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If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors. Fill the fuel tank.
Wash and dry the exteriorcompletely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).
Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being storedindoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch thewindshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.
Cover the vehicle with a‘‘breathable ’’cover, one made from
a porous material such as cotton.
Non-porous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches full
operating temperature (the cooling
fans cycle on and off twice).
Preferably, do this once a month.
Vehicle Storage
283
Maintenance
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Except all Canadian models withautomatic transmission
If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by thejack.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights, and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
3. Lift the rear center head restraint.
4. Open the tailgate. Raise the cargo area floor lid by lifting it up with
the back of the strap. To keep the
floor lid open, hook the looped
side of the strap to the legs of the
rear center head restraint.
5. Take the tool kit out of the spare tire.
FLOOR LID LOOP
SPARE TIRE
TOOL KIT JACK STRAP
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
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Taking Care of the Unexpected
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21. Place the flat tire face down in thespare tire well.
22. Secure the flat tire by screwing the wing bolt back into its hole. 23. Store the jack. Place the tool kit in
the center of the flat tire.
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving. 24. Place the floor lid in the cargo
area.
25. Store the wheel cover or center cap in the cargo area. Make sure it
will not get scratched or damaged.
26. Close the tailgate. 27.
On U.S. models
Your vehicle's original tire has a
tire pressure monitoring system
sensor. To replace a tire, refer to
Changing a Tire with TPMS (see
page 239).
For normal tire For spare tire
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
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