Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
When road and weather conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control, if equipped.
Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
Keep vehicle tires properly in ated.
Combine several trips into a single trip.
Replace the vehicle’s tires with the same TPC Spec
number molded into the tire’s sidewall near the size.
Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The rst step in driving defensively is
to wear your safety belt — SeeSafety Belts: They Are
for Everyone on page 1-14.
{CAUTION:
Assume that other road users (pedestrians,
bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. In addition:
Allow enough following distance between you
and the driver in front of you.
Focus on the task of driving.
Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in
injury or possible death. These simple defensive
driving techniques could save your life.
4-2
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction
and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always
drive slower in these types of driving conditions
and avoid driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or owing water.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through owing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you
and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very cautious about
trying to drive through owing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under
your vehicle’s tires so they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips
include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
Keep the windshield washer uid reservoir lled.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-50.
Turn off cruise control.
4-11
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-82
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-46
Central Door Unlock System.............................. 2-6
Chains, Tire...................................................5-69
Charging System Light....................................3-28
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-32
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-86
Child Restraints
Infants and Young Children...........................1-36
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-44
Older Children.............................................1-32
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-54
Systems.....................................................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-42
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Circuit Breakers..............................................5-88
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-84
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-83
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-80Cleaning (cont.)
Finish Care.................................................5-83
Glass Surfaces............................................5-82
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-81
Interior.......................................................5-79
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-81
Leather......................................................5-81
Tires..........................................................5-85
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-86
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-82
Weatherstrips..............................................5-82
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................
5-84
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21
Clock............................................................3-17
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-21
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-78
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-15
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-4
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-23
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-30
Cooling System..............................................5-22
Courtesy Transportation...................................7-10
Cruise Control................................................3-10
3
Cruise Control Light........................................3-36
Cupholders....................................................2-37
Customer Assistance......................................... 7-6
Offices......................................................... 7-6
Text Telephone (TTY) Users........................... 7-6
Customer Information
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
Customer Satisfaction Procedure........................ 7-2
D
Damage Repair, Collision.................................7-11
Data Recorders
Event.........................................................7-17
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-14
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-36
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Disc, MP3......................................................3-51
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp ...................................................3-15
Door
Ajar Light...................................................3-36
Ajar Reminder.............................................. 2-7
Central Door Unlocking System....................... 2-6
Locks.......................................................... 2-6
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-7Driver
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-5
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-10
Before a Long Trip......................................4-12
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunk.......................................................... 4-3
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-12
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-13
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-11
Loss of Control............................................. 4-8
Off-Road Recovery........................................ 4-8
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-18
Winter........................................................4-14
Driving for Better Fuel Economy......................... 4-2
E
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical Equipment
Add-On Equipment......................................5-87
Electrical System
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-90
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-88
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-87
4
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-20
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-21
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-17
Immobilizer....................................................2-13
Immobilizer Operation......................................2-14
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-15
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-36
In ation - Tire Pressure...................................5-57
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-15
Cluster.......................................................3-24
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Introduction...................................................... 6-2
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-36
K
Keyless Entry, Remote Operation........................ 2-4
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-51
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-32
Lamps
Daytime Running (DRL)................................3-14
Dome ........................................................3-15
License Plate..............................................5-48
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-28
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-44
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide........................................2-10
Lights
Airbag Readiness........................................3-26
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-30
Brake System Warning.................................3-28
Change Engine Oil......................................3-35
Charging System.........................................3-28
Cruise Control.............................................3-36
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator..................3-36
Door Ajar...................................................3-36
Exterior Lamps............................................3-13
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-35
Highbeam On.............................................3-36
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Hold Mode .................................................3-30
7