24-HOUR TOWING ASSISTANCE
• Dial toll-free 1-800-521-2779 or 1-800-363-4869 for Canadian residents.
• Provide your name, vehicle identification number and license plate
number.
• Provide your location, including telephone number, from which you are
calling.
• Briefly describe the nature of the problem and answer a few simple
questions.
• You will be given the name of the service provider and an estimated time
of arrival. If you feel you are in an “unsafe situation”, please let us know.
With your consent, we will contact local police or safety authorities.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING LIGHTS
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light
• If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” comes on
continuously with the engine running, a malfunction has been detected
in the ESC system. If this light remains on after several ignition cycles,
and the vehicle has been driven several miles (kilometers) at speeds
greater than 30 mph (48 km/h), we recommend you drive to the nearest
service center and have the vehicle serviced immediately.
• The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” starts to flash as soon
as the tires lose traction and the ESC system becomes active. If the light
begins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the accelerator and apply
as little throttle as possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving to
the prevailing road conditions. The light also flashes when TCS is active.
To improve the vehicle's traction when starting off in deep snow, sand or
gravel, it may be desirable to switch the ESC system to Partial Off mode
by momentarily pressing the ESC Off
switch.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Light
• Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly,
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
• As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should
stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. 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.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
84
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
• If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be
moved by a rocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to
clear the area around the front wheels. Then shift back and forth
between DRIVE/1st gear and REVERSE. Using minimal accelerator pedal
pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the wheels, is
most effective.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with Traction Control or Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), turn the system OFF before attempting to “rock” the
vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to transmission
overheating and failure. Allow the engine to idle with the shift lever
in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce the risk of
transmission failure during prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between DRIVE/1st gear
and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h),
or drivetrain damage may result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. It can also damage the tires.
Do not spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no
transmission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause damage, or even failure, of the axle and tires.
A tire could explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle's
wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30 seconds
continuously without stopping when you are stuck and do not let
anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
97
