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Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and care
234
Page 275 of 280

check engine/
service engine soon light .........11
cleaning ...................................243
coolant .....................................206
fail-safe coolant ......................211
idle speed control ...................218
lubrication
specifications ..................251, 253
refill capacities ........................248
service points ..................199±200
starting after a collision .........176
Engine block heater .................136
Engine oil ..................................200
checking and adding ..............200
dipstick ....................................200
filter, specifications ........203, 247
recommendations ...................203
refill capacities ........................248
specifications ..................251, 253
Exhaust fumes ..........................137
F
Fail safe cooling ........................211
Floor mats ...................................81
Fluid capacities .........................248
Foglamps .....................................21
Four-Wheel
Drive vehicles ......................14, 153
control trac ...............................23
description ..............................156
driving off road .......................157
electronic shift ..................23, 156
indicator light ...................14, 154
lever operated shift ................154
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................143
Fuel ............................................227
calculating fuel economy .......231cap ...........................................230
capacity ...................................248
choosing the right fuel ...........229
comparisons with EPA
fuel economy estimates .........234
detergent in fuel .....................230
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................227, 230, 232
filter, specifications ........231, 247
fuel pump shut-off switch .....176
gauge .........................................16
improving fuel economy ........231
low fuel warning light ..............10
octane rating ...................229, 253
quality ......................................229
running out of fuel .................230
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................227
Fuses ..................................177, 179
G
Garage door opener ....................74
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............230
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................231
Gauges .........................................16
battery voltage gauge ...............18
engine coolant
temperature gauge ...................17
engine oil pressure gauge ........19
fuel gauge ..................................16
odometer ...................................17
speedometer .............................17
tachometer ................................18
trip odometer ............................18
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) .....160
calculating ...............................162
definition .................................160
Index
275
Page 278 of 280

S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................15, 102±106
Safety defects, reporting ..........272
Safety restraints ................102±106
belt minder .............................108
cleaning the
safety belts ......................112, 245
extension assembly ................107
for adults .........................103±105
for children .............................122
lap belt ....................................107
warning light
and chime ....................12, 15, 108
Safety seats for children ..........123
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............102
Seats ............................................97
child safety seats ....................123
cleaning ...................................246
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...................87±88
Servicing your vehicle ..............197
Snowplowing .................3, 171±173
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................247, 253
Special notice ............................3, 5
ambulance conversions ..............3
four-wheel drive vehicles .......174
utility-type vehicles ....................4
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................251, 253
Speed control ..............................67
Speedometer ...............................17
Starting your vehicle ........133, 136jump starting ..........................190
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................71
T
Tachometer .................................18
Tailgate ..................................81±82
Tires ...........................185, 222±224
changing ..........................185, 187
checking the pressure ............224
replacing ..................................225
rotating ....................................224
snow tires and chains ............226
tire grades ...............................223
treadwear ................................223
Tonneau cover .......................82, 86
Towing .......................................224
recreational towing .................170
wrecker ....................................195
Traction-lok rear axle ...............142
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................217
Transmission
automatic operation ...............144
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................213
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................216
fluid, refill capacities ..............248
lubricant specifications ..251, 253
manual operation ....................147
Transmission
control indicator light .................14
Trip odometer .............................18
Trunk ...........................................86
Turn signal ............................13, 66
Index
278