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Wheels
Clean the wheels as you would the
rest of the exterior. Wash them with
the same solution, and rinse themthoroughly.
If equipped
Aluminum alloy wheels have a
protective clear-coat that keeps the
aluminum from corroding and
tarnishing. Cleaning the wheels with
harsh chemicals (including some
commercial wheel cleaners) or a stiff
brush can damage the clear-coat. To
clean the wheels, use a mild
detergent and a soft brush or sponge.Checking the Battery
Check the condition of the battery
monthly by looking at the test
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator'scolors.
The location of the test indicator
window varies between
manufacturers.Check the terminals for corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it off with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a cloth
or paper towel. Coat the terminals
with grease to help prevent futurecorrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualified technician.
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
CONTINUED
Tires, Checking the Battery
281
Maintenance
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WARNING:Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle's
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
On vehicles without navigation system
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting is lost. To reset the time, see
page 193.
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the
audio system may disable itself. The
next time you turn on the radio, you
will see ‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page192).
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normaloperation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurtyou.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the batterymaintenance.
On vehicles with navigation system
The navigation system will also
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter ‘‘ENTER
CODE ’’before it can be used. Refer
to the navigation system manual.
Checking the Battery
282
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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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Driving 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.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation 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 not
operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is provided by
a separate telltale, which displays thesymbol
‘‘TPMS ’’when illuminated.
When the malfunction indicator isilluminated,
the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure asintended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a
variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. 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 functionproperly.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Required Federal Explanation
327
Technical Information
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