Instrument panel lighting30
Button to unlock fuel filler door30
pg. 23 Instrument panel
1 Turn signals
2 Text window
3 Temperature gauge
The pointer should be approximately midway on the gauge when driving.
Do not drive the car if the warning light is on. The text window will provide you with additional information.
If the engine temperature remains high, check coolant level - see page 112
.
4 Trip odometer/reset button
The trip odometer is used for measuring shorter distances. The last digit indicates 1/10 mile/kilometer. Press the button
quickly to toggle between trip odometers 1 and 2. Hold in the button for more than 2 seconds to reset.
5 Odometer
6 Speedometer
7 General warning light (see page 24
).
8 High beam indicator light
9 Tachometer
Indicates engine speed in thousands of rpm. Do not drive for long with the needle in the red section. The engine has an
built-in function preventing too high an engine speed. When this function operates, you may discern some pulsation,
which in that case is quite normal.
10 Gear and driving mode indicator
The currently selected driving mode is displayed here. If you use the geartronic function on the automatic transmission,
the currently selected gear will be displayed.
11 Ambient temperature indicator
This sensor indicates the air temperature outside your car. A "snowflake" symbol in the text window is displayed when
the temperature is in the range of 23 - 36° F (-5 - +2° C).
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Economical driving conserves natural resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops and adjusting the speed of
your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
· Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by driving with a light foot on the accelerator
pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
· Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach normal
operating temperature.
· Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
· Do not exceed posted speed limits.
· Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
· Maintan correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
· Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
· Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and also fuel consumption.
· Avoid using automatic transmission kickdown feature unless necessary.
· However, at higher driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air conditioning on and the windows
closed than with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
· Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how to drive more economically.
Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:
· Worn or dirty spark plugs
· Incorrect spark plug gap
· Dirty air cleaner
· Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
· Dragging brakes
· Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as often as possible and avoid using
"kickdown" to help improve fuel economy.
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, when:
· Towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open throttle and low engine rpm.
· Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after-boiling" can occur).
· To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed: Do not drive for prolonged periods at engine speeds
above 4500 rpm if you are towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
· Reduce speed when towing a trailer up long, steep inclines. The risk of overheat -ing can be reduced by switching off
the air conditioning system for a short time.
· Do not let the engine idle unnecessarily for prolonged periods.
· Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front of the grill. When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of
overheating (the temperature gauge goes repeatedly into, or stays continual-ly in, the red section), the following
precau-tions should be taken:
· Switch off the air conditioning system.
· Pull off the road, away from traffic, stop the car and put the gear selector into Park. Do not stop the engine!
· Switch the heater to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm (twice idling speed)
until the temperature begins to drop.
· If the warning light in the center of the instrument panel is red, and the message "Coolant level lo stop engine" is
displayed, switch off the engine as soon as possible.
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