Page 224 of 277

Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.
Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park.
Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Reconnect the 12 volt battery and
drive your vehicle every month f or
about 30 minutes. This will keep
the IMA battery charged and in
good condition.
Disconnect the 12 volt battery.
Vehicle Storage
Maint enance
223
If this vehicle is unused f or over one
month, the service lif e of the 144V
Nickel-Metal Hydride battery will be
reduced and the battery may be
permanently damaged.
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Page 226 of 277

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .226
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .227
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .230
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .230
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .231
................................
Jump Starting .232
..............
If the Engine Overheats .234
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .236
..........
Charging System Indicator .237
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .237
.......................
Readiness Codes .238
...............
Brake System Indicator .239
..................
Closing the Moonroof .240
......................
Emergency Towing .241
..............................................
Fuses .243
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
225
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Page 228 of 277

If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area that is
far away from the traffic lanes.Loosen the wheel nuts 1/2 of a
turn with the wheel wrench. Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well. Take the tool tray out of the trunk,
and take the tools out of the tool
tray.
Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
The tools are in the trunk. Open
the trunk and raise the trunk f loor
by lif ting up on the back edge.
5. 4.
3. 2. 1.
6.
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
227
TOOL TRAY
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
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Page 229 of 277
Bef ore mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt of f the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully;itmaybehotfrom
driving.
Remove the wheel nuts and f lat
tire. Place the f lat tire on the
ground with the outside surf ace of
the wheel f acing up. Use the extension and the wheel
nut wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the f lat tire is of f the
ground.
Place the jack under the jacking
point nearest the tire you need to
change. Turn the end bracket
clockwise until the top of the jack
contacts the jacking point. Make
sure the jacking point tab is
restinginthejacknotch. 8.
9.
7.
10.
Changing a Flat Tire
228
EXTENSION
BRAKE HUB
WHEEL WRENCH
JACKING POINT
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Page 233 of 277

´´
Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions. Open the hood, and check the physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or f rozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
To jump start your vehicle:
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it. The numbers in the illustration show
the order to connect the jumper
cable.
Put the transmission in neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake. Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, climate
control, stereo system, lights, etc. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ) terminal on the
booster battery.
1.
2.
3.
Jump Starting
232
BOOSTER
BATTERY
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
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Page 235 of 277

If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ).
The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f all the accessories, and
turn on the hazard warning lights.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
241Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
234
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
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Page 240 of 277

However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system’s dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will f eel the brake
pedal go down much f arther bef ore
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on the
pedal.If the ABS indicator comes on with
this indicator, have the vehicle
inspected by your dealer
immediately.
If this indicator comes on while
driving, the brake f luid level is
probably low in the reservoir. Press
lightly on the brake pedal to see if it
f eels normal. If it does, check the
brake f luid level the next time you
stop at a service station (see page
). If the f luid level is low, take
the vehicle to your dealer and have
the brake system inspected f or leaks
or worn brake pads. If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and caref ully. Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed and repaired as
soon as possible (see
on page ).241
204 Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
239
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
U.S. model
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Page 242 of 277

µµ
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
an organization. Never tow your
vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is
very dangerous.
Therearetwowaystotowyour
vehicle:
The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
If , due to damage, your vehicle must
be towed with the f ront wheels on
the ground, do the f ollowing:
Turn of f the engine.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
CONT INUED
Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment
This is the best way to trans-
port your vehicle.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
vehicle.
Emergency Towing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
241
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your vehicle must be
transported with the f ront wheels of f
the ground.
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