2-84
Vehicle Speed Limiter
This feature prevents your vehicle from exceeding
speeds that the tires are not rated for. When this
happens, the engine's fuel supply is shut off. When the
vehicle speed slows, the fuel supply will come on again.
Tachometer (Analog Cluster Only)
This gage indicates the
engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the shaded area or engine damage may occur.
Engine Speed Limiter
This feature prevents the engine from operating at too
many revolutions per minute (rpm). When the engine's
rpm are critically high, the fuel supply to the engine
is shut off. When the engine speed slows, the fuel
supply will come on again. This helps prevent damage
to the engine.
2-93
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transaxle,
exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or
the replacement of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the SERVICE ENGINE SOON or
CHECK ENGINE light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by your warranty. This
may also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
Light On Steady
-- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
2-102
MILES RANGE: (Analog Cluster Only.) This message
shows about how many miles you can drive without
refilling your fuel tank. Once the range drops below
40 miles (64 km) remaining, the display will show LOW.
MPG INST (Instantaneous Miles per Gallon):This
message shows the instantaneous fuel economy which
varies with your driving conditions, such as
acceleration, braking and the grade of the road being
traveled. The INFO RESET button does not function in
this mode.
BATTERY VOLTS: This message shows the current
battery voltage. If the voltage is normal the display will
show BATTERY VOLTS OK. If the voltage drops
below 10.5 volts, the display will show BATTERY
VOLTS LOW. If the voltage is above 16 volts, the
display will show BATTERY VOLTS HIGH. If the
display shows the high or low message, you will need to
have your battery checked. See ªDriver Information
Center (DIC) Messagesº later in this section for
more information.LF-RF-LR-RR TIRE (If Equipped): On vehicles
equipped with the tire pressure monitor, this message
shows the tire pressure for each tire (left front, right
front, left rear and right rear). Pressing the INFO button
will scroll through the tire pressure for each of the
four tires, such as:
34 PSI LF TIRE OK or
234 kPa LF TIRE OK
If a tire pressure is below 25 PSI (172 kPa) or above
38 PSI (265 kPa), the message will appear as shown
above except it will show TIRE LOW or TIRE HIGH as
appropriate. If desired, the tire pressure information can
be programmed not to appear when using the INFO
button to scroll through the DIC displays. See ªVehicle
Programming and Personalization Featuresº in the Index.
If a low or high tire pressure is detected by the system
while driving, a CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message will
appear in the display. If this occurs, press the INFO
button to scroll to the tire(s) with a low or high pressure
condition. See ªDriver Information Center (DIC)
Messagesº later in this section for more information.
ENG/MET (English/Metric): Press this button to
display information in the English (miles) or metric
(kilometers) system.
2-105
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE - 144 :This message is
displayed when the Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system
detects a low or high tire pressure condition in one or
more of the road tires. By pressing the INFO button up
or down, the DIC display will show which tire or tires
do not have the correct inflation pressure. AªLOW
TIREº condition exists when the tire's air pressure is
under 25 psi (172 kPa) and a ªHIGH TIREº condition
exists when the tire's air pressure is above 38 psi
(262 kPa). The system will display the air pressure, the
tire location (LF, RF, RR or LR) and if the air pressure is
low or high. The tire pressure information is available in
English or metric measurements. For example, a driver's
side front tire that is low may be shown as: 22 PSI LF
TIRE LOW.
The correct tire inflation pressure should be set to
those shown on the Tire Loading
-Information
Label, located on the rear edge of the driver's door.
For more information regarding proper tire inflation,
seeªInflation
-- Tire Pressureº in the Index. If a tire
is low, you should stop as soon as possible and inspect
your tire(s) for damage. If a tire is flat, see ªIf a Tire
Goes Flatº in the Index.Once the TPM system detects the low or high tire
pressure condition, the message ªCHECK TIRE
PRESSUREº will be displayed whenever you start the
engine. To remove or clear the CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE message, you will need to set the tire(s) to
the proper tire pressure. See ªInflation
-- Tire Pressureº
in the Index.
CAUTION:
When the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message is
displayed on the Driver Information Center and
the tire pressure is low, your vehicle handling
capabilities will be reduced during severe
maneuvers. If you drive too fast, you could lose
control of your vehicle. You or others could be
injured. Don't drive over 55 mph (90 km/h) when
the tire pressure is low. Drive cautiously and
correct the tire pressure as soon as you can.
2-110
TOP SPEED FUEL CUT-OFF - 111 : This message
will appear when the Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
detects that the maximum speed for your vehicle has
been reached. The speed of your vehicle will surge as
the fuel supply is cut off. Your vehicle's top speed is
based on the top speed rating of the tires. This ensures
that your vehicle stays in a safe operating range for
the tires.
TRACTION ENGAGED
- 91 : When your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION
ENGAGED message will be displayed. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this message is displayed, so
adjust your driving accordingly. This message will stay
on for a few seconds after the traction control system
stops limiting wheel spin.
TRACTION OFF
- 89: This message will be displayed
after the traction control system has been turned off
using the TRAC ON/OFF button on the center console.
TRACTION READY
- 90: This message informs
the driver that the traction control system is available.
Pressing the TRAC ON/OFF button on the center
console once turns the traction control system off;
pressing the button again turns the system back on.
This message will automatically disappear from the
display after five seconds.TRACTION SUSPENDED
- 56: This message
displays when the traction control system has been
temporarily shut off because your vehicle's brakes have
overheated. This message does not indicate a problem
with your vehicle's traction control system. After a few
minutes, the traction control system will be available
again and the TRACTION READY message
will appear.
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE
- 112: This message
indicates that the transaxle fluid in your vehicle is too
hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools
down or until this message is removed.
TRUNK OPEN
- 24: This message indicates that the
trunk is open when the ignition is on.
TURN SIGNAL ON
- 20: If you drive your vehicle
for more than a mile with a turn signal on, this message
will appear as a reminder to turn off the turn signal.
A multiple chime will sound when this message
is displayed.
VEHICLE OVERSPEED
- 52: This message is
displayed when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain limit
as required by some export countries. A continuous
chime will sound when this message is displayed.
4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
4-11
The traction control system monitors the front brake
rotor temperature. If the traction control system comes
on while the front brake rotors are hot due to heavy use
of braking or previous traction control, the TRACTION
SUSPENDED message will be displayed
-- but the
system won't turn off right away. It will wait until
there's no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. The
TRACTION READY message should appear when the
brake rotors are no longer hot and the traction control
system will resume normal operation.
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.
Magnetic Speed Variable Assist Steering
System
This system continuously adjusts the effort you feel
when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking yet a firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº 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.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. Refer to ªTraction
Control Systemº in the Index.
4-15
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn't trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
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.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
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.
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 ªoverdrivingº 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.