Periodic Safety Checks You
Should Make Outside The
Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear
and uneven wear patterns. Check for
stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. In-
spect the tread for cuts and cracks.
Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and
bulges. Check the wheel nuts for
tightness. Check the tires (including
spare) for proper cold inflation pres-
sure.Lights
Have someone observe the operation
of exterior lights while you work the
controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instru-
ment panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching,
and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after over-
night parking for fuel, engine coolant,
oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gaso-
line fumes are detected or if fuel,
power steering fluid, or brake fluid
leaks are suspected, the cause should
be located and corrected immediately.
47
bel. (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 ve-
hicle 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. Ac-
cordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop
and check your tires as soon as pos-
sible, 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 effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stop-
ping 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 thelevel 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 oper-
ating properly. The TPMS malfunc-
tion indicator is combined with the
low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the tell-
tale will flash for approximately one
minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will con-
tinue upon subsequent vehicle start-
ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is il-
luminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire pres-
sure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replace-
ment 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
function properly.
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for
the original equipment tires and
wheels. TPMS pressures and warn-
ing have been established for the tire
size equipped on your vehicle. Un-
desirable system operation or sensor
damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of
the same size, type, and/or style.
Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor
damage. Do not use tire sealant from
a can or balance beads if your ve-
hicle is equipped with a TPMS, as
damage to the sensors may result.
26. Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) The Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) is part of an on-
board diagnostic system
called OBD that monitors
emissions, engine, and automatic
transmission control systems. The
light will illuminate when the key is in
the ON/RUN position before engine
start. If the bulb does not come on
when turning the key from LOCK to
ON/RUN, have the condition checked
promptly.
113
AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY
(L/100KM)
Shows the average fuel economy since
the last reset. Average Fuel Economy
can be reset by pressing and holding
the SELECT button (as prompted in
the EVIC display). Upon reset, the
history information will be erased,
and the averaging will continue from
the last fuel average reading before
the reset.
DISTANCE TO EMPTY
(DTE)
Shows the estimated distance that can
be traveled with the fuel remaining in
the tank. This estimated distance is
determined by a weighted average of
the instantaneous and average fuel
economy, according to the current
fuel tank level. DTE cannot be reset.
NOTE:
Significant changes in driving
style or vehicle loading will greatly
affect the actual drivable distance
of the vehicle, regardless of the
DTE display value.When the DTE value is less than
48 km estimated driving distance, the
DTE display will change to a text
display of "LOW FUEL”. This dis-
play will continue until the vehicle
runs out of fuel. Adding a significant
amount of fuel to the vehicle will turn
off the LOW FUEL text and a new
DTE value will display.
TIRE BAR
Press and release the MENU button
until "Tire BAR" is displayed.
Tire pressure information is displayed
as follows:
If tire pressure is OK for all tires,
TIRE and a vehicle graphic are dis-
played with tire pressure values in
each corner or the graphic.
If one or more tires have low pres- sure, LOW TIRE and a vehicle
graphic are displayed with tire
pressure values in each corner of
the graphic. Tire pressure values
that are too low will be flashing.
If the Tire Pressure System requires
service, "Check TPM System" is dis-
played. Tire BAR is an information
only function and cannot be reset.
ELAPSED TIME
Shows the total elapsed time of travel
since the last reset. Elapsed time will
increment when the ignition switch is
in the RUN or START position.
Elapsed time is displayed as follows:
hours:minutes:seconds
Elapsed time can be reset by pressing
and holding the SELECT button (as
prompted in the EVIC display). Upon
reset all digits will change to zeros and
time will start incrementing again if
the ignition switch is in RUN or
START.
DISPLAY UNITS IN
Displays the units used for the Out-
side Temperature, Average Fuel
Economy, Distance to Empty and Tire
Pressure features. Press and Release
the SELECT button to toggle units
between "U.S." and "METRIC".
120
SHALLOW STANDING WATER . . . . . . . . . . . 143
POWER STEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 POWER STEERING FLUID CHECK . . . . . . . . 144
PARKING BRAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) . . . . . . . . . 146
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . . 147 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) . . . . . . . 147
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) . . . . . . 148
BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . 148
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) . . 149
ESC ACTIVATION/MALFUNCTIONINDICATOR LIGHT AND ESC OFF
INDICATOR LIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . 151 TIRE PRESSURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES . . . . . . . . . . . 151
RADIAL-PLY TIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
TIRE SPINNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
LIFE OF TIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
REPLACEMENT TIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
TIRE CHAINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . 155
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . . 155 PREMIUM SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
FUEL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
132
The transmission will automati-cally shift up when maximum en-
gine speed is reached while
AutoStick® is engaged.
Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when AutoStick® is en-
gaged.
If a downshift would cause the en- gine to overspeed, that shift will not
occur until it is safe for the engine.
If the system detects powertrain overheating, the transmission will
revert to the automatic shift mode
and remain in that mode until the
powertrain cools off.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY
SURFACES
ACCELERATION
Rapid acceleration on snow covered,
wet, or other slippery surfaces may
cause the driving wheels to pull errati-
cally to the right or left. This phenom-
enon occurs when there is a difference
in the surface traction under the front
(driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery sur-
faces is dangerous. Unequal traction
can cause sudden pulling of the front
wheels. You could lose control of the
vehicle and possibly have a collision.
Accelerate slowly and carefully
whenever there is likely to be poor
traction (ice, snow, wet, mud, loose
sand, etc.).
TRACTION
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
it is possible for a wedge of water to
build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and
may cause partial or complete loss of
vehicle control and stopping ability.
To reduce this possibility, the follow-
ing precautions should be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or
when the roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if the road has standing
water or puddles.
3. Replace the tires when tread wear
indicators first become visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated. 5. Maintain sufficient distance be-
tween your vehicle and the vehicle in
front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
DRIVING THROUGH
WATER
Driving through water more than a
few centimeters deep will require ex-
tra caution to ensure safety and pre-
vent damage to your vehicle.
FLOWING/RISING WATER
WARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or
path where water is flowing and/or
rising (as in storm run-off). Flowing
water can wear away the road or
path's surface and cause your
ve-
hicle to sink into deeper water. Fur-
thermore, flowing and/or rising wa-
ter can carry your vehicle away
swiftly. Failure to follow this warn-
ing may result in injuries that are
serious or fatal to you, your passen-
gers, and others around you.
142
WARNING!(Continued)
Always fully apply the parking
brake when leaving your vehicle
or it may roll and cause damage or
injury. Also, be certain to leave the
transmission in PARK. Failure to
do so may cause the vehicle to roll
and cause damage or injury.CAUTION!
If the “Brake Warning Light” re-
mains on with the parking brake
released, a brake system malfunc-
tion is indicated. Have the brake
system serviced by an authorized
dealer immediately.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM (ABS)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
provides increased vehicle stability
and brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system oper-
ates with a separate computer to
modulate the hydraulic pressure to
prevent wheel lock-up and avoid
skidding on slippery surfaces.
WARNING!
Pumping of the anti-lock brakes will diminish their effectiveness
and may lead to a collision.
Pumping makes the stopping dis-
tance longer. Just press firmly on
your brake pedal when you need
to slow down or stop.
The ABS cannot prevent the natu-
ral laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condi-
tion of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
The ABS cannot prevent colli-
sions, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of an ABS-
equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner, which could jeopar-
dize the user's safety or the safety
of others. The
“Anti-Lock Brake
Warning Light” monitors
the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem. The light will come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position and may stay on for
as long as four seconds.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” remains on or comes on while
driving, it indicates that the anti-lock
portion of the brake system is not
functioning and that service is re-
quired. However, the conventional
brake system will continue to operate
normally if the “Brake Warning
Light” is not on.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” is on, the brake system should
be serviced as soon as possible to re-
store the benefits of anti-lock brakes.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” does not come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
position, have the bulb repaired as
soon as possible.
If both the “Brake Warning Light”
and the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” remain on, the Anti-Lock
146
Brake (ABS) and Electronic Brake
Force Distribution (EBD) Systems are
not functioning. Immediate repair to
the ABS system is required. See your
authorized dealer.
When the vehicle is driven over
11 km/h, you may hear a slight click-
ing sound as well as some related mo-
tor noises. These noises are the system
performing its self-check cycle to en-
sure that the ABS system is working
properly. This self check occurs each
time the vehicle is started and accel-
erated past 11 km/h.
ABS is activated during braking un-
der certain road or stopping condi-
tions. ABS-inducing conditions can
include ice, snow, gravel, bumps, rail-
road tracks, loose debris, or panic
stops.
You also may experience the following
when the brake system goes into anti-
lock:
The ABS motor running (it maycontinue to run for a short time
after the stop),
the clicking sound of solenoid valves, brake pedal pulsations,
and a slight drop or fall away of the
brake pedal at the end of the stop.
These are all normal characteristics of
ABS.
WARNING!
The Anti-Lock Brake System con-
tains sophisticated electronic equip-
ment that may be susceptible to in-
terference caused by improperly
installed or high output radio trans-
mitting equipment. This interfer-
ence can cause possible loss of anti-
lock braking capability. Installation
of such equipment should be per-
formed by qualified professionals.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be
the same size and type, and tires must
be properly inflated to produce accu-
rate signals for the computer. ELECTRONIC BRAKE
CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle may be equipped with an
optional advanced electronic brake
control system that includes Anti-
Lock Brake System (ABS), Traction
Control System (TCS), Brake Assist
System (BAS), and Electronic Stabil-
ity Control (ESC). All systems work
together to enhance vehicle stability
and control in various driving condi-
tions and are commonly referred to as
ESC.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM (ABS)
This system aids the driver in main-
taining vehicle control under adverse
braking conditions. The system con-
trols hydraulic brake pressure to pre-
vent wheel lock-up and help avoid
skidding on slippery surfaces during
braking. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System” in “Starting and Operating”
for further information.
147
TRACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of
wheel spin of each of the driven
wheels. If wheel spin is detected,
brake pressure is applied to the slip-
ping wheel(s) and engine power is
reduced to provide enhanced accel-
eration and stability. A feature of the
TCS system functions similar to a lim-
ited slip differential and controls the
wheel spin across a driven axle. If one
wheel on a driven axle is spinning
faster than the other, the system will
apply the brake of the spinning wheel.
This will allow more engine torque to
be applied to the wheel that is not
spinning. This feature remains active
even if TCS and ESC are in the “Par-
tial Off” mode. Refer to “Electronic
Stability Control (ESC)” in this sec-
tion of this manual.BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM
(BAS)
The BAS is designed to optimize the
vehicle’s braking capability during
emergency braking maneuvers. The
system detects an emergency braking
situation by sensing the rate and
amount of brake application and then
applies optimum pressure to the
brakes. This can help reduce braking
distances. The BAS complements the
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS). Ap-
plying the brakes very quickly results
in the best BAS assistance. To receive
the benefit of the system, you must
apply continuous braking pressure
during the stopping sequence. Do not
reduce brake pedal pressure unless
braking is no longer desired. Once the
brake pedal is released, the BAS is
deactivated.
WARNING!
The BAS cannot prevent the natu-
ral laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the ve-
hicle brakes and tires or the trac-
tion afforded.
The BAS cannot prevent colli-
sions, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely,
or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of a BAS-
equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner, which could jeopar-
dize the user’s safety or the safety
of others.
148