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Alignment and Balance
The suspension components of your vehicle should be
inspected and aligned when needed, to obtain maximum
tire tread life.
Poor suspension alignment may result in:
²reduced tread life;
²uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sided
wear;
²vehicle pull to the right or to the left.
Tires may also cause the vehicle to pull left or right.
Alignment will not correct this problem. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis of the problem.
Improper alignment will not normally cause vehicle
vibration, which may be a result of tire and wheel
out-of-balance. Proper balancing will reduce vibration
and avoid tire cupping and spotty wear.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM Ð IF
EQUIPPED
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPM) monitors the
pressure in all 4 road tires and the full size spare (5 Tire
TPM System Only). The TPM system uses wireless
technology to monitor tire pressure levels. Sensors,
mounted to each wheel as part of the valve stem, transmit
tire pressure readings to a receiver located in the over-
head console. The tire pressure status is shown in the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) display.
Refer to ªOverhead Consoleº in Section 3 for more
information. The TPM system functions even when the
EVIC is not set on the tire pressure display screen.
The TPM system informs you of a low or high tire
pressure condition. If this occurs, correct your tire infla-
tion pressure as soon as possible, and inspect all of your
tires. Be sure to use a high quality gauge when adjusting
pressure. The TPM system is designed to monitor your
tire pressure but will not function as a tire pressure
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gauge. There will be a delay between the instant you
adjust the air pressure in a tire and when the system
updates the display. The TPM system is not intended to
provide you with notification of rapid air loss.
The following chart indicates the TPM system pressure
levels. A threshold is the level at which the TPM system
provides you with an indication.
High Pressure Threshold 45 psi (310 kPa )
Placard Pressure (Cold) 33 psi (227 kPa)
Low Pressure Threshold 25 psi (172 kPa)
NOTE: A TPM system does not replace normal tire
maintenance.
CAUTION!
The TPM system has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPM system pressures
have been established for the tire size equipped on
your vehicle. Undesirable operation or sensor dam-
age may result when using replacement equipment
that is not of the same size, type, and/or style.
Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor damage. Do
not use tire sealant or balance beads if your vehicle
is equipped with TPM system as damage to the
sensors may result.
Tire Pressure Monitor System Tire/Wheel
Rotation and Sensor Replacement Ð If Equipped
With the 5 Tire TPM System, if a road tire and wheel is
replaced by the spare, the TPM system will detect the
swap automatically (after the ignition has been cycled)
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and display SPARE SWAP DETECTED along with a
chime. This could take up to 10 minutes with vehicle
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
With the 4 Tire TPM System, if a road tire and wheel is
replaced by the spare, the TPM system will display TIRE
SENSOR BAD/MISSING. This is due to the spare tire not
being equipped with a tire pressure sensor. Once the road
tire is repaired and/or installed back on the vehicle with
the proper tire pressure the message will be removed.
This could take up to 10 minutes with vehicle speed
above 25 mph (40 km/h).
The tire pressure sensorsmustbe retrained following a
wheel rotation or sensor replacement. Refer to ªEVIC Ð
Retrain Tire Sensorsº in Section 3 for more information. It
is necessary to program the EVIC with the new sensor(s)
or the new position of each sensor as it is rotated to a
different corner of the vehicle.If a wheel rotation is not followed by the retrain proce-
dure, the system will not properly inform you of the
correct vehicle location of a low or high tire pressure.
General Information
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules and
RSS 210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following conditions:
²This device may not cause harmful interference.
²This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired op-
eration.
The tire pressure sensors are covered under one of the
following licenses:
United States.....................KR5S120123
Canada........................2671-S120123
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TIRE CHAINS
Certain models have sufficient tire-to-body clearance to
allow use of tire chains.Install chains on rear tires only.
Follow these recommendations to guard against damage
and excessive tire and chain wear:
²Do not install tire chains or traction devices on ve-
hicles with larger than P225/75R16 size tires. These
tires are too large for sufficient body clearance with
chains or other traction devices.
²Use SAE class ªSº tire chains or traction devices only.
²Follow tire chain manufacturer's instructions for
mounting chains.
²Install chains snugly and tighten after 1/2 mile (1 km)
of driving.
²Do notexceed 35 mph (56 km/h), unless otherwise
specified by the chain manufacturer.
²Drive cautiously, avoiding large bumps, potholes and
extreme driving maneuvers.
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles operate at
different loads and perform different steering, handling,
and braking functions. For these reasons, they wear at
unequal rates, and develop irregular wear patterns.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially worthwhile with
aggressive tread designs such as those on On/Off Road
type tires. Rotation will increase tread life, help to main-
tain mud, snow, and wet traction levels, and contribute to
a smooth, quiet ride.
Follow the recommended tire rotation frequency for your
type of driving found in the ªMaintenance Schedulesº
Section of this manual. More frequent rotation is permis-
sible if desired. The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear
should be corrected prior to rotation being performed.
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NOTE:The Tire Pressure Monitor system must be
retrained following a tire rotation. See your authorized
dealer for service.
The suggested rotation method is the ªforward-crossº
shown in the following diagram.FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your engine is designed to meet all emis-
sions regulations and provide excellent
fuel economy and performance when us-
ing high quality unleaded gasoline having
an octane rating of 87. The use of premium
gasoline is not recommended. The use of
premium gasoline will provide no benefit over high
quality regular gasoline, and in some circumstances may
result in poorer performance.
NOTE: 4.7L HO Engines (If Equipped): High quality
premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91
is recommended but not required.
Light spark knock at low engine speeds is not harmful to
your engine. However, continued heavy spark knock at
high speeds can cause damage and immediate service is
required. Engine damage resulting from operation with a
heavy spark knock may not be covered by the new
vehicle warranty.
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Poor quality gasoline can cause problems such as hard
starting, stalling and hesitations. If you experience these
symptoms, try another brand of gasoline before consid-
ering service for the vehicle.
Over 40 auto manufacturer's world wide have issued and
endorsed consistent gasoline specifications (the World-
wide Fuel Charter, WWFC) to define fuel properties
necessary to deliver enhanced emissions, performance,
and durability for your vehicle. The manufacturer recom-
mends the use of gasoline that meets the WWFC speci-
fications if they are available.
Reformulated Gasoline
Many areas of the country require the use of cleaner
burning gasoline referred to as Reformulated Gasoline.
Reformulated gasoline contains oxygenates, and is spe-
cifically blended to reduce vehicle emissions and im-
prove air quality.The manufacturer strongly supports the use of reformu-
lated gasoline. Properly blended reformulated gasoline
will provide excellent performance and durability for the
engine and fuel system components.
Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends
Some fuel suppliers blend unleaded gasoline with oxy-
genates such as 10% ethanol, MTBE, and ETBE. Oxygen-
ates are required in some areas of the country during the
winter months to reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
Fuels blended with these oxygenates may be used in
your vehicle.
CAUTION!
DO NOT use gasoline containing METHANOL.
Gasoline containing methanol may damage critical
fuel system components.
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MMT In Gasoline
MMT is a manganese containing metallic additive that is
blended into some gasoline to increase octane. Gasoline
blended with MMT provides no performance advantage
beyond gasoline of the same octane number without
MMT. Gasoline blended with MMT reduces spark plug
life and reduces emission system performance in some
vehicles. The manufacturer recommends that gasoline
without MMT be used in your vehicle. The MMT content
of gasoline may not be indicated on the gasoline pump,
therefore, you should ask your gasoline retailer whether
or not his/her gasoline contains MMT.
It is even more important to look for gasoline without
MMT in Canada because MMT can be used at levels
higher than allowed in the United States. MMT is pro-
hibited in Federal and California reformulated gasoline.
Sulfur In Gasoline
If you live in the northeast United States, your vehicle
may have been designed to meet California low emission
standards with clean burning, low sulfur, California
gasoline. Gasoline sold outside of California is permitted
to have higher sulfur levels which may affect the perfor-
mance of the vehicle's catalytic converter. This may cause
the ªMalfunction Indicator Lightº to illuminate.
Illumination of this light while operating on high sulfur
gasoline does not necessarily mean your emission control
system is malfunctioning. The manufacturer recom-
mends that you try a different brand of unleaded gaso-
line having lower sulfur to determine if the problem is
fuel related prior to returning your vehicle to an autho-
rized dealer for service.
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CAUTION!
If the ªMalfunction Indicator Lightº is flashing,
immediate service is required. See ªOnboard Diag-
nostic Systemº in Section 7 of this manual.
Materials Added To Fuel
All gasoline sold in the United States is required to
contain effective detergent additives. Use of additional
detergents or other additives is not needed under normal
conditions.
FUEL TANK FILLER CAP (GAS CAP)
WARNING!
To avoid fuel spillage and overfilling, do not ªtop
offº the fuel tank after filling.
The gas cap is located behind the fuel filler door, on the
left side of the vehicle. If the gas cap is lost or damaged,
be sure the replacement cap has been designed for use
with this vehicle. When the gas cap is removed for
refueling, it can be placed in the fuel filler door while
filling the fuel tank.
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