•Each time the ignition is turned ON, the
ESC system will be ON even if it was
turned off previously.
• The ESC system will make buzzing or
clicking sounds when it is active. This is
normal; the sounds will stop when ESC
becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator Light” in-
dicates the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) is off.
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION
Tire Pressure
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential to the
safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle.
Three primary areas are affected by improper
tire pressure: Safety
WARNING!
•
Improperly inflated tires are dangerous and
can cause accidents.
• Under-inflation increases tire flexing and
can result in tire failure.
• Over-inflation reduces a tire’s ability to
cushion shock. Objects on the road and
chuck holes can cause damage that results
in tire failure.
• Unequal tire pressures can cause steering
problems. You could lose control of your
vehicle.
• Over-inflated or under-inflated tires can af-
fect vehicle handling and can fail suddenly,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Always drive with each tire inflated to the
recommended pressure. Economy
Improper inflation pressures can cause uneven
wear patterns to develop across the tire tread.
These abnormal wear patterns will reduce
tread life resulting in a need for earlier tire
replacement. Under-inflation also increases tire
rolling resistance and results in higher fuel
consumption.
Ride Comfort and Vehicle Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a comfortable
ride. Over-inflation produces a jarring and un-
comfortable ride. Both under-inflation and over-
inflation affect the stability of the vehicle and
can produce a feeling of sluggish response or
over responsiveness in the steering.
Unequal tire pressures can cause erratic and
unpredictable steering response.
Unequal tire pressure from side to side may
cause the vehicle to drift left or right.
252
Poor quality gasoline can cause problems such
as hard starting, stalling and stumble. If you
experience these problems, try another brand
of gasoline before considering service for the
vehicle.
Methanol
(Methyl or Wood Alcohol) is used in a variety of
concentrations when blended with unleaded
gasoline. You may find fuels containing 3% or
more Methanol along with other alcohols called
cosolvents. Problems that result from using
Methanol/gasoline or E-85 Ethanol blends are
not the responsibility of the manufacturer. While
MTBE is an oxygenate made from Methanol, it
does not have the negative effects of Methanol.
CAUTION!
Do not use gasolines containing Methanol or
E-85 Ethanol. Use of these blends may result
in starting and driveability problems and may
damage critical fuel system components.Ethanol
The manufacturer recommends that your ve-
hicle be operated on fuel containing no more
than 10% Ethanol. Purchasing your fuel from a
reputable supplier may reduce the risk of ex-
ceeding this 10% limit and/or of receiving fuel
with abnormal properties. It should also be
noted that an increase in fuel consumption
should be expected when using Ethanol-
blended fuels, due to the lower energy content
of Ethanol.
Problems that result from using Methanol/
gasoline or E-85 Ethanol blends are not the
responsibility of the manufacturer. While MTBE
is an oxygenate made from Methanol, it does
not have the negative effects of Methanol.CAUTION!
Use of fuel with Ethanol content higher than
10% may result in engine malfunction, starting
and operating difficulties and materials degra-
dation. These adverse effects could result in
permanent damage to your vehicle.Clean Air Gasoline
Many gasolines are now being blended that
contribute to cleaner air, especially in those
areas where air pollution levels are high. These
new blends provide a cleaner burning fuel and
some are referred to as “reformulated gaso-
line.”
The manufacturer supports these efforts toward
cleaner air. You can help by using these blends
as they become available.
MMT in Gasoline
MMT is a manganese containing metallic addi-
tive that is blended into some gasoline to
increase octane. Gasoline blended with MMT
provides no performance advantage beyond
gasoline of the same octane number without
MMT. Gasoline blended with MMT reduces
spark plug life and reduces emission system
performance in some vehicles. The manufac-
turer recommends that gasoline without MMT
be used in your vehicle. The MMT content of
gasoline may not be indicated on the gasoline
pump; therefore, you should ask your gasoline
retailer whether or not his/her gasoline contains
MMT.
263