
Maintenance40 74. Tire ply composition and materialThe number of layers or plies of rub-
ber-coated fabric are in the tire. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the
materials in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
The letter "R" means radial ply con-
struction; the letter "D" means diago-
nal or bias ply construction; and the
letter "B" means belted-bias ply con-
struction.
5. Maximum permissible inflation
pressureThis number is the greatest amount
of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible inflation pressure. Refer
to the Tire and Loading Information
label for recommended inflation
pressure.6. Maximum load ratingThis number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire.7. Uniform tire quality grading Tread
wearThe tread wear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one-and-a-
half times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use. However, performance
may differ from the norm because of
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
These grades are molded on the
side-walls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicles
may vary with respect to grade.
Traction - AA, A, B & C The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. The
grades represent the tires ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spec-
ified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perform-
ance.
WARNING - Tire age
A tire more than 6 years old may
sustain separation of cord lay-
ers inside the tire. Tire failure to
separation of cord, can cause
accidents resulting in severe
injuries or death.
Make sure to check the manu-
facturing date of the tire and
replace it within 6 years of that
date.

Index2I
Air cleaner ··································································· 7-23
Airbag-advanced supplemental restraint system ········· 3-29
Driver's and passenger's front air bag ······················ 3-37
SRS components and functions ······························· 3-30
Occupant classification system ································ 3-32
Side air bag ······························································· 3-42
Curtain air bag ·························································· 3-43
Air bag warning label ··············································· 3-54
Appearance care ·························································· 7-59
Audio system ······························································· 4-87
M420 ········································································ 4-92
M445 ········································································ 4-97
M465 ······································································ 4-103
Automatic climate control system ······························· 4-69
Automatic transaxle ····················································· 5-10
Ignition key interlock system ··································· 5-14
Automatic transaxle operation ································· 5-11
Transaxle ranges ······················································· 5-12
Shift lock system ······················································ 5-14
Automatic transaxle fluid ············································ 7-20
Battery ········································································· 7-29
Before driving ································································ 5-3
Binding arbitration (U.S.A only) ··································· 8-5
Brake system ······························································· 5-16Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ································· 5-19
Parking brake ··························································· 5-18
Power brakes ···························································· 5-16
Brakes and clutch fluid ················································ 7-19
Bulb wattage ·································································· 9-2
Child restraint system ·················································· 3-21
Tether anchor system ··············································· 3-25
Child seat lower anchors ·········································· 3-27
Placing a passenger seat belt into the auto lock
mode ········································································· 3-23
Climate control air filter ·············································· 7-25
Consumer information ··················································· 8-4
Cruise control system ·················································· 5-26
Defroster ······································································ 4-59
Dimensions ···································································· 9-2
Door locks ····································································· 4-8
Central door lock switch ············································ 4-9
Child-protector rear door lock ·································· 4-11
Economical operation ·················································· 5-30
Emergency starting ························································ 6-4AB
CDE

Index4I
Light bulbs ··································································· 7-54
Lighting ······································································· 4-51
Maintenance services ····················································· 7-3
Manual climate control system ··································· 4-60
Manual transaxle ··························································· 5-7
Mirrors ········································································· 4-30
Owner maintenance ······················································· 7-5
Parking brake ······························································· 7-22
Remote keyless entry ····················································· 4-3
Reporting safety defects ················································ 8-5
Road warning ································································· 6-2
Scheduled maintenance service ····································· 7-7
Seat ················································································ 3-2Armrest ······································································· 3-9
Headrest ······································································ 3-5
Front seat adjustment ················································· 3-3
Rear seat adjustment ·················································· 3-8
Seatback pocket ·························································· 3-7
Seat warmer ································································ 3-6
Seat belts ······································································ 3-12
Seat belt precautions ················································ 3-18
Care of seat belts ······················································ 3-20
Driver's 3-point system ············································ 3-13
Passenger's 3-point system ······································· 3-14
3-point rear center belt ············································· 3-14
Pre-tensioner belt ····················································· 3-15
Special driving conditions ··········································· 5-32
Starting the engine ························································· 5-5
Steering wheel ····························································· 4-28
Storage compartment ··················································· 4-80
Center console storage ············································· 4-80
Glove box ································································· 4-80
Sunglass holder ························································ 4-81
Sunroof ········································································ 4-23
Theft-alarm system ························································ 4-6
Tires and wheels ·························································· 7-32
Tires and wheels ···························································· 9-3
Towing ········································································· 6-15
Tie-down hook ························································· 6-18
Trailer towing ······························································ 5-39MSOPR
T

I5
Index
Hitches ······································································ 5-40
Safety chains ···························································· 5-40
Trailer brakes ···························································· 5-40
Weight of the trailer (tongue) ··································· 5-45
Trunk ············································································ 4-12
Vehicle break-in process ················································ 1-5
Vehicle data collection and event data recorders ·········· 1-6
Vehicle load limit ························································· 5-47
Compliance label ······················································ 5-49
Tire and loading information label ·························· 5-47
Vehicle capacity weight ··········································· 5-47
Seating capacity ······················································· 5-47
Towing capacity ······················································· 5-47
Cargo capacity ·························································· 5-47
Washer fluid ································································· 7-22
Weight of the vehicle ··················································· 5-52
Windows ······································································ 4-14
Power window lock button ······································ 4-17
Windshield defrosting and defogging ························· 4-77
Automatic climate control system ··························· 4-78
Defogging logic ························································ 4-78
Manual climate control system ································ 4-77
Winter driving ······························································ 5-35
Snow tires ································································· 5-35Tire chains ································································ 5-35
Wiper blades ································································ 7-27
Wipers and washers ····················································· 4-54VW