When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, then you'll need to add at least one
quart of oil. But you must use the right kind. This part
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see
Capacities and Speci®cations on
page 5-101.
Notice:Don't add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, your engine could be damaged.The engine oil ®ll cap is
located behind the radiator
on the passenger's side
of the vehicle. For
more information on
location, see
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12
.
Turn the cap counterclockwise to remove it.
Be sure to ®ll it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range in the cross-hatched
area. Push the dipstick all the way back in when you're
through.
5-15
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare you vehicle as follows:
·Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
·With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
·With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
·Let the engine run at idle for three to ®ve minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The transaxle ¯uid cap is
located next to the radiator
hose and below the
engine air cleaner/®lter
assembly on the driver's
side of the vehicle.
See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for more information
on location.1. After removing the engine air cleaner/®lter assembly
to reach the transaxle ¯uid cap, turn the cap
counterclockwise to remove. Pull out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds, and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The ¯uid level must be in the
cross-hatched area.
4. If the ¯uid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way and turn the handle
clockwise. Reinstall the engine air cleaner/®lter
assembly.
5-22
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge tank is located toward the
rear of the engine compartment on the passenger's side
of the vehicle. For more information on location, see
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap Ð even a little Ð when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the FULL
COLD mark, located on the side of the surge tank
that faces the engine.
If the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message comes on
and stays on, it means you're low on engine coolant.
For more information see
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-60.
5-26
A low coolant level should be indicated by a CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message on the Driver Information
Center. If it is, you may have a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine ®re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak ®xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they aren't, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn't covered by your warranty.
See ªOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Modeº in the Index for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
Notice:When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOLž(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOLžis added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner Ð at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
žis not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level isn't at the proper level 4.5 inches
(11.4 cm) below the top of the ®ller neck), add a
50/50 of
clean, drinkable waterand DEX-COOLžcoolant
at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is cool before you do it. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-24for more information.
5-31
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you wouldn't get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.1. Park the vehicle on a level surface. You can
remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise (left) until it ®rst stops. (Don't
press down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
5-33
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches about 4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
from the top of the ®ller neck.5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the arrow
on the pressure cap lines up like this.
Start the engine and allow it to warm up. If the CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message does not appear on the
Driver Information Center, coolant is at the proper
®ll level. If a CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message does
appear, repeat Steps 1 to 3 and reinstall the pressure
cap or see your dealer.
5-35
82,500 Miles (137 500 km)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-64for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter. If you
drive regularly under dusty conditions, the ®lter
may require replacement more often.
qInspect throttle body bore and valve plates for
deposits, open the throttle valve and inspect all
surfaces. Clean as required.
An Emission Control
Service. (See footnote ².)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-19for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-64for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-64for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as limousine service.
þ Uses such as high performance operation.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the ¯uid and ®lter do not require change until
the message CHANGE TRANS FLUID appears on
the Driver Information Center.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs ®rst).
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-24for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
6-8
Engine Cooling System Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they
are cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
®ttings and clamps; replace as needed. Clean the
outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser.
To help ensure proper operation, a pressure test of
the cooling system and pressure cap is recommended
at least once a year.
Throttle System Inspection
Inspect the throttle system for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have high
effort or excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator
and cruise control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
cha®ng, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake, etc. You may need to
have your brakes inspected more often if your driving
habits or conditions result in frequent braking.
6-14