21. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Lamp
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 low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires are significantly under-inflated. Ac-
cordingly, 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
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation alsoreduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
NOTE:Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver 's responsi-
bility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if underin-
flation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 195
4
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replace-
ment or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
NOTE:Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle, to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires
and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels (the spare is not moni-
tored or equipped with a sensor). TPMS pressures
and warning 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. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use aftermarket tire sealants
or balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
For additional information on TPMS, refer to Section 5 Ð
Starting and Operating, ªTire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
temº of this manual.
196 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
mSnow Tires...........................313
mTire Rotation..........................313
mTire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........314
NBasic TPMS Without EVIC Ð If Equipped....317
NBasic TPMS With EVIC Ð If Equipped......319
NPremium TPMS ± If Equipped............320
NTire Pressure Monitoring Low Pressure
Warnings...........................321
NService Tire System Soon................322
NGeneral Information...................324
mFuel Requirements......................325
N3.8L Gasoline Engines..................325
N4.0L Gasoline Engines..................325NReformulated Gasoline.................326
NGasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............326
NMMT In Gasoline.....................327
NMaterials Added To Fuel................327
NFuel System Cautions..................327
NCarbon Monoxide Warnings..............328
mAdding Fuel..........................329
NFuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............329
NLoose Fuel Filler Cap Message............330
mVehicle Loading........................331
NVehicle Certification Label...............331
NGross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).......332
NGross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).........332
STARTING AND OPERATING 273
5
Follow the recommended tire rotation frequency for your
type of driving found in the ªMaintenance Schedulesº
Section of this manual. More frequent rotation is permis-
sible if desired. The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to rotation being per-
formed.
The suggested rotation method is the ªforward-crossº
shown in the following diagram.TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS)
The TPMS will warn the driver of a low tire pressure
based on the vehicle recommended cold placard pressure
(the placard is located on the drivers side B-pillar).
The tire pressure will vary with temperature by about 1
psi (6.9 kPa) for every 12ÉF (6.5ÉC). This means that when
the outside temperature decreases, the tire pressure will
decrease. Tire pressure should always be set based on
cold inflation tire pressure. This is defined as the tire
pressure after a vehicle has not been driven for at least 3
hours or driven less than 1 mile (1 km) after a 3 hour
period, and in outside ambient temperature.Refer to the
ªTires ± General Informationº in this section for infor-
mation on how to properly inflate the vehicle's tires.
The tire pressure will also increase as the vehicle is driven
- this is normal and there should be no adjustment for
this increased pressure.
314 STARTING AND OPERATING
The TPMS will warn the driver of a low tire pressure if
the tire pressure falls below the low pressure warning
threshold for any reason, including low temperature
effects, or natural air pressure loss through the tire.
The TPMS will continue to warn the driver of low tire
pressure as long as the condition exists, and will not turn
off until the tire pressure is at or above recommended
cold placard pressure. Once the low tire pressure warn-
ing has been illuminated, the tire pressure must be
increased to the recommended cold placard pressure in
order for the TPMS warning lamp to be turned off. The
system will automatically update and the TPMS warning
lamp will extinguish once the updated tire pressures
have been received. The vehicle may need to be driven
for up to 10 minutes above 15 mph (25 km/h) to receive
this information.For example, your vehicle may have a recommended
cold (parked for more than 3 hours) placard of 35 ÉF (241
kPa). If the ambient temperature is 68 ÉF (20 ÉC) and the
measured tire pressure is 30 psi (207 kPa), a temperature
drop to 20 ÉF (-7 ÉC) will decrease the tire pressure to
approximately 26 psi (179 kPa). This tire pressure is
sufficiently low enough to turn ON the ªTire Pressure
Monitoring Light.º Driving the vehicle may cause the tire
pressure to rise to approximately 30 psi (207 kPa), but the
ªTire Pressure Monitoring Lightº will still be ON. In this
situation, the ªTire Pressure Monitoring Lightº will turn
OFF only after the tires have been inflated to the vehicle's
recommended cold placard pressure value.
STARTING AND OPERATING 315
5
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures have
been established for the tire size equipped on your
vehicle. Undesirable system operation or sensor
damage may result when using replacement equip-
ment that is not of the same size, type, and/or style.
Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor damage. Do not
use aftermarket sealants or balance beads if your
vehicle is equipped with a TPMS, as damage to the
sensors may result.
CAUTION!
After inspecting or adjusting the tire pressure, al-
ways reinstall the valve stem cap. This will prevent
moisture and dirt from entering the valve stem,
which could damage the TPMS sensor.
NOTE:
²The TPMS is not intended to replace normal tire care
and maintenance, or to provide warning of a tire
failure or condition.
²The TPMS should not be used as a tire pressure gauge
while adjusting your tire pressure.
²Driving 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.
316 STARTING AND OPERATING
²The TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, using an accurate tire pressure
gage, even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS Telltale Lamp.
²Seasonal temperature changes will affect tire pressure,
and the TPMS will monitor the actual tire pressure in
the tire.
Basic TPMS without EVIC Ð If Equipped
The TPMS uses wireless technology with wheel rim
mounted electronic sensors to monitor tire pressure lev-
els. Sensors, mounted to each wheel as part of the valve
stem, transmit tire pressure readings to the Receiver
Module.
NOTE:It is particularly important, for you to check the
tire pressure in all of your tires regularly and too main-
tain the proper pressure.The Basic TPMS consists of the following components:
²Receiver Module
²4 Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors
²Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Lamp
The Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Lamp
will illuminate in the instrument cluster and an
audible chime will be activated when one or
more of the four active road tire pressures are
low. Should this occur you should stop as soon as
possible, check the inflation pressure of each tire on your
vehicle, and inflate each tire to the manufacturer recom-
mended pressure, located on the tire pressure placard.
The system will automatically update and the TPMS
warning light will extinguish once the updated tire
pressure(s) have been received.
STARTING AND OPERATING 317
5
NOTE:The vehicle may need to be driven for up to 10
minutes above 15 mph (25 km/h) to receive this infor-
mation.
The TPMS Telltale Lamp will flash on and off for 75
seconds, and remain on solid when a system fault is
detected. The system fault will also sound a chime. If the
ignition key is cycled, this sequence will repeat, provid-
ing the system fault still exists. The TPMS Telltale Lamp
will turn off when the fault condition no longer exists. A
system fault can occur with any of the following sce-
narios:
1. Jamming due to electronic devices or driving next to
facilities emitting the same radio frequencies as the TPMS
sensors.
2. Installing some form of aftermarket window tinting
that affects radio wave signals.3. Accumulation of excessive snow and/or ice around
the wheels or wheel housings.
4. Using tire chains on the vehicle.
5. Using wheels/tires not equipped with TPMS sensors.
NOTE:Your vehicle is equipped with a compact spare
wheel and tire assembly that does not have a tire pressure
monitoring sensor. Therefore, it will not be monitored by
the TPMS. In the event that the compact spare tire is
swapped with a low pressure road tire, each ignition key
cycle will still show the TPMS Lamp to be ON, and a
chime to sound. Once you repair or replace the original
road tire and reinstall it on the vehicle in place of the
compact spare tire, the TPMS will update automatically,
and the TPMS Lamp will turn OFF as long as no tire
pressure is below the low-pressure warning limit in any
of the four active road tires. The vehicle may need to be
driven for up to 10 minutes above 15 mph (25 km/h) for
the TPMS to receive this information.
318 STARTING AND OPERATING