signs.  Surfaces can 
be slippery. rough, uphill or  downhill. In short, 
you’ve  gone  right back to nature. 
Off-road  driving involves some  new skills.  And  that’s  why  it’s very 
important that 
you read this  guide. You’ll  find many  driving  tips  and 
suggestions.  These  will help make your  off-road driving safer and more 
enjoyable. 
Before  You Go Off-Roading 
There are some  things to do before  you go out. For example,  be sure  to have 
all necessary maintenance  and service work  done. Check  to  make  sure all 
underbody  shields 
(if so equipped) are properly attached. Be  sure you read 
all  the  information about your  four-wheel drive vehicle  in this  manual. 
Is 
there  enough  fuel? Is the spare  tire fully inflated?  Are the fluid levels  up 
where they  should be?  What are 
the local laws that apply  to  off-roading 
where you’ll  be driving? 
If you  don’t  know, you should check  with  law 
enforcement  people in the area.  Will  you  be 
on someone’s  private land? If 
so, be sure  to  get  the necessary permission. 
Loading Your  Vehicle  for  Off-Road  Driving 
There  are some important  things to remember  about how  to  load  your 
vehicle. 
The  heaviest  things  should  be on the load floor and  forward of your 
rear  axle.  Put heavier  items as  far  forward 
as you can. 
doesn’t toss things  around. 
Be  sure  the load is secured properly, so driving  on  the  off-road  terrain 
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After Off-Road Driving 
Remove any brush  or  debris that has collected  on the underbody,  chassis or 
under the  hood.  These  accumulations  can be 
a fire hazard. 
After operation 
in mud  or  sand,  have the brake  linings cleaned  and  checked. 
These  substances  can cause  glazing  and uneven braking. Check the body 
structure,  steering,  suspension.  wheels,  tires, and exhaust system for 
damage. 
Also, check the fuel lines  and cooling  system for any leakage. 
Your  vehicle 
will require  more  frequent service due to off-road use. Refer 
to the  Maintenance  Schedule  for  additional information. 
Driving at Night 
Night driving  is  more  dangerous  than  day driving. One reason  is that  some 
drivers  are  likely 
to be  impaired - by  alcohol or drugs,  with night  vision 
problems, 
or by  fatigue. 
Here  are  some  tips on night  driving. 
0 Drive  defensively. 
Don’t  drink  and  drive. 
Adjust  your  inside  rearview mirror  to  reduce  the glare from headlamps 
Since  you can’t  see as well,  you may need  to slow  down  and keep  more 
behind 
you. 
space 
between  you and other  vehicles. 
a Slow  down,  especially  on higher  speed  roads. Your headlamps  can light 
up  only 
so much road  ahead. 
0 In remote  areas,  watch for animals. 
If you’re tired, pull  off the road  in a safe place  and rest. 
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c 
Run your  engine  only as long  as you  must.  This saves  fuel. When  you  run 
the  engine,  make 
it go a little faster than  just  idle.  That  is, push  the 
accelerator  slightly. This uses less fuel  for the heat that 
you get  and  it keeps 
the battery  (or batteries)  charged. You will need  a well-charged  battery (or 
batteries)  to  restart the vehicle,  and possibly  for signaling later on  with your 
headlights.  Let the heater  run for awhile. 
If you  have  a  diesel engine,  you  may  have to run it at a higher speed to get 
enough  heat.  Then,  shut  the engine  off and  close  the window  almost all the 
way 
to preserve  the heat.  Start the engine  again and repeat this only when 
you feel really uncomfortable  from the cold.  But do it as  little  as possible. 
Preserve  the  fuel  as long 
as you can. To help keep warm,  you can get out of 
the vehicle  and do some  fairly vigorous  exercises every half hour or so until 
help  comes. 
Power  Winches 
If  you wish  to use  a power winch  on your vehicle, only  use it when your 
vehicle 
is stationary  or anchored. 
NOTICE: 
Using  a  power  winch  with  the  transmission  in  gear  may  damage 
the  transmission.  When  operating  a  power  winch,  always  leave 
the  transmission  in  NEUTRAL 
(N). 
Use the  regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block  the wheels to keep 
your  vehicle 
from rolling. 
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Loading Your Vehicle 
- 
DSI/KPA (COL3) 
The Certification/Tire  label is found on the rear  edge of the  driver’s  door or 
in the Incomplete  Vehicle Document  in the cab. 
The  label  shows  the size  of your  original tires and the inflation pressures 
needed  to obtain 
the gross  weight  capacity of your vehicle.  This is called the 
GVWR  (Gross  Vehicle Weight Rating).  The 
GVWR includes  the  weight of 
the vehicle,  all  occupants,  fuel  and  cargo. 
The  CertificatiodTire  label also  tells  you the maximum  weights for  the 
front and  rear  axles,  called  Gross  Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). 
To find out 
the actual  loads 
on your front  and rear  axles,  you need  to go  to  a weigh 
station and weigh your vehicle.  Your dealer  can  help 
you with this. Be sure 
to spread  out your load  equally on both  sides  of the centerline. 
Never  exceed  the GVWR  for your  vehicle,  or the  GAWR  for either  the front 
or  rear  axle. 
And, 
if you  do have  a  heavy load, you should  spread it out. 
A CAUTION-: 
In  the  case of a sudden  stop or  collision,  things  carried  in the  bed 
of  your  truck  could  shift  forward  and  come  into  the  passenger \
 area,  injuring  you  and 
others. If you  put  things  in  the bed of 
your  truck,  you 
should make  sure  they  are  properly  secured. 
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Most vehicles  are ready  for  some  trailer  towing. If yours  was built with 
trailering  options, 
as many  are, it’s ready  for  heavier  trailers. But trailering 
is  different  than just driving  your vehicle  by itself. Trailering means  changes 
in handling,  durability, and fuel economy.  Successful,  safe trailering  takes 
correct  equipment,  and 
it has to be  used properly. 
That’s  the reason  for this part. 
In it are  many time-tested,  important 
trailering  tips and safety rules.  Many  of these are important  for  your safety 
and  that  of your  passengers. 
So please read  this section  carefully  before you 
pull a trailer. 
If You Do  Decide  To Pull A Trailer 
If you do, here  are  some  important  points. 
e 
e 
a 
0 
a 
There  are  many different  laws, including  speed limit restrictions, 
having to  do with trailering.  Make  sure your rig will  be legal,  not only 
where  you live but  also where you’ll  be  driving. 
A good source  for  this 
information  can  be state  or provincial  police. 
Consider  using 
a sway control if your trailer  will weigh 4,000 pounds 
(I 800 kg) or  less.  You should  always  use a sway control if your trailer 
will  weigh more than 
4,000 pounds (1 800 kg). You can ask  a hitch 
dealer  about  sway controls. 
Don’t  tow 
a trailer  at all during  the first 500 miles (800 km) your  new 
vehicle 
is driven.  Your engine,  axle or other  parts could be  damaged. 
Then,  during  the first 
500 miles (800 km) that  you  tow a trailer, don‘t 
drive  over 
50 mph (80 kdh)  and don’t  make  starts  at full throttle. This 
helps  your engine  and other  parts of your  vehicle  wear 
in at the heavier 
loads. 
If you  have  an automatic  transmission,  you should  use DRIVE (3) (or, 
as you  need  to, a lower  gear)  when towing a trailer. Operating  your 
vehicle  in DRIVE 
(3) when towing a trailer will minimize heat 
build-up  and extend  the life 
of your  transmission. If you have a manual 
transmission  and  you are towing 
a trailer,  it’s better not to use  FIFTH 
(5) gear.  Just  drive in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you  need  to, a lower 
gear). 
Three  important  considerations  have 
to do with weight: 
Weight of the Trailer 
How heavy  can a trailer safely be? 
It depends  on  how  you  plan  to use  your  rig. For  example,  speed,  altitude, 
road  grades,  outside  temperature  and how  much your vehicle  is used 
to pull 
a  trailer  are  all important.  And,  it can 
also depend  on any special  equipment 
that  you  have  on your  vehicle. 
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