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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.
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•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
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 accidents, in-
cluding those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of an ESP-
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
The ESP system has 3 available operating modes in 4WD
High Range. The system has 1 operating mode in 4WD
Low Range. 2WD vehicles and 4WD vehicles in 2WD
mode have 2 operating modes.
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5. Unsnap and remove the black boot cover. This cover
should be discarded. It was intended as a protective
cover for shipping only.
NOTE:A visual instruction sheet is enclosed in the dual
top wrap.
6. Remove the swing gate bar (black metal bar for
bottom of rear window) located in the soft top and set
aside.
NOTE:Be sure the wire harness in the right rear corner
is not tangled in the soft top bows before you lift the top.
7. Put up the soft top. Refer to “Soft Top — Putting Up
the Soft Top” in this section.FREEDOM TOP 3– PIECE MODULAR HARD TOP
CAUTION!
•The hard top is not designed to carry any addi-
tional loads such as roof racks, spare tires, build-
ing, hunting, or camping supplies, and/or luggage,
etc. Also, it was not designed as a structural
member of the vehicle, and thus cannot properly
carry any additional loads other than environmen-
tal (rain, snow, etc.).
CAUTION!
Do not move your vehicle until the top has been
either fully attached to the windshield frame and
bodyside, or fully removed.
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SOFT TOP (2 DOOR MODELS)
CAUTION!
•The soft top is not designed to carry any additional
loads such as roof racks, spare tires, building,
hunting, or camping supplies, and/or luggage, etc.
Also, it was not designed as a structural member of
the vehicle, and thus cannot properly carry any
additional loads other than environmental (rain,
snow, etc.).If the temperature is below 72°F (24°C) and/or the top
has been folded down for a period of time, the top will
appear to have shrunk when you raise it, making it
difficult to put up. This is caused by a natural contraction
of the vinyl coating on the fabric top.
Place the vehicle in a warm area. Pull steadily on the top
fabric. The vinyl will stretch back to its original size and
the top can then be installed.If temperature is 41°F (5°C)
or below, do not attempt to put the top down or roll the
rear or side curtains.
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SOFT TOP (4 DOOR MODELS)
CAUTION!
•The soft top is not designed to carry any additional
loads such as roof racks, spare tires, building,
hunting, or camping supplies, and/or luggage, etc.
Also, it was not designed as a structural member of
the vehicle, and thus cannot properly carry any
additional loads other than environmental (rain,
snow, etc.).If the temperature is below 72°F (24°C) and/or the top
has been folded down for a period of time, the top will
appear to have shrunk when you raise it, making it
difficult to put up. This is caused by a natural contraction
of the vinyl coating on the fabric top.
Place the vehicle in a warm area. Pull steadily on the top
fabric. The vinyl will stretch back to its original size and
the top can then be snapped into place.If temperature is
41°F (5°C) or below, do not attempt to put the top down
or roll the rear or side curtains.
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20. 4WD Indicator Light — If Equipped
This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive mode, and the front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed.
21. Odometer/Trip Odometer Reset Button
Press this button to change the display from odometer to
either of the two trip odometer settings. Trip A or Trip B
will appear when in the trip odometer mode. Push in and
hold the button for two seconds to reset the trip odometer
to 0 miles or kilometers. The odometer must be in trip
mode to reset.
22. Transmission Range Indicator
This display indicator shows the automatic transmission
gear selection.23. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light — If
Equipped
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 may be
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
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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 TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
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 opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement 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.
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24. Odometer/Trip Odometer
The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.
U.S. federal regulations require that upon transfer of
vehicle ownership, the seller certify to the purchaser the
correct mileage that the vehicle has been driven. There-
fore, if the odometer reading is changed during repair or
replacement, be sure to keep a record of the reading
before and after the service so the correct mileage can be
determined.
25. Malfunction Indicator Light
This light is a part of an Onboard Diagnostic
System called OBD II that monitors engine, and
automatic transmission control systems. The light
will illuminate when the ignition is in the ON position
before engine start. If the bulb does not come on when
turning the key from OFF to ON, have the condition
checked promptly.Certain conditions such as a loose or missing gas cap,
poor quality fuel, etc. may illuminate the light after
engine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the light
stays on through several typical driving styles. In most
situations, the vehicle will drive normally and will not
require towing.
When the engine is running, the “Malfunction Indicator
Light” may flash to alert serious conditions that could
lead to immediate loss of power or severe catalytic
converter damage. The vehicle should be serviced as
soon as possible if this occurs.
26. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator
Light/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator Light
This indicator light starts to flash as soon as the
tires lose traction and the ESP system becomes
active. The “ESP/TCS Indicator Light” also
flashes when TCS is active. If the “ESP/TCS
Indicator Light” begins to flash during acceleration, ease
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