
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, the traction
control system, and f acts you need if
you are planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .168
.......................
Starting the Engine .169
...................
Manual Transmission . 170
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 171
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 172
.......................
Reverse Lockout .172
..............
Automatic Transmission . 173
Shif t Lever Position ...............................
Indicators .173
.......................................
Shif ting .173
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 175
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 176
...........................................
Parking .178
..............................
Parking Tips .178
.............................
Braking System .179
...........
Braking System Design . 179
.....
Brake Pad Wear Indicators . 179
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 180
............................
ABS Indicator .180
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ....................................
System .182
.........
VSA Activation Indicator . 182
..............
VSA System Indicator . 182
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .183
...........................
Towing a Trailer .184
Driving
Driving
167
VSA and Tire Sizes ................... 183 

The vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns
more or less than desired. It also
assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or
slippery road surf aces. It does this
by regulating the engine’s output and
by selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times. There may also
be some unusual noise f rom the
modulator.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA activation indicator blink. There
may also be some unusual noise
f rom the modulator.
If the VSA system indicator comes
on while driving, pull to the side of
theroadwhenitissafe,andturnoff
the engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. If the VSA
system indicator stays, or comes
back on while driving, have the VSA
system inspected by your dealer.
If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON (II) position, there may be a
problem with the VSA system. Have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement.
On 6-cylinder models
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
VSA A ctivation Indicator
VSA System Indicator
182 

Driving with varying  tire or wheel
sizes  may cause  the VSA  to
malfunction.  When replacing  tires,
make  sure they  are of the  same  size
and  type  as your  original  tires (see
page  ).
Deactivate  the VSA  system  if you
need  to drive  with the compact  spare
tire  installed  (see page  ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
This switch is under the lef t vent.
Press it to turn the VSA system on
and off.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.
VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.
In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
traction control systems switched off.
232
240
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
VSA and Tire Sizes
VSA Of f Switch
Driving
183
VSA OFF SWITCH
is of f , the traction control system is
also of f . You should only attempt to
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and VSA is on. free your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to free it when the 

Your vehicle has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can also use it to
tow a trailer if you caref ully observe
the load limits, use the proper
equipment, and f ollow the guidelines
in this section.The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
must not exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg).
Towing a load that is too heavy
can seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain. The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too much tongue
load reduces front-tire traction and
steering control. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway.
Towing a Trailer
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
184
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive. 

Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your vehicle and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers . 266
................................
Specif ications .268
DOT Tire Quality Grading ......................
(U.S. Vehicles) .271
Unif orm Tire Quality ..................................
Grading .271
.................................
Treadwear .271
......................................
Traction .271
.............................
Temperature .272
.................................
Tire Labeling .273
.......................
Emissions Controls .274
.....................
The Clean Air Act .274
Crankcase Emissions Control ....................................
System .274
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .274
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .274
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls . 275
....................
PGM-FI System .275
Ignition Timing Control ................................
System .275
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...................
(EGR) System . 275
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .275 ....................
Replacement Parts . 275
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 276
EmissionsTesting.........................277
T echnical Inf ormation
Technical Inf ormation
265 

Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example:The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
All passenger vehicle tires must
conf orm to Federal Saf ety
Requirements in addition to these
grades. The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
Technical Inf ormation
271
µ