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An emergency like this requires close attention and
a quick decision. If you are holding the steering
wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly
straighten the wheel once you have avoided
the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may find that your right wheels have dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you
are driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off
the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge
of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel
up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire
contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your
steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
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Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those conditions.
But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If you have the Traction Control System (TCS),
remember: It helps avoid only the acceleration
skid. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 216. If you do not have this system, or if
the system is off, then an acceleration skid is
also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid.
If you do not have ABS, then in a braking
skid, where the wheels are no longer rolling,
release enough pressure on the brakes to get
the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily
when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the
wheels are rolling, you will have steering control.
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If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into
4HI. SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 119.
If you have the Traction Control System (TCS),
it will improve your ability to accelerate when
driving on a slippery road. But you can turn the
TCS off if you ever need to. You should turn
the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in
sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeIf Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 236.
Even though your vehicle has TCS, you will
want to slow down and adjust your driving to the
road conditions. Under certain conditions, you may
want to turn the TCS off, such as when driving
through deep snow and loose gravel, to help
maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 216.
If you do not have TCS, accelerate gently. Try not
to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate
too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
Unless you have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), you will want to brake very gently, too. If you
do have ABS, seeAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
on page 212. ABS improves your vehicle’s stability
when you make a hard stop on a slippery road.Whether you have ABS or not, you will want to
begin stopping sooner than you would on dry
pavement. Without ABS, if you feel your vehicle
begin to slide, let up on the brakes a little. Push the
brake pedal down steadily to get the most traction
you can.
Remember, unless you have ABS, if you brake so
hard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just
slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling
and you can still steer.
•Whatever your braking system, allow greater
following distance on any slippery road.
•Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
fine until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you are
actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
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{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot
see it or smell it, so you might not know it
is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle if any is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure
snow does not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of
the vehicle that is away from the wind.
This will help keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This
saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it
go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat
that you get and it keeps the battery (or batteries)
charged. You will need a well-charged battery (or
batteries) to restart the vehicle, and possibly for
signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run
it at a higher speed to get enough heat.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it
as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long
as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous
exercises every half hour or so until help comes.
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Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service
if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 408.
Releasing Air-Operated Parking Brakes
If your vehicle has air brakes, you could have a
special towing problem. If your vehicle has to
be towed because of a complete loss of air
pressure from both systems, the parking brakes
will have automatically engaged. The tow operator
can release the brakes manually by using the
following steps. Then your vehicle can be towed
with all wheels or only the rear wheels on
the ground.
1. Block the wheels of the vehicle.2. Remove the release stud and nut from the
side of the brake chamber. Some chambers
have studs which are visible at all times.
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3. Remove the rubber
cap from the rear
of the chamber.
4. Put the release stud, nut and flat washer into
the chamber.
5. Turn the stud clockwise a quarter of a turn.6. Turn the stud nut
clockwise several
turns to release
the brakes.
Follow the same
procedure to
release the other
brake or brakes.
7. At the repair facility, apply air pressure of at
least 70 psi (480 kPa) to the brake chambers,
either from an external air supply or the
vehicle’s air system.
8. Turn the stud nut counterclockwise several
turns. Remove the stud from the chamber.
9. Replace the stud and washer and tighten the
nut into the side of the chamber.
10. Replace the rubber cap.
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Appearance Care........................................ 331
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 331
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 333
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 334
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 334
Weatherstrips............................................ 334
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 335
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 335
Finish Care............................................... 335
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 336
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 337
Tires......................................................... 337
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 337
Finish Damage.......................................... 338
Underbody Maintenance............................ 338
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 338Vehicle Identi cation.................................. 340
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)........... 340
Service Parts Identification Label............... 340
Electrical System........................................ 340
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 340
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 341
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 341
Fusible Links............................................. 341
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 341
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 341
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 342
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 344
Capacities and Speci cations.................... 347
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..... 352
Engine Drive Belt Routing......................... 355
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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5. Open the fuel filter
vent valve by turning
the screw
counterclockwise
several full turns.
6. Repeatedly push
down on the fuel
filter primer
pump with the palm
of your hand. Let
the pump return
upward between
pushes.7. Operate the priming pump until a small
amount of fuel seeps from the vent valve.
When you see the fuel, the filter is now full of
fuel and the system should be primed.
8. Close the vent valve.
9. Clean any fuel which accumulated on the fuel
filter.
10. Start the engine and let it idle for a few
minutes.
11. Check the filter for leaks.
260