
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle's stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Pull the release lever to release the
brake. Driving with the parking
brake on will cause the brakes to
wear out quickly and reduce fuel
economy.
STEERING
Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy
from the engine to help steer the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the power steering pump:
²Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or the extreme left
for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
²Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level
(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, the condition could be caused by any of
the following:
²underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
²uneven vehicle loading
²high crown in center of road
²high crosswinds
²wheels out of alignment
²loose or worn suspension components
BRAKE
HOOD
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Speed sensitive steering
The steering in your vehicle is speed sensitive. At high speeds, steering
assist will decrease to improve steering feel.
If the amount of effort required to steer your vehicle changes while
driving at a constant vehicle speed, have the power steering system
checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician.
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The air suspension system is designed to improve ride, handling and
general vehicle performance for static, on and off-road driving conditions.
²The load leveling feature of the air suspension automatically keeps the
vehicle at a constant level if a load is added or removed from the
vehicle.
²The height adjustment feature automatically controls the vehicle
height over a range of approximately 5 cm (2 inches) based on vehicle
speed, ignition position and selection of two or four-wheel drive
modes.
²The air suspension automatically puts the vehicle at its lowest height
when ignition is OFF to provide easy entry and exit. Whenever a door
is opened (including the liftgate) the system memorizes and maintains
the height of the vehicle until all doors are closed or until vehicle
exceeds 16 km/h (10 mph).
²The air suspension system raises the vehicle to its normal ride
position when the ignition is turned on, all doors are closed and the
transmission is shifted into gear.
²In 4WD Low the air suspension system will not move to its lowest
height. In 4WD Low, the air suspension system raises the vehicle
above the normal ride height at speeds below 40 km/h (25 mph) to
improve ground clearance. In 4WD Low, do not exceed 56 km/h (35
mph).
²When the vehicle is in motion, the air suspension system will adjust
the vehicle's height according to ground clearance and speed to
maximize ride comfort.
²It is normal to occasionally hear a buzz or clicking from the vehicle's
air suspension system when the ignition is turned off. The system
stays energized for 40 minutes after the ignition is turned off to
compensate for any load changes made after the vehicle is parked.
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The air suspension shut-off switch is
located behind an access panel
underneath the passenger side
instrument panel.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior to
jacking, hoisting or towing your
vehicle.
Normal vehicle operation does not
require any action by the driver.
Check air suspension indicator light
The warning and indicator light CK SUSP illuminates when the air
suspension switch is turned off or an air suspension system fault has
been detected.
If the light is illuminated while driving and the air suspension system
switch is not turned off, safely pull off the road at your earliest
convenience. Turn the ignition switch from 4 (On) to 3 (Off) and 4 (On)
again. If the warning light illuminates again, turn the air suspension
switch off and have the vehicle serviced by a dealer or qualified service
technician.
If the vehicle is loaded beyond the recommended maximum payload, the
CK SUSP light may illuminate. To correct this condition, remove or
redistribute the payload according to the recommended requirements
and follow the procedure outlined above.
TRACTION-LOK AXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when
one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the
Traction-Lok axle functions like a standard rear axle.
Extended use of other than the manufacturer's specified size tires on a
Traction-Lok rear axle could result in a permanent reduction in
effectiveness. This loss of effectiveness does not affect normal driving
and should not be noticeable to the driver.
AIR SUSPENSION
SWITCH
INTERRUPTEUR DE
LA SUSPENSION
PNEUMATIQUE
OFF
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To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off the
ground, such as when changing a tire.
PREPARING TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
Your vehicle has special design and equipment features to make it
capable of performing in a wide variety of circumstances. These special
design features, such as larger tires and increased ground clearance, give
the vehicle a higher center of gravity than a passenger car.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility and
four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenot
designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
Loaded vehicles, with a higher center of gravity, may handle
differently than unloaded vehicles. Extra precautions, such as
slower speeds and increased stopping distance, should be taken when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
Your vehicle has the capability to haul more cargo and people than most
passenger cars. Depending upon the type and placement of the load,
hauling people and cargo may raise the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Use extra caution while becoming familiar with your vehicle. Know the
capabilities and limitations of both you as a driver and your vehicle.
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Driving with a 4±speed automatic transmission
Your vehicle's automatic transmission is equipped with a special shift
strategy that insures maximum heater performance during cold weather
operation.
When ambient temperature is ±5É C (23É F) or below and the engine
coolant temperature is below 38É C (100É F), light throttle upshifts may
be slightly delayed. Once the engine coolant temperature reaches 71É C
(160É F) the normal shift strategy will resume. This is normal operation
and will not affect the function or the durability of the transmission.
If the normal shift strategy does not resume once the engine
coolant temperature reaches the normal operating temperature,
or if the downshifts and other throttle conditions do not function
normally, see your dealer or a qualified service technician as soon
as possible.
Understanding gearshift positions
To put your vehicle in gear, start the engine, depress the brake pedal,
then move gearshift lever out of P (Park).
Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift lever
from P (Park) to another position. If you do not hold the brake
pedal down, your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure someone.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park). Make
sure the gearshift lever is securely
latched in P (Park). This position
locks the transmission and prevents
the rear wheels from turning.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift
lever is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition whenever you
leave your vehicle.
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162

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
For important information regarding safe operation of this type
of vehicle, seePreparing to drive your vehiclein this chapter.
When Four±wheel drive (4WD) is engaged, power is supplied to all four
wheels through a transfer case. 4WD power can be selected when
additional driving power is desired.
If equipped with the Electronic Shift 4WD System, and the
instrument panel control is moved to 4WD Low while the vehicle
is moving, the system will not engage and no damage will occur to
the 4WD system. Before 4WD Low can be engaged, the vehicle
must be at a complete stop with the brake pedal depressed and
the transmission in N (Neutral).
4H or 4L operation is not recommended on dry pavement. Doing
so could result in difficult disengagement of the transfer case,
damage to the transfer case, increased tire wear, decreased fuel
economy and difficulty turning.
Control-Trac automatic four-wheel drive system (if equipped)
Your 4x4 features the heavy-duty Control-Trac system which includes a
computer-operated transfer case. This unique system is interactive with
the road, continually monitoring and adjusting torque delivery to the
front and rear wheels to optimize vehicle control.
Positions of the Control-Trac system
The Control-Trac A4WD system
functions in three modes:
²A4WDposition delivers power to
the rear axle. If the rear wheels
lose traction, power will be
automatically delivered to the
front axle to maintain traction
throughout the slippery condition.
²4Hposition provides
mechanically locked four-wheel
drive power delivery to front and rear axles.
²4Lposition provides mechanically locked four-wheel drive when above
average power at reduced speeds is required.
4HA4WD4L
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Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenotdesigned for
cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers in these
vehicles.
Using the Control-Trac system
Shifting from A4WD to 4H
Move the 4WD control from A4WD
to 4H at any forward speed up to 88
km/h (55 mph).
At temperatures below 0ÉC (32ÉF),
shifts from A4WD to 4H should not
be performed above 72 km/h (45
mph).
Shifting from 4H to 4L (and 4L to 4H)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral).
4. Move the 4WD control to the 4H
(or 4L) position.
4HA4WD4L
4HA4WD4L
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168

Shifting to A4WD
Move the 4WD control back to
A4WD at a stop or at speeds up to
88 km/h (55 mph).
Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles
4WD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle
differently than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.
Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not
grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from concealed objects such as
rocks and stumps.
You should either know the terrain or examine maps of the area before
driving. Map out your route before driving in the area. To maintain
steering and braking control of your vehicle, you must have all four
wheels on the ground and they must be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
Basic operating principles
²Do not use 4WD on dry, hard surfaced roads (except models equipped
with Auto 4WD). This may damage the drivelines and axles.
4HA4WD4L
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