
733
Maintenance
Wheel replacement
When replacing the metal wheels for
any reason, make sure the new
wheels are equivalent to the original
factory units in diameter, rim width
and offset.Tire sidewall labeling
Federal law requires tire manufactur-
ers to place standardized information
on the sidewall of all tires. This infor-
mation identifies and describes the
fundamental characteristics of the
tire and also provides the tire identifi-
cation number (TIN) for safety stan-
dard certification. The TIN can be
used to identify the tire in case of a
recall.
WARNING
A wheel that is not the correct
size may adversely affect wheel
and bearing life, braking and
stopping abilities, handling
characteristics, ground clear-
ance, body-to-tire clearance,
snow chain clearance,
speedometer calibration, head-
light aim and bumper height.
I030B04JM
1
1
2
34
5,6
7
(Continued)
The use of any other tire sizeor type may seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clear-
ance, stopping distance, body
to tire clearance, snow tire
clearance, and speedometer
reliability.
It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that is
not possible, or necessary,
then replace the two front or
two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can
seriously affect your vehicle’s
handling.
The ABS works by comparing the speed of the wheels. Tire
size can affect wheel speed.
When replacing tires, all 4
tires must use the same size
originally supplied with the
vehicle. Using tires of a differ-
ent size can cause the ABS
(Anti-lock Brake System) and
ESC (Electronic Stability
Control) to work irregularly.
(if equipped)

735
Maintenance
3. Checking tire life (TIN : TireIdentification Number) Any tires that are over 6 years, based
on the manufacturing date, tire
strength and performance, decline
with age naturally (even unused
spare tires). Therefore, the tires
(including the spare tire) should be
replaced by new ones. You can find
the manufacturing date on the tire
sidewall (possibly on the inside of the
wheel), displaying the DOT Code.
The DOT Code is a series of num-
bers on a tire consisting of numbers
and English letters. The manufactur-
ing date is designated by the last four
digits (characters) of the DOT code.
DOT : XXXX XXXX OOOO
The front part of the DOT means a
plant code number, tire size and
tread pattern and the last four num-
bers indicate week and year manu-
factured.
For example:
DOT XXXX XXXX 1606 represents
that the tire was produced in the 16th
week of 2006.
4. Tire ply composition and mate-rialThe number of layers or plies of rub-
bercoated fabric in the tire. Tire man-
ufacturers 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.
WARNING -
Tire age
Tires degrade over time, even
when they are not being used.
Regardless of the remaining
tread, it is recommended that
tires generally be replaced after
six (6) years of normal service.
Heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading condi-
tions can accelerate the aging
process. Failure to follow this
warning can result in sudden
tire failure, which could lead to a
loss of control and an accident
involving serious injury or
death.

737
Maintenance
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tires to
degenerate and reduce tires life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tires failure. Grades A and B
represent higher levels of perform-
ance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by the law.Tire terminology and definitions
Air Pressure: The amount of air
inside the tire pressing outward on
the tire. Air pressure is expressed in
kilopascal (kPa) or pounds per
square inch (psi).
Accessory Weight
: This means the
combined weight of optional acces-
sories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic transmis-
sion, power seats, and air condition-
ing.
Aspect Ratio: The relationship of a
tire's height to its width.
Belt: A rubber coated layer of cords
that is located between the plies and
the tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead: The tire bead contains steel
wires wrapped by steel cords that
hold the tire onto the rim. Bias Ply Tire
: A pneumatic tire in
which the plies are laid at alternate
angles less than 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure: The amount of
air pressure in a tire, measured in
kilopascals (kPa) or pounds per
square inch (psi) before a tire has
built up heat from driving.
Curb Weight: This means the weight
of a motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil and
coolant, but without passengers and
cargo.
WARNING
- Tire temperature
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible sudden
tires failure. This can cause loss
of vehicle control and serious
injury or death.

743
Maintenance
EXTERIOR CARE Exterior general caution It is very important to follow the label
directions when using any chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warning and
caution statements that appear on the
label.Finish maintenanceWashing To help protect your vehicle’s finish from
rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughly
and frequently at least once a month with
lukewarm or cold water.
If you use your vehicle for off-road driv-
ing, you should wash it after each off-
road trip. Pay special attention to the
removal of any accumulation of salt, dirt,
mud, and other foreign materials. Make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges of
the doors and rocker panels are kept
clear and clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial pollution and similar deposits
can damage your vehicle’s finish if not
removed immediately.Even prompt washing with plain water
may not completely remove all these
deposits. A mild soap, safe for use on
painted surfaces, may be used.
After washing, rinse the vehicle thor-
oughly with lukewarm or cold water. Do
not allow soap to dry on the finish.
WARNING -
Wet brakes
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired,
dry the brakes by applying them
lightly while maintaining a slow for-
ward speed.
CAUTION
Do not use strong soap, chemical
detergents or hot water, and do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlightor when the body of the vehicle iswarm.
CAUTION
Water washing in the engine com- partment including high pressurewater washing may cause the fail-ure of electrical circuits located inthe engine compartment.
Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact with electri-cal/electronic components insidethe vehicle as this may damage them.
OJB037800

745
Maintenance
Bright-metal maintenance To remove road tar and insects, use atar remover, not a scraper or other
sharp object.
To protect the surfaces of bright-metal parts from corrosion, apply a coating of
wax or chrome preservative and rub to
a high luster.
During winter weather or in coastal areas, cover the bright metal parts with
a heavier coating of wax or preserva-
tive. If necessary, coat the parts with
non-corrosive petroleum jelly or other
protective compound.
Underbody maintenanceCorrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may col-
lect on the underbody. If these materials
are not removed, accelerated rusting can
occur on underbody parts such as the
fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust
system, even though they have been
treated with rust protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody
and wheel openings with lukewarm or
cold water once a month, after off-road
driving and at the end of each winter. Pay
special attention to these areas because
it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet down
the road grime without removing it. The
lower edges of doors, rocker panels, and
frame members have drain holes that
should not be allowed to clog with dirt;
trapped water in these areas can cause
rusting.
Aluminum wheel maintenance The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
Do not use any abrasive cleaner, pol-ishing compound, solvent, or wire
brushes on aluminum wheels. They
may scratch or damage the finish.
Use only a mild soap or neutral deter- gent, and rinse thoroughly with water.
Also, be sure to clean the wheels after
driving on salted roads. This helps pre-
vent corrosion.
Avoid washing the wheels with high- speed car wash brushes.
Do not use any acid detergent. It may damage and corrode the aluminum
wheels coated with a clear protective
finish.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired,
dry the brakes by applying them
lightly while maintaining a slow for-
ward speed.

Index29Air bags - advanced supplemental restraint system ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
3-47
Air cleaner ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············7-22
Antenna ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·3-96
Audio remote control··················\
··················\
···············3-97
Audio system ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········3-99
Auto fuel cutoff switch ··················\
··················\
············3-74
Automatic climate control system ··················\
············4-66
Automatic transmission ··················\
··················\
····4-5,7-19
Battery··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-25
Before driving··················\
··················\
··················\
···········5-5
Brake fluid ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············7-17
Brake system ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-20
Climate control air filter ··················\
··················\
·········7-23
Cruise control system ··················\
··················\
··············4-27
Defroster ··················\
··················\
··················\
·················4-57\
Door locks ··················\
··················\
··················\
·················3-7 Electrical circuit protection ··················\
··················\
······6-7
Electronic stability control ··················\
··················\
······4-30
Emergency starting··················\
··················\
··················\
··6-4
Emission control system ··················\
··················\
············5-3
Engine compartment ··················\
··················\
·········2-3,7-13
Engine cooling system ··················\
··················\
·············7-15
Engine oil ··················\
··················\
··················\
················7-14
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items ·············7-7
Exterior care··················\
··················\
··················\
···········7-43
Four wheel drive (4WD)··················\
··················\
··········4-10
Fuel filler lid ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········3-71
Fuel requirements ··················\
··················\
··················\
····5-2
Gauges ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-37
Hazard warning flasher ··················\
··················\
··········4-58
Homelink® wireless control system ··················\
·········3-78
Hood ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
······3-69
How to use this manual ··················\
··················\
·············1-2ABCD
EFGH

93
Index
If you have a flat tire ··················\
··················\
···············6-19
Ignition switch ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-2
Immobilizer system ··················\
··················\
··················\
··3-5
In case of an emergency while driving ··················\
······6-2
Instrument cluster ··················\
··················\
··················\
·4-36
Instrument panel overview ··················\
··················\
·······2-2
Interior care··················\
··················\
··················\
············7-46
Interior features ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····3-86
Interior lights ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-82
Keys ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-2
Label information ··················\
··················\
··················\
··5-39
Lighting ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·4-51
Limited slip differential··················\
··················\
···········4-19
Lubricant specifications ··················\
··················\
··········7-41
Lubricants and fluids ··················\
··················\
··············7-21
Luggage center box ··················\
··················\
··················\
3-94
Luggage net ··················\
··················\
··················\
············3-92
Maintenance schedule Owner maintenance ················7-7
Maintenance services ··················\
··················\
·················7-2
Manual climate control system··················\
·················4-59\
Mirrors ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
··3-74
Multi-meter··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-45
Overheating ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············6-3
Owner maintenance ··················\
··················\
·················7-10\
Power steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
········7-18
Rear parking assist system·············\
··················\
···········4-33
Remote keyless entry ··················\
··················\
·················3-3
Road warning ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········6-2
Roof rack ··················\
··················\
··················\
················3-94
Safety belts··················\
··················\
··················\
··············3-25
Seat ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
········3-15
Special driving conditions ··················\
··················\
·········5-7
Specifications ··················\
··················\
··················\
············8-2
Starting the engine ··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-4
Steering wheel···············\
··················\
··················\
············4-25
Storage compartment ··················\
··················\
··············3-83
Suggestions for economical operation··················\
········5-6
Sunroof ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
··3-90KLMI
OPRS

Index49Tires and wheels··················\
··················\
··················\
·····7-28
Tonneau cover ··················\
··················\
··················\
········3-93
Towing ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···6-14
Trailer towing ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········5-31
Using four-wheel drive ··················\
··················\
············5-11
Vehicle break-in process ··················\
··················\
············1-3
Vehicle handling instructions··················\
··················\
····1-3
Vehicle load limit··················\
··················\
··················\
····5-25
Warnings and indicators ··················\
··················\
·········4-39
Weight of the vehicle ··················\
··················\
···············5-29
Window ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·3-13
Windshield defrosting and defogging ··················\
······4-75
Wiper blades··················\
··················\
··················\
···········7-23
Wipers and washers··················\
··················\
·················4-54\
VWUT