Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 173
Low Coolant Warning Light....................... 173
Wait to Start Indicator............................... 174
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 174
Oil Pressure Gage..................................... 175
Low Oil Level Light................................... 176
Change Engine Oil Light........................... 176
Engine Overspeed Warning Light.............. 177
Engine Shutdown Warning Light................ 177
Transmission Temperature Gage............... 178
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light.................... 178
Differential Lock Indicator Light.................. 178
Reduced Engine Power Light.................... 179
Highbeam On Light................................... 179
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light........................................ 179
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light............... 180
Check Gages Warning Light...................... 180
Fuel Gage................................................. 181Water in Fuel Warning Light...................... 182
Air Filter Restriction Indicator..................... 182
Air Pressure Gage..................................... 183
Hourmeter Gage........................................ 183
Audio System(s)......................................... 184
Setting the Time........................................ 185
AM-FM Radio............................................ 186
Radio with Cassette.................................. 189
Radio with CD........................................... 195
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(Non-RDS Radios)................................. 201
Radio Reception........................................ 201
Care of the Cassette Tape Player............. 202
Care of Your CDs..................................... 203
Care of the CD Player.............................. 204
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................. 204
Chime Level Adjustment............................ 204
Section 3 Instrument Panel
138
This switchbank is located in the center of the
instrument panel.
e(Marker Lamp Defeat Switch):SeeMarker
Lamps on page 152.
j(Manual High Idle Switch):SeeHigh Idle
System on page 106.
i(Traction Control Switch):SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 216.
f(Outside Heated Mirror Switch):SeeOutside
Heated Mirrors on page 134.
g(Power Take Off Switch):SeePower
Take-Off (PTO) on page 118.
h(Rear Air Suspension Dump Control
Switch):Air Suspension on page 129.
k(Rear Axle Shift Control Switch):SeeAir Shift
Control (Automatic Transmission) on page 114.
q(Exhaust Brake Switch):SeeDiesel Engine
Exhaust Brake on page 112.
l(Differential Lock Control Switch):See
Rear Axle Differential Lock Control on page 215.
c(Airbag On/Off Switch):SeeAirbag Off
Switch on page 76.
If your vehicle does not have some of the features
controlled by these switches, there will be a
blank switch marker in its place.
155
Transmission Temperature Gage
If you have an automatic
transmission and this
gage, it is located above
the switchbank in the
center of the instrument
panel.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission oil. A reading in
the warning zone, the red area beginning at 300°F
(150°C), means you must stop driving and
check into the cause. One possible cause is a low
oil level in the transmission.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle while the
transmission temperature gage reading is
above normal. See your dealer for service.
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light
If your vehicle is
equipped with an
exhaust brake, you will
have this light, located
above the climate
controls in the center of
the instrument panel.
The exhaust brake indicator light will come on and
stay on whenever the diesel engine exhaust brake
or exhaust restrictor is active. For more information,
seeDiesel Engine Exhaust Brake on page 112and
Exhaust Restrictor (Engine Warm-Up) on page 108.
Differential Lock Indicator Light
If your vehicle has this
feature, this light is
located in the center of
the instrument panel.
The light is on when the
rear differential lock
system is in use.
178
The light will come on momentarily during starting.
If the light fails to come on, have it repaired as
soon as possible so you will be aware when
the lock system is in use.
SeeRear Axle Differential Lock Control on
page 215for more information.
Reduced Engine Power Light
If the check engine and
reduced engine power
lights are on, the
electronic throttle control
may be disabled, and a
noticeable change in the
vehicle’s performance
may occur.
If the reduced engine power light is on, but there
is no change in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may
be driven at a slower speed while the reduced
engine power light is on, but acceleration
and speed may be limited.
Anytime the check engine light stays on, the
vehicle should be taken to an authorized dealer as
soon as possible for service.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on
page 144.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light
This light is located on
the instrument panel
cluster. It goes on
whenever the Daytime
Running Lamps are on.
SeeDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) on page 151
for more information.
When it begins to get dark, the DRL indicator light
is a reminder to turn on your headlamps.
179
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 206
Defensive Driving...................................... 206
Drunken Driving........................................ 207
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 210
Braking...................................................... 210
Hydraulic Brake Systems........................... 211
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 212
Braking in Emergencies............................. 213
Trailer Brake Hand Control Valve.............. 214
Rear Axle Differential Lock Control............ 215
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 216
Steering.................................................... 217
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 219
Passing..................................................... 220
Loss of Control.......................................... 221
Driving at Night......................................... 223Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 224
City Driving............................................... 227
Freeway Driving........................................ 228
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 229
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 230
Winter Driving........................................... 231
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow ................................. 236
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 236
Tow Hooks................................................ 237
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 238
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment.............................................. 240
Towing........................................................ 241
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 241
Trailer Connections................................... 243
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
205
Rear Axle Differential Lock Control
If your vehicle has a
controlled traction or
locking differential axle,
the switch is located
in the center of
the instrument panel.
You’ll see this control on single rear axle vehicles.
If you’re approaching a slippery surface where
it looks like one or even both wheels may start
to slip, you can press the bottom of this switch.
It locks your rear differential so that power is
transmitted equally to both rear wheels.
Let up on the accelerator before you turn on your
rear axle differential lock.
Notice:Turning on the inter-axle differential
lock while the rear wheels are spinning
freely, as they might on snow or ice, can
damage the axle(s). Turn on this control only
while the wheels are not spinning freely.
Interaxle Differential Lock
This switch is located
on the center instrument
panel. You will see
this control on tandem
rear axle vehicles.
Press the switch to engage/lock the tandem front
axle differential to the rear axle differential.
This driver controlled feature improves traction
over slippery or uneven surfaces.
215
Rear Axle Shift Motor
When to Check and Change Fluid
If you have an optional air-shift two-speed,
controlled traction, or locking differential type rear
axle, a good time to check the fluid level in the axle
shift motor is when the rear axle lubricant is
checked.
How to Check Fluid
Remove the plug on the front plate of the axle
shift motor, add enough fluid to raise the level to
the bottom of the filler plug hole, then replace
the plug.
What to Use
Refer to your Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of lubricant to use. SeePart C:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 397.
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check transfer case
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak or you
hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss could indicate
a problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
A. Fill Plug
B. Drain Plug
312
When It Is Time for New Tires
Replace your tires when the tread depth is down
to 1/8 of an inch (3.2 mm) for the front tires,
or 1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm) for a rear tire. Also,
you need a new tire if:
•You can see cord or fabric showing through
the tire’s rubber.
•The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or
snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric.
•The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
•The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage
that cannot be repaired well because of the
size or location of the damage.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires of
different types — like radial and
bias-belted tires — the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have a
crash. Be sure to use the same type of
tires all around.When you replace tires, make sure they are the
same size, load range, speed rating and
construction type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as
your original tires.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, the axle
differentials, propshafts and transfer case may be
damaged if tires of different sizes, brands or
tread types are installed on the front and rear
axles. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned at
the factory to give you the longest tire life and
best overall performance.
Proper front wheel alignment must be maintained
in order to ensure efficient steering, good
directional stability, and prevent abnormal tire
wear. If you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle is pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, your wheels may need to be balanced.
324