
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shift Light 
SHIFT 
If  you have a manual 
transmission,  you  have a 
SHIFT light. 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. 
a CAUTION: 
If you skip more  than  one  gear  when you 
downshift, you could lose'  control of your  vehicle. 
And 
you could injure yourself' or others.  Don't  shift 
down more than  one gear when you downshift.' 
If your  vehicle  has four-wheel  drive  and  is equipped 
with  a manual transmission, disregard the 
SHIFT light 
when  the transfer case 
is in 4LO. 
Locking Rear Axle 
If you have this feature,  your rear axle  can give  you 
additional  traction  on snow,  mud,  ice, sad  or gravel.  It 
works  like a standard  axle  most  of the  time,  but  when 
one 
of the rear  wheels  has  no traction and the other does, 
the locking feature  will  allow  the  wheel  with  traction  to 
move  the  vehicle.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cruise  control  can  be  dangerous  where you 
can’t  drive  safely at  a  steady  speed. 
So, 
don’t use  your  cruise  control  on  winding 
roads  or  in  heavy  traffic. 
slippery  roads.  On  such  roads,  fast  changes  in  tire  traction  can  cause  needless  wheel 
spinning,  and  you could  lose control.  Don’t 
use  cruise  control  on  slippery  roads. 
Cruise  control  can  be  dangerous on 
Setting  Cruise  Control 
‘ 
A CAUTION: 
r 
- 
If you  leave  your  cruise  control  switch  on  when 
you’re  not using  cruise,  you might  hit 
a button 
and  go into  cruise  when you don’t  want to. 
You 
could  be startled  and  even  lose control.  Keep  the 
cruise  control  switch 
OFF until  you want  to  use it. 
1. Move  the  cruise control  switch  to ON. 
2. Get up  to  the speed  you  want. 
3. Press  in the SET button 
at  the  end 
of the  lever 
and  release  it. 
4. Take  your  foot off the accelerator pedal. 
2-37   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here’s  how anti-lock works.  Let’s  say  the  road is wet. 
You’re  driving  safely. Suddenly  an animal  jumps 
out in 
front of you. 
You slam on the brakes.  Here’s  what  happens with ABS. 
A computer senses  that  wheels are slowing down. If one 
of the wheels is about to stop  rolling,  the computer  will 
separately  work  the  brakes 
at each front  wheel  and  at the 
rear wheels.  The  anti-lock  system  can  change  the  brake  pressure  faster 
than  any  driver  could.  The  computer 
is programmed  to 
make  the  most 
of available  tire  and  road  conditions. 
You can  steer around  the obstacle  while  braking  hard. 
4-7   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine As you brake,  your computer keeps  receiving  updates  on 
wheel  speed  and controls  braking  pressure  accordingly. 
Remember:  Anti-lock  doesn’t  change the  time  you  need 
to  get your foot  up  to the brake  pedal or always  decrease 
stopping  distance.  If 
you get too close to the  vehicle  in 
front  of 
you, you won’t  have  time  to  apply  your brakes 
if  that  vehicle  suddenly 
slows or stops. Always  leave 
enough  room  up  ahead 
to stop, even  though you have 
anti-lock  brakes. 
Using  Anti-Lock 
Don’t  pump  the  brakes.  Just hold  the  brake  pedal 
down  and  let anti-lock  work for 
you. You may  feel 
the  brakes  vibrate,  or 
you may notice some  noise,  but 
this is normal.  On  vehicles  with  four-wheel  drive, your 
anti-lock  brakes  work  at  all times 
-- whether you are 
in two-wheel drive or four-wheel  drive. 
Braking  in  Emergencies 
Use  your  anti-lock  braking system when  you  need  to. 
With  anti-lock,  you  can  steer and brake 
at the same 
time.  In  many  emergencies, steering  can  help you more 
than  even the  very  best  braking. 
Steering 
Power  Steering 
If  you lose power steering  assist  because the engine 
stops  or the  system  is  not  functioning, 
you can steer  but 
it  will  take  much  more  effort. 
Steering Tips 
Driving  on  Curves 
It’s  important  to  take  curves at a  reasonable  speed. 
A lot  of the “driver  lost control”  accidents  mentioned  on 
the  news  happen 
on curves.  Here’s  why: 
Experienced  driver  or beginner,  each 
of us is  subject to 
the  same  laws 
of physics  when  driving on curves. The 
traction 
of the tires  against  the road  surface  makes  it 
possible  for the  vehicle  to change its  path  when  you  turn 
the front  wheels.  If there’s  no traction,  inertia will keep 
the  vehicle  going 
in the  same direction.  If you’ve  ever 
tried 
to steer  a  vehicle  on  wet  ice, you’ll understand  this. 
The  traction  you  can  get  in  a  curve  depends 
on the 
condition  of  your  tires  and  the  road  surface,  the  angle  at  which 
the curve  is  banked,  and  your  speed.  While  you’re 
in a curve,  speed  is  the  one  factor  you can  control. 
4-8   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Check  your  mirrors, glance over your shoulder  and 
start  your  left  lane  change signal  before  moving  out 
of the right  lane  to  pass.  When  you  are far enough 
ahead  of the  passed  vehicle  to  see its front. in  your 
inside  mirror,  activate your  right  lane  change  signal 
and  move  back  into the  right  lane.  (Remember that 
your  right  outside mirror  is  convex.  The vehicle  you 
just  passed  may seem  to  be farther  away  from  you 
than  it really  is.) 
0 Try  not  to  pass  more  than  one vehicle  at  a time 
on  two-lane  roads.  Reconsider  before  passing  the 
next vehicle. 
0 Don’t  overtake  a slowly  moving  vehicle  too rapidly. 
Even  though  the  brake  lamps  are not  flashing, 
it may 
be  slowing  down  or starting to 
turn. 
0 If you’re  being  passed, make it easy  for  the 
following  driver  to get ahead  of you.  Perhaps  you 
can  ease  a little to the  right. 
Loss of Control 
Let’s  review  what  driving experts say about what . 
happens  when  the  three  control  systems  (brakes,  steering 
and  acceleration)  don’t  have enough friction  where  the 
tires  meet  the  road 
to do what the  driver  has  asked. 
In  any  emergency,  don’t  give  up.  Keep  trying  to steer 
and  constantly  seek  an escape  route or area 
of less 
danger. 
Skidding 
In a  skid,  a driver  can lose  control of the  vehicle. 
Defensive  drivers avoid  most  skids by taking  reasonable 
care  suited  to  existing conditions,  and 
by not 
“overdriving”  those conditions.  But  skids  are  always 
possible. 
The  three  types 
of skids  correspond  to  your  vehicle’s 
three  control  systems.  In  the  braking  skid, your  wheels 
aren’t  rolling.  In  the  steering  or cornering  skid, too 
much  speed  or steering  in  a curve  causes  tires  to slip  and 
lose  cornering  force.  And  in  the  acceleration  skid,  too 
much  throttle  causes  the  driving wheels 
to spin. 
A cornering  skid  and  an  acceleration  skid  are  best 
handled  by easing  your  foot off  the  accelerator  pedal. 
4-12   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your vehicle starts to slide,  ease your  foot off  the 
accelerator  pedal  and  quickly  steer the way  you  want  the 
vehicle  to go.  If 
you start steering  quickly enough, your 
vehicle  may straighten  out. Always  be ready  for a 
second skid  if  it occurs. 
Of  course,  traction  is  reduced when  water,  snow,  ice, 
gravel  or other  material  is  on the road. For safety,  you’ll 
want 
to slow  down  and  adjust your driving to these 
conditions.  It  is important  to slow  down 
on slippery 
surfaces because stopping distance  will  be longer and 
vehicle control  more  limited. 
While  driving 
on a  surface  with  reduced  traction,  try  your 
best  to avoid  sudden  steering,  acceleration  or braking 
(including  engine  braking  by  shifting 
to a  lower  gear). 
Any  sudden  changes  could  cause 
the tires  to slide.  You 
may 
not realize  the  surface  is  slippery  until  your  vehicle 
is  skidding.  Learn  to recognize  warning  clues 
-- such  as 
enough  water,  ice or packed  snow 
on the  road to make a 
“mirrored  surface” 
-- and  slow  down  when  you  have 
any  doubt. 
Remember:  Any anti-lock  brake  system  (ABS) helps 
avoid  only  the  braking skid. 
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. 
4-13   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Controlling  your  vehicle is the  key  to successful 
off-road  driving.  One 
of the  best  ways  to  control your 
vehicle  is to control  your speed.  Here are some  things 
to 
keep in mind.  At higher  speeds: 
you approach  things  faster and you have  less time to 
scan the terrain  for obstacles. 
0 you have  less  time  to react. 
you  have  more  vehicle  bounce when you drive 
over  obstacles. 
0 you’ll  need  more  distance for braking,  especially 
since  you’re  on  an  unpaved  surface. 
When  you’re  driving  off-road,  bouncing  and 
quick  changes  in  direction  can  easily  throw  you 
out  of  position.  This  could  cause  you  to  lose 
control  and  crash. 
So, whether  you’re  driving  on 
or 
off the  road, you and  your  passengers  should 
wear  safety  belts. 
Scanning the Terrain 
Off-road  driving  can  take  you  over  many  different  kinds 
of  terrain.  You need  to be  familiar  with 
the terrain  and  its 
many  different  features.  Here  are  some  things  to consider. 
Su$ace Conditions. Off-roading  can  take you over 
hard-packed  dirt,  gravel,  rocks,  grass,  sand,  mud,  snow  or 
ice.  Each  of  these  surfaces 
affects the  steering,  acceleration 
and  braking 
of your  vehicle  in  different  ways.  Depending 
upon  the  kind 
of surface  you  are on, you may  experience 
slipping,  sliding,  wheel  spinning,  delayed  acceleration, 
poor  traction  and  longer  braking  distances. 
Surface Obstacles. Unseen  or  hidden  obstacles  can  be 
hazardous.  A  rock,  log,  hole,  rut  or bump  can  startle  you 
if you’re  not  prepared  for  them.  Often  these  obstacles  are 
hidden  by grass,  bushes,  snow  or even  the  rise  and  fall 
of 
the  terrain  itself.  Here  are some  things to consider: 
Is the path  ahead  clear? 
0 Will the surface  texture  change abruptly  up  ahead? 
0 Does  the  travel  take  you  uphill  or downhill? 
(There’s  more  discussion 
of these  subjects  later.) 
0 Will you have to stop  suddenly  or change  direction 
quickly? 
4-16   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Approaching a Hill 
When  you approach a  hill, you need to decide  if  it’s one 
of  those  hills  that’s  just too steep  to climb,  descend  or 
cross. Steepness  can  be  hard 
to judge. On  a  very  small 
hill, 
for example,  there may be a smooth, constant 
incline  with 
only a small change  in  elevation  where  you 
can  easily  see all  the  way  to the  top.  On  a  large  hill,  the 
incline  may get steeper  as 
you near  the  top,  but you  may 
not  see this  because  the  crest 
of the hill  is  hidden  by 
bushes,  grass or shrubs. 
Here 
are some other  things to consider as you 
approach  a  hill. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Is there a constant incline, or does  the  hill  get  sharply 
steeper  in  places? 
Is there  good  traction  on the  hillside,  or will  the 
surface cause tire slipping? 
Is there  a  straight  path  up  or down  the  hill so you 
won’t  have  to make  turning  maneuvers? 
Are  there  obstructions  on the  hill  that  can  block  your 
path  (boulders,  trees,  logs  or ruts)? 
0 What’s  beyond  the  hill? Is there  a  cliff, an 
embankment,  a  drop-off,  a  fence?  Get  out  and  walk  the 
hill  if 
you don’t know. It’s  the  smart  way  to  find  out. 
0 Is the  hill  simply too rough? Steep hills often  have 
ruts,  gullies,  troughs  and  exposed  rocks  because  they 
are  more  susceptible  to the  effects 
of erosion. 
Driving  Uphill 
Once you decide you can  safely  drive up  the  hill,  you 
need 
to take  some  special  steps. 
0 
0 
0 
Use  a  low  gear  and  get  a  firm grip on  the 
steering  wheel. 
Get  a  smooth  start  up  the  hill  and  try  to maintain 
your  speed.  Don’t  use  more power  than 
you need, 
because  you  don’t  want  your wheels  to start  spinning 
or  sliding. 
Try 
to drive  straight  up the hill if at  all  possible. 
If the  path  twists  and  turns,  you  might  want  to find 
another  route. 
4-18