Page 76 of 417
Defrosters
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should feel the air
directed against the windshield.
Safety Checks You Should Make Outside The
Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect for tread cuts or sidewall
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of all exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes
are detected, the cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 130 of 417

ESP/TCS Indicator Light
TheESP/TCS Indicator Lightlocated in the
instrument cluster, starts to flash as soon as the
tires lose traction and the ESP system becomes
active. TheESP/TCS Indicator Lightalso
flashes when TCS is active. If theESP/TCS Indicator
Lightbegins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure
to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.WARNING!
ESP (Electronic Stability Program) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESP cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabilities of an
ESP-equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner which could jeopar-
dize the user’s safety or the safety of others.
The ESP system has 2 available operating modes in 2WD,
4WD Part Time, 4WD Full Time (Selec-Trac Only), and on
2WD vehicles. The system has a single operating mode in
4WD Low Range.
130 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
Page 166 of 417

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTION
1. Tachometer
Indicates the permissible engine revolutions-per-minute
for each gear range. Before reaching the red area, ease up
on the accelerator to prevent engine damage.
2. Turn Signal Indicator Light
The arrows will flash in unison with the exterior
turn signals, when using the multi-function control
lever. A chime will sound if the turn signals are left on
continuously for 2 miles (3 km) until they are deacti-
vated.
3. High Beam Indicator Light
This light shows that the headlights are on high
beam. Pull the multi-function control lever to-
wards the steering wheel to switch the headlights from
high to low beam.4. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed.
5. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a ’Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale
Light” when one or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the “Tire Pressure
Monitoring Telltale Light” illuminates, you should stop
166 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Page 167 of 417

and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the “Tire
Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light.”
The “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” will illumi-
nate in the instrument cluster, and an audible chime will
be activated when one or more tire pressures is low. The
“Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” will flash on
and off for 60 seconds when a system fault is detected.
The flash cycle will repeat every ten minutes or until the
fault condition is removed and reset.CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warnings have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system op-
eration or sensor damage may result when using
replacement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. After-market wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use tire sealant from a can, or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
6. 4LO Mode Indicator Light — If Equipped
This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the 4 LO four–wheel drive mode. The front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 167
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Page 208 of 417

▫Shifting Procedure....................228
▫Selec-TracOperating Information/Precautions —
If Equipped.........................229
▫Shift Positions........................232
▫Shifting Procedure....................232
Trac-Lok™ Rear Axle — If Equipped.........234
On-Road Driving Tips...................235
Off-Road Driving Tips...................235
▫When To Use 4L Or 4LO (Low) Range......235
▫Driving Through Water.................236
▫Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand..........237
▫HillClimbing ........................237
▫Traction Downhill.....................238▫After Driving Off-Road.................238
Parking Brake.........................240
Anti-Lock Brake System — If Equipped.......241
Power Steering........................243
Tire Safety Information...................245
▫Tire Markings........................245
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)..........248
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........249
Tires — General Information...............253
▫Tire Pressure.........................253
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................254
▫Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation....256
▫Radial-Ply Tires......................256
208 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 209 of 417

▫TireSpinning ........................257
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................257
▫LifeOfTire .........................258
▫Replacement Tires.....................259
▫Alignment And Balance.................260
Tire Chains...........................260
Tire Rotation Recommendations............261
Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........262
▫Base System — If Equipped..............264
▫Base System With Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)– If Equipped..............266
▫Premium System — If Equipped..........268
▫Check TPM System....................270▫General Information...................272
Fuel Requirements (Gasoline Engines)........273
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................274
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............274
▫MMT In Gasoline.....................274
▫Materials Added To Fuel................275
▫Fuel System Cautions..................275
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings..............276
Adding Fuel..........................277
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............277
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............279
Vehicle Loading........................280
▫Certification Label.....................280
STARTING AND OPERATING 209
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Page 227 of 417

CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to make a shift while only the
front or rear wheels are spinning. The Command-
Trac transfer case is not equipped with a synchro-
nizer and therefore the front and rear driveshaft
speeds must be equal for the shift to take place.
Shifting while only the front or rear wheels are
spinning can cause damage to the transfer case.
•When operating your vehicle in 4L, the engine
speed is approximately three times that of the 2H
or 4H positions at a given road speed. Take care
not to overspeed the engine and do not exceed 25
mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of 4-wheel drive vehicles depends on
tires of equal size, type and circumference on each wheel.
Any difference will adversely affect shifting and can
cause damage to the transfer case.
WARNING!
•Because 4-wheel drive provides improved trac-
tion, there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and
stopping speeds. Do not go faster than road con-
ditions permit.
•You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
Neutral (N) position without first fully engaging
the parking brake. The transfer case Neutral (N)
position disengages both the front and rear drive-
shafts from the powertrain and will allow the
vehicle to move despite the transmission position.
The parking brake should always be applied
when the driver is not in the vehicle.
STARTING AND OPERATING 227
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Page 231 of 417

CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to make a shift while only the
front or rear wheels are spinning. The Selec-Trac
transfer case is not equipped with a synchronizer
and therefore the front and rear driveshaft speeds
must be equal for the shift to take place. Shifting
while only the front or rear wheels are spinning
can cause damage to the transfer case.
•When operating your vehicle in 4LO, the engine
speed is approximately three times that of the
2WD, 4 PART TIME, or 4 FULL TIME positions at
a given road speed. Take care not to overspeed the
engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of 4-wheel drive vehicles depends on
tires of equal size, type, and circumference on each
wheel. Any difference will adversely affect shifting and
can cause damage to the transfer case.
WARNING!
•Because 4-wheel drive provides improved trac-
tion, there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and
stopping speeds. Do not go faster than road con-
ditions permit.
•You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
Neutral (N) position without first fully engaging
the parking brake. The transfer case Neutral (N)
position disengages both the front and rear drive-
shafts from the powertrain and will allow the
vehicle to move regardless of the transmission
position. The parking brake should always be
applied when the driver is not in the vehicle.
STARTING AND OPERATING 231
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