Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps tosignal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
The flash-to-pass feature will only work with theheadlamps on. It does not work with Daytime RunningLamps (DRL).
Pull and hold the turn signal lever toward you to use.
If the headlamps are on low beam, pulling the turn signaltowards you will flash the high beams.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper lever is located on the left side ofthe steering column.
Turn the band with the wiper symbol on it to control thewindshield wipers.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, hold it on mist
until the wipers start, then release. The wipers stop afterone wipe. Several wipes, hold the band longer.
6(Delay): Use to set the delay time between wipe
cycles. The wiper speed can be set for a long or shortdelay between wipes. The closer the band is set tothe top of the lever, the shorter the delay.
6(Low Speed):Slow wipes.
1(High Speed):Fast wipes.
9(Off):Turns the wipers off.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before usingthem. If frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen orthaw them. Damaged blades should be replaced.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
The vehicle has wiper-activated headlamps. After thewindshield wipers have completed eight wipe cycleswithin four minutes, the headlamps automaticallyturn on. SeeWiper Activated Headlamps on page 4-29for more information.
Rainsense™II Wipers
If the vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor ismounted on the interior of the windshield besidethe rearview mirror and is used to automatically operatethe wipers. This system operates by monitoring theamount of moisture build-up on the windshield. Wipesoccur as needed to clear the windshield dependingon the driving conditions and the sensitivity setting. Inlight rain or snow, fewer wipes will occur. In heavyrain or snow, wipes will occur more frequently.
4-10
If this symbol does not appear, or disappears briefly,ACC will not respond to vehicles you may see ahead.
{WARNING:
When the Adaptive Cruise Control radar is blocked
by snow, ice, or dirt, it may not detect a vehicle
ahead. Adaptive Cruise Control may not have time
to slow your vehicle enough to avoid a collision.
Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control when the
radar is blocked by snow, ice, or dirt. Keep your
radar clean. See “Cleaning the System” later in
this section.
ACC automatically slows your vehicle down whenapproaching a slower moving vehicle. It then adjustsyour vehicle speed to follow the vehicle in front atthe selected follow distance. Your vehicle speedincreases or decreases to follow the vehicle in front ofyou, but will not exceed the set speed. It may applylimited braking, if necessary. When braking is active,your brake lights will come on. Braking may feelor sound different than if you were applying the brakesyourself. This is normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving Objects
{WARNING:
Adaptive Cruise Control may not detect and react
to stationary or slow-moving vehicles or other
objects ahead of you. You could crash into an
object ahead of you. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when approaching stationary or
slow-moving vehicles or other objects.
{WARNING:
Adaptive Cruise Control may not detect and react
to stationary or slow-moving vehicles or other
objects ahead of you. Your vehicle may accelerate
toward objects, such as a stopped vehicle that
suddenly appears after the lead vehicle changes
lanes. Your complete attention is always required
while driving and you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes.
4-21
Highway Exit Ramps
{WARNING:
Adaptive Cruise Control may lose track of the
vehicle ahead and accelerate up to your set speed
while entering or on highway exit ramps. You
could be startled by this acceleration and even
lose control of the vehicle. Disengage Adaptive
Cruise Control before entering a highway exit
ramp. Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control while
entering or on exit ramps.
Other Vehicle Lane Changes
If another vehicle enters the same lane as you, ACC willnot detect the vehicle until it is completely in the lane.Be ready to take action and apply the brakes yourself.
Using ACC on Hills and When Towing a
Trailer
How well ACC will work on hills and when towing atrailer depends on your vehicle’s speed, vehicle load,traffic conditions and the steepness of the hills. Itmay not detect a vehicle in your lane while driving onhills. When going up steep hills, you may want touse the accelerator pedal to maintain your vehicle’sspeed. When going downhill, especially when towing atrailer, you may want to brake to keep your speeddown. Applying the brake disengages the system. Youmay choose not to use ACC on steep hills, especiallywhen towing a trailer.
Disengaging ACC
To turn off the system, apply the brake pedal, press thecancel button, or press the ACC button.
4-24
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road andstop carefully.The pedal may be harder to push, orthe pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longerto stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towedfor service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-24.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with theAntilock Brake System(ABS), this light comes onbriefly when the engineis started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the lightcomes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safelypossible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engineagain to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needsservice. If the regular brake system warning light is noton, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilockbrakes. If the regular brake system warning light is alsoon, the vehicle does not have antilock brakes andthere is a problem with the regular brakes. SeeBrakeSystem Warning Light on page 4-52.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-67for allbrake related DIC messages.
4-53
This light comes on during a malfunction in one oftwo ways:
Light Flashing:A misfire condition has been detected.A misfire increases vehicle emissions and coulddamage the emission control system on the vehicle.Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
•Reduce vehicle speed.
•Avoid hard accelerations.
•Avoid steep uphill grades.
•If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so, stopthe vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle. Turn thekey off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart the engine. Ifthe light is still flashing, follow the previous steps and seeyour dealer/retailer for service as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission control systemmalfunction has been detected on the vehicle. Diagnosisand service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected bydoing the following:
•Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. SeeFilling
the Tank on page 6-8. The diagnostic system candetermine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel capallows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A fewdriving trips with the cap properly installed shouldturn the light off.
•If the vehicle has been driven through a deep
puddle of water, the vehicle’s electrical systemmight be wet. The condition is usually correctedwhen the electrical system dries out. A few drivingtrips should turn the light off.
•Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.
Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to runas efficiently as designed and can cause: stallingafter start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changedinto gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,or stumbling on acceleration. These conditionsmight go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, changethe fuel brand used. It will require at least onefull tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 6-5.
If none of the above have made the light turn off, yourdealer/retailer can check the vehicle. The dealer/retailerhas the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools tofix any mechanical or electrical problems that mighthave developed.
4-58
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . .5-2Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6Magnetic Ride Control™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-7Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-8Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-10Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-10
Driving at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-11Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12Before Leaving on a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-14Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,Ice, or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-17Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-17Loading the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-18
Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-24Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-24Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-24Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-26
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
5-1
Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect theunexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is towear your safety belt — SeeSafety Belts: They Are forEveryone on page 2-12.
{WARNING:
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 ininjury or possible death. These simple defensivedriving techniques could save your life.
Drunk Driving
{WARNING:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your
reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount of
alcohol. You can have a serious — or even
fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. Do not
drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been
drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a
group, designate a driver who will not drink.
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving isa global tragedy.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive avehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, andattentiveness.
Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motorvehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,these deaths are the result of someone who wasdrinking and driving. In recent years, more than17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have beenassociated with the use of alcohol, with about250,000 people injured.
5-2
Repeat this until help arrives but only when you feelreally uncomfortable from the cold. Moving aboutto keep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and thenwhen you run the engine, push the acceleratorpedal slightly so the engine runs faster than the idlespeed. This keeps the battery charged to restartthe vehicle and to signal for help with the headlamps.Do this as little as possible to save fuel.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free thevehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 5-17.
If the vehicle has a traction system, it can often help tofree a stuck vehicle. Refer to the vehicle’s tractionsystem in the Index. If stuck too severely for the tractionsystem to free the vehicle, turn the traction system offand use the rocking method.
{WARNING:
If the vehicle’s tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
The vehicle can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and avoid going above
55 km/h (35 mph) as shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on the vehicle,seeTire Chains on page 6-70.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the areaaround the front wheels. Turn off any traction or stabilitysystem. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and aforward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stopspinning before shifting gears. Release the acceleratorpedal while shifting, and press lightly on the acceleratorpedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinningthe wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes arocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does notget the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to betowed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-24.
5-17