75
Maintenance
G030102ACM
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound of theexhaust or any smell of exhaust fumes
in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steering
effort or looseness in the steering
wheel, or change in its straight-ahead
position.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side when trav-
eling on smooth, level road.
When stopping, listen and check for unusual sounds, pulling to one side,
increased brake pedal travel or “hard-
to-push” brake pedal.
If any slipping or changes in the oper- ation of your transaxle occurs, check
the transaxle fluid level.
Check manual transaxle operation, including clutch operation.
Check automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-
mal).
G030103AUN
At least monthly:
Check coolant level in the enginecoolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn sig-
nals and hazard warning flashers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
G030104AUN
At least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
Check radiator, heater and air condi- tioning hoses for leaks or damage.
Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper blades
with clean cloth dampened with wash-
er fluid.
Check headlight alignment.
Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
G030105ACM
At least once a year :
Clean body and door drain holes.
Lubricate door hinges and checks, andhood hinges.
Lubricate door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate door rubber weatherstrips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Check the power steering fluid level.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean battery and terminals.
Check the brake (and clutch) fluid level.
713
Maintenance
G051500AUN
Brake hoses and lines
Visually check for proper installation,
chafing, cracks, deterioration and any
leakage. Replace any deteriorated or
damaged parts immediately.
G051600AUN
Brake fluid
Check brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir. The level should be between
“MIN” and “MAX” marks on the side of
the reservoir. Use only hydraulic brake
fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4
specification.
G051700AUN
Parking brake
Inspect the parking brake system includ-
ing the parking brake lever (or pedal) and
cables.
G051900AUN
Brake pads, calipers and rotors
Check the pads for excessive wear, discs
for run out and wear, and calipers for fluid
leakage.
G052100AUN
Suspension mounting bolts
Check the suspension connections for
looseness or damage. Retighten to the
specified torque.
G052200AUN
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint
With the vehicle stopped and engine off,
check for excessive free-play in the
steering wheel.
Check the linkage for bends or damage.
Check the dust boots and ball joints for
deterioration, cracks, or damage.
Replace any damaged parts.
G052300AXM
Power steering pump, belt and
hoses
Check the power steering pump and
hoses for leakage and damage. Replace
any damaged or leaking parts immedi-
ately. Inspect the power steering belt (or
drive belt) for evidence of cuts, cracks,
excessive wear, oiliness and proper ten-
sion. Replace or adjust it if necessary.
G052400AUN
Drive shafts and boots
Check the drive shafts, boots and clamps
for cracks, deterioration, or damage.
Replace any damaged parts and, if nec-
essary, repack the grease.
G052500ACM
Air conditioning refrigerant/
compressor (if equipped)
Check the air conditioning lines and con-
nections for leakage and damage.
CAUTION
The use of a non-specified fluidcould result in transaxle malfunc-tion and failure.
Use only specified automatictransaxle fluid. (Refer to“Recommended lubricants andcapacities” in section 8.)
Maintenance
36
7
G200500AUN
Wheel alignment and tire balance
The wheels on your vehicle were
aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to
have your wheels aligned again.
However, if you notice unusual tire
wear or your vehicle pulling one way
or the other, the alignment may need
to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle vibrating
when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
G200600BFD
Tire replacement
If the tire is worn evenly, a tread wear
indicator will appear as a solid band
across the tread. This shows there is
less than 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) of tread
left on the tire. Replace the tire when
this happens.
Do not wait for the band to appear
across the entire tread before replac-
ing the tire.
CAUTION
Improper wheel weights can
damage your vehicle's alu-minum wheels. Use onlyapproved wheel weights.
WARNING - Replacing tires
Driving on worn-out tires is very hazardous and will
reduce braking effectiveness,
steering accuracy, and trac-
tion.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires designed to provide for
safe ride and handling capa-
bility. Do not use a size and
type of tire and wheel that is
different from the one that is
originally installed on your
vehicle. It can affect the safety
and performance of your vehi-
cle, which could lead to han-
dling failure or rollover and
serious injury. When replacing
the tires, be sure to equip all
four tires with the tire and
wheel of the same size, type,
tread, brand and load-carrying
capacity.
(Continued)
OEN076053
Tread wear indicator
769
Maintenance
Interior care
G230201BUN
Interior general precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as per-
fume and cosmetic oil from contacting
the dashboard because they may cause
damage or discoloration. If they do con-
tact the dashboard, wipe them off imme-
diately. See the instructions that follow for
the proper way to clean vinyl.
G230202AUN
Cleaning the upholstery and interiortrim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl surfaces with a vinyl cleaner.
Fabric
Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean with a mild soap solution recom-
mended for upholstery or carpets.
Remove fresh spots immediately with a
fabric spot cleaner. If fresh spots do not
receive immediate attention, the fabric
can be stained and its color can be
affected. Also, its fire-resistant properties
can be reduced if the material is not
properly maintained.
G230203AUN
Cleaning the lap/shoulder belt web-bing
Clean the belt webbing with any mild
soap solution recommended for cleaning
upholstery or carpet. Follow the instruc-
tions provided with the soap. Do not
bleach or re-dye the webbing because
this may weaken it.
G230204AUN
Cleaning the interior window glass
If the interior glass surfaces of the vehi-
cle become fogged (that is, covered with
an oily, greasy or waxy film), they should
be cleaned with glass cleaner. Follow the
directions on the glass cleaner container.CAUTION
Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact withelectrical/electronic componentsinside the vehicle as this may dam-age them.
CAUTION
Using anything but recommendedcleaners and procedures may affect the fabric’s appearance and fire-resistant properties.
CAUTION
When cleaning leather products(steering wheel, seats etc.), useneutral detergents or low alcoholcontent solutions. If you use highalcohol content solutions oracid/alkaline detergents, the color of the leather may fade or the sur-face may get stripped off.
CAUTION
Do not scrape or scratch the insideof the rear window. This may resultin damage to the rear windowdefroster grid.
Index
2I
Air bags-advanced supplemental restraint system ········3-36Air bag warning label ··················\
··················\
··············3-62
Air bag warning light ··················\
··················\
··············3-59
Curtain air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······3-50
Driver's and passenger's front air bag··········\
················3-45
Occupant classification system ··················\
·················3-40\
Side impact air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
3-49
Air cleaner ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············7-22
All wheel drive (AWD)··················\
··················\
··············5-16
Appearance care··················\
··················\
··················\
·······7-64 Exterior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········7-64
Interior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········7-69
Audio system ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-102 Antenna··················\
··················\
··················\
················4-102
Steering wheel audio control ··················\
··················\
·4-102
Automatic climate control system ··················\
···············4-76 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
····4-82
Automatic heating and air conditioning ··················\
····4-77
Manual heating and air conditioning··················\
·········4-67
Automatic transaxle ··················\
··················\
··················\
·5-10 Ignition key interlock system ··················\
··················\
··5-12
Shift lock system ··················\
··················\
··················\
···5-13
Sports mode ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········5-14 Battery··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
····7-29
Before driving ··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-3
Brake system··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-23
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ··················\
·················5-26\
Downhill brake system (DBC) ··················\
·················5-31\
Electronic stability control (ESC) ··················\
············5-28
Parking brake··················\
··················\
··················\
········5-24
Power brakes ··················\
··················\
··················\
········5-23
Brake fluid ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············7-18
Bulb wattage ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············8-2
California Perchlorate Notice ··················\
··················\
··· 7-73
Child restraint system ··················\
··················\
················3-28 Placing a passenger seat belt intothe auto lock mode ··················\
··················\
················3-30
Securing a child restraint seat with tether anchor system··················\
··················\
··············3-32
Securing a child restraint seat with child seat lower anchor system ··················\
···············3-34
Climate control air filter ··················\
··················\
············7-24
Consumer information ··················\
··················\
·················8-9
Cruise control system ··················\
··················\
················5-34
AB
C
Index
6I
Lumbar support ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······3-6
Rear seat adjustment··················\
··················\
················3-12
Seatback pocket ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····3-11
Seat warmer ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········3-10
Special driving conditions ··················\
··················\
·········5-40 Driving at night ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····5-41
Driving in flooded areas ··················\
··················\
··········5-42
Driving in the rain ··················\
··················\
··················\
·5-42
Hazardous driving conditions ··················\
··················\
··5-40
Highway driving ··················\
··················\
··················\
····5-43
Rocking the vehicle ··················\
··················\
·················5-40\
Smooth cornering ··················\
··················\
··················\
··5-41
Starting the engine ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····5-6
Steering wheel ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-26 Horn ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·····4-27
Power steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-26
Tilt steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
············4-26
Storage compartment ··················\
··················\
·················4-89\
Center console storage·············\
··················\
··················\
4-89
Glove box ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············4-89
Multi box ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············4-90
Luggage box ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-91
Sunglass holder··················\
··················\
··················\
······4-90
Sunroof··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-22 Tailgate··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-11
Theft-alarm system ··················\
··················\
··················\
····4-5
Tires pressure monitoring system (TPMS)··················\
····6-7
Changing a tire with TPMS··················\
··················\
·····6-10
Low tire pressure telltale ··················\
··················\
···········6-8
TPMS (Tire pressure monitoring system) malfunction indicator ··················\
··················\
··············6-9
Tire specification and pressure label ··················\
·············8-8
Tires and wheels ··················\
··················\
·················7-32\
, 8-3 All season tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
······7-43
Checking tire inflation pressure ··················\
················7-34
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
················7-36
Radial-ply tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
······7-44
Recommended cold tire inflation pressures ················7-32
Snow tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············7-43
Summer tires··················\
··················\
··················\
··········7-43
Tire care ··················\
··················\
··················\
·················7-32\
Tire chains ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············7-44
Tire maintenance ··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-38
Tire replacement ··················\
··················\
··················\
····7-36
Tire rotation ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········7-35
Tire sidewall labeling ··················\
··················\
··············7-38
Tire terminology and definitions ··················\
···············7-41
Tire traction ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········7-38
Wheel alignment and tire balance ··················\
·············7-36
Wheel replacement ··················\
··················\
··················\
7-36T