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Radio Reception
You may experience frequency interference and
static during normal radio reception if items
such as cellphone chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic devices
are plugged into the accessory power outlet. If
there is interference or static, unplug the item from
the accessory power outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for
FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with each other.
For better radio reception, most AM radio stations
boosts the power levels during the day, and then
reduce these levels during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and power lines
interfere with radio reception. When this happens,
try reducing the treble on your radio.
FM Stereo
FM stereo gives the best sound, but FM signals
reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals,
causing the sound to fade in and out.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio
reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM,
tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite
radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out.
In addition, traveling or standing under heavy
foliage, bridges, garages, or tunnels can cause
loss of the XM™ signal for a period of time.
The radio could display NO SIGNAL to indicate
interference.
Care of the Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly
can cause reduced sound quality, ruined
cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette
tapes should be stored in their cases away
from contaminants, direct sunlight, and extreme
heat. If they are not, they may not operate properly
or may cause failure of the tape player.
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The tape player should be cleaned regularly after
every 50 hours of use. The radio may display
CLEAN to indicate that the tape player has been
used for 50 hours without resetting the tape
clean timer. If this message appears on the
display, the cassette tape player needs to be
cleaned. It will still play tapes, but it should
be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage
to the tapes and player. If there is a reduction in
sound quality, try a known good cassette to
see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this
other cassette has no improvement in sound
quality, clean the tape player.
For best results, use a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which
scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner
cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette
is available through your dealer.When cleaning the cassette tape player with the
recommended non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is
possible that the cassette may eject, because
the cut tape detection feature on the radio
may recognize it as a broken tape, in error. To
prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected,
use the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the TAPE DISC button for
ve seconds. READY will appear on the
display and the cassette symbol will ash for
ve seconds.
4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the
manufacturer’s recommended cleaning time.
When the cleaning cassette has been
ejected, the cut tape detection feature
will be active again.
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A non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which
uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape
head can be used. This type of cleaning cassette
will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action
cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the
scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing
action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not
recommended.
After the player is cleaned, press and hold the
eject button for ve seconds to reset the CLEAN
indicator. The radio will display --- or CLEANED to
show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound
quality may degrade over time. Always make sure
the cassette tape is in good condition before
the tape player is serviced.Care of Your CDs and DVDs
Handle CDs and DVDs carefully. Store them in
their original cases or other protective cases and
away from direct sunlight and dust. The CD
and DVD player scans the bottom surface of the
disc. If the surface of a CD or DVD is damaged,
such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD or
DVD will not play properly or not at all. If the
surface of a CD or DVD is soiled, take a soft, lint
free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a
mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with water,
and clean it. Make sure the wiping process
starts from the center to the edge. If a dampened
cloth was used to clean the disc, dry it with a
dry cotton cloth.
Do not touch the bottom side of a CD or DVD
while handling it; this could damage the surface.
Pick up CDs or DVDs by grasping the outer edges
or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
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Care of the CD and DVD Player
The use of CD or DVD lens cleaners for CDs or
DVDs are not advised, due to the risk of
contaminating the lens of the CD optics with
lubricants internal to the CD or DVD mechanism.
Fixed Mast Antenna
The xed mast antenna can withstand most car
washes without being damaged. If the mast should
ever become slightly bent, straighten it out by
hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it.
Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still
tightened.
XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System
The XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on
the roof of your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of
snow and ice build up for clear radio reception.
If your vehicle has a sunroof, the performance of
the XM™ system may be affected if the sunroof
is open.Loading items onto the roof of your vehicle can
interfere with the performance of the XM™ system.
Make sure the XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is
not obstructed.
Chime Level Adjustment
The radio is used to adjust the vehicle’s chime
level. To change the volume level of the chime,
press and hold pushbutton 6 with the ignition
on and the radio power off. The volume level will
change from the normal level to loud, and
LOUD CHIME will appear on the radio display.
To change back to the default or normal setting,
press and hold pushbutton 6 again. The volume
level will change from the loud level to normal,
and NORMAL CHIME will appear on the
radio display. Removing the radio and not
replacing it with a factory radio or chime module
will disable vehicle chimes.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 302
Defensive Driving...................................... 302
Drunken Driving........................................ 303
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 306
Braking...................................................... 306
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 307
Braking in Emergencies............................. 309
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 309
Locking Rear Axle..................................... 311
Steering.................................................... 312
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 314
Passing..................................................... 314
Loss of Control.......................................... 316
Off-Road Driving........................................ 317
Assist Steps.............................................. 338
Driving at Night......................................... 342
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 344
City Driving............................................... 347
Freeway Driving........................................ 348Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 349
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 350
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 351
Winter Driving........................................... 353
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 357
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 358
Recovery Loops........................................ 358
First Aid Kit and Tool Kit........................... 360
Front Mounted Receiver............................ 360
Power Winch Platform............................... 361
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 362
Towing........................................................ 369
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 369
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 369
Selectable Extended Rear Ride Height...... 371
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
System.................................................. 372
Towing a Trailer........................................ 374
Trailer Recommendations.......................... 388
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in
your vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They
Are for Everyone on page 24.
{CAUTION:
Defensive driving really means “Be ready
for anything.” On city streets, rural roads,
or expressways, it means “Always expect
the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians
or other drivers are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. Rear-end collisions
are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow
enough following distance. Defensive
driving requires that a driver concentrate
on the driving task. Anything that distracts
from the driving task makes proper
defensive driving more difficult and can
even cause a collision, with resulting
injury. Ask a passenger to help do these
things, or pull off the road in a safe place to
do them. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.
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Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and
driving is a national tragedy. It is the number
one contributor to the highway death toll,
claiming thousands of victims every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to
drive a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most
cases, these deaths are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. In recent years, more
than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths
have been associated with the use of alcohol,
with more than 300,000 people injured.Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half
the adult population — choose never to drink
alcohol, so they never drive after drinking.
For persons under 21, it is against the law in
every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good
medical, psychological, and developmental
reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink
alcohol and then drive. But what if people do?
How much is “too much” if someone plans
to drive? It is a lot less than many might think.
Although it depends on each person and situation,
here is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of
someone who is drinking depends upon
four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before
and during drinking
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol
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According to the American Medical Association, a
180 lb (82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with
a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would
reach the same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce
(120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if
each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of liquors like
whiskey, gin, or vodka.It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example,
if the same person drank three double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour,
the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent.
A person who consumes food just before or during
drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women
generally have a lower relative percentage of
body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in
body water, this means that a woman generally will
reach a higher BAC level than a man of her
same body weight will when each has the same
number of drinks.
The law in most U.S. states, and throughout
Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent.
In some other countries, the limit is even lower.
For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France
and Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial
drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent.
The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to
six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have
seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the
drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.
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