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DRIVING TIPS
472
HOW TO SAVE FUEL AND MAKEYOUR VEHICLE LAST LONGER
Improving fuel economy is easy Ð just take it easy. It will help
make your vehicle last longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Check
the pressure every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel.
Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess
weight puts a heavier load on the engine, causing greater
fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once the engine is
running smoothly, begin driving Ð but gently. Remember,
however, that on cold winter days this may take a little
longer.
Always keep the automatic transmission selector lever
in the Dº position when engine braking is not required.
Driving with the overdrive off will reduce the fuel economy.
(For details, see Automatic transmissionº on page 393.)
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts.
Avoid long engine idling. If you have a long wait and you
are not in traffic, it is better to turn off the engine and start
again later.
Avoid engine over-revving. Use a gear position suitable
for the road on which you are traveling.
Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down.
Stop-and-go driving wastes fuel.
Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a
steady pace. Try to time the traffic si gnals so you only need
to stop as little as possible or take advantage of through
streets to avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper distance from
other vehicles to avoid sudden braking. This will also
reduce wear on your brakes.
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever possible.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This causes
premature wear, overheating and poor fuel economy.
Maintain a m oderate speed on highways. The faster you
drive, the greater the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel consumption.
Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid hitting
the curb and slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire wear but also puts an
extra load on the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud, etc. This
not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion.
Page 507 of 670
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
488
Do not put any part of your body under a
vehicle supported by a jack. Personal injury
may occur.
Do not start or run the engine while your
vehicle is supported by the jack.
Stop the vehicle on a level firm ground, firmly
set the parking brake and put the
transmission in Pº. Block the wheel
diagonally opposite to the one being changed
if necessary.
Make sure to set the jack properly in the jack
point. Raising the vehicle with jack
improperly positioned will damage the vehicle
or may allow the vehicle to fall off the jack
and cause personal injury.
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle
is supported by the jack alone.
Use the jack only for lifting your vehicle
during wheel changing.
Do not raise the vehicle with someone in the
vehicle.
When raising the vehicle, do not place any
objects on top of or underneath the jack.
Raise the vehicle only high enough to remove
and change the tire.
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IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
489
NOTICE
Do not continue driving with a deflated tire.Driving even a short distance can damage a
tire and wheel beyond repair.
When jacking up or installing tire chains, besure to turn off the rear height control airsuspension with the HEIGHT CONTROL
OFFº switch and stop the engine. Otherwise,the vehicle height may change because of the
automatic leveling function resulting inaccident.
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IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
493
Vehicles with kinetic dynamic suspension system Ð
When lowering the spare tire, make sure the spare
tire does not to interfere with the suspension
components. If interference occurs, raise the spare
tire, and pull it toward the rear of the vehicle, and
start again.
4. After the tire is lowered completely to the ground,
remove the holding bracket.CAUTION
Do not take out the spare tire from under the
vehicle until it is lowered completely to the
ground. When removing the spare tire, take care
that fingers are not pinched between the wheel
and holding bracket.
When storing the spare tire, place it with the outer
side of the wheel facing up. Then secure the tire,
taking care that the tire goes straight up without
catching on any other part, to prevent it from flying
forward during a collision or sudden braking.
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IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
495
NOTICE
Tighten the spare tire clamp bolt to hold thespare wheel carrier by the hook securely.
Vehicles with kinetic dynamic suspensionsystem Ð Make sure that the spare tire does
not interfere with the suspension componentswhen the spare tire is stowed. If interference
occurs, the suspension system will bedamaged.
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IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
496
2. Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire
to keep the vehicle from rolling when it is jacked
up.
When blocking the wheel, place a wheel block in front
of one of the front wheels or behind one of the rear
wheels.3. Remove the wheel ornament.
Pry off the wheel ornament, using the beveled end
of the wheel ornament remover as shown.
CAUTION
Do not try to pull off the ornament by hand.
Take due care in handling the ornament to avoid
unexpected personal injury.
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IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
497
4. Loosen all the wheel nuts.
Always loosen the wheel nuts before raising the
vehicle.
Turn the wheel nuts counterclockwise to loosen them.
To get maximum leverage, fit the wrench to the nut
so that the handle is on the right side, as shown
above. Grab the wrench near the end of the handle
and pull up on the handle. Be careful that the wrench
does not slip off the nut.
Do not remove the nuts yet Ð just unscrew them
about one-half turn.
CAUTION
Never use oil or grease on the bolts or nuts.
The nuts may loose and the wheels may fall off,
which could cause a serious accident.
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IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
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6. After making sure no one is in the vehicle, raise
it high enough so that the spare tire can be
installed.
Allow for the fact that you need more ground
clearance when putting on the spare tire than when
removing the flat tire.
To raise the vehicle, insert the jack handle extension
into the jack (it is a loose fit) and turn it clockwise
with the handle, making sure the handle remains firmly
fitted onto the jack handle extension. As the jack
touches the vehicle and begins to lift, double-check
that it is properly positioned.
CAUTION
Never get under the vehicle when the vehicle
is supported by the jack alone.
7. Remove the wheel nuts and remove the flat tire.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it aside.
Roll the spare wheel into position and align the holes
in the wheel with the bolts. Then lift up the wheel
and get at least the top bolt started through its hole.
Wiggle the tire and press it back over the other bolts.