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uuWhen DrivinguAutomatic Transmission
Driving
Automatic Transmission
The engine runs at a higher idle speed and creeping increases.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress
the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.■Creeping
■Kickdown
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uuWhen DrivinguShifting
244
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from (D to (R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
If the transmission indicator
(D blinks when driving,
in any shift position, there is a problem with the
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer's red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is depressed while the shift lever release
button is pressed.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and press the
shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.
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uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
Driving
Cruise Control
Maintains a constant vehicle speed without having to keep your foot on the
accelerator pedal. Use cruise control on freeways or open roads where you can
travel at a constant speed with little acceleration or deceleration.1Cruise Control
It may not be possible to maintain a constant speed
when driving uphill or downhill.
When not using cruise control:
Turn off cruise control by pressing the CRUISE
button.
While in the ECON mode, it may take relatively more
time to accelerate to maintain the set speed.
3WARNINGImproper use of the cruise control can lead
to a crash.
Use the cruise control only when traveling
on open highways in good weather.
■Shift positions for cruise control:
In (D or (d
When to use
Always keep sufficient distance
between you and the vehicle in
front of you.■Vehicle speed for cruise control:
Desired speed in a range above
roughly 25 mph (40 km/h) ~
How to use
CRUISE MAIN is on in the
instrument panel.
Cruise control is ready to use.■Press the CRUISE button on
the steering wheel.
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uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
Continued
Driving
Take your foot off the pedal and press the −/SET button when you reach the desired
speed.
The moment you release the −/SET button, the set speed is fixed, and cruise control
begins. The CRUISE CONTROL indicator comes on.
■To Set the Vehicle Speed
−/SET Button
On when cruise control begins
Press and release OnOn
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uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
248
Driving
Increase or decrease the vehicle speed using the RES/+ or −/SET buttons on the
steering wheel.
•Each time you press the button, the vehicle speed is increased or decreased by
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
•If you keep the button pressed, the vehicle speed increases or decreases until you
release it. This speed is then set.
To cancel cruise control, do any of the
following:
•Press the CANCEL button.
•Press the CRUISE button.
•Depress the brake pedal.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator goes off.■To Adjust the Vehicle Speed1To Adjust the Vehicle Speed
You can set the vehicle speed using the −/SET button
on the steering wheel when adjusting the speed with
the accelerator and brake pedals.
■To Cancel
To decrease speed
To increase speed
1To Cancel
Resuming the prior set speed:
After cruise control has been canceled, you can still
resume the prior set speed by pressing the RES/+
button while driving at a speed of at least 25 mph (40
km/h) or more.
You cannot set or resume in the following situations:
•When vehicle speed is less than 25 mph (40 km/h)•When the CRUISE button is turned off
At vehicle speeds of 22 mph (35 km/h) or less, cruise
control is canceled automatically.
CRUISE
Button
CANCEL
Button
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uuWhen DrivinguVSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Continued
Driving
VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less than
what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces. It does
so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA® Operation
1VSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
The VSA® may not function properly if tire types and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
types of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA® System
Indicator
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256
uuBrakinguABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.“
■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
1ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:
•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.
•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
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uuMaintenance Minder™uTo Use Maintenance MinderTM
Maintenance
■Maintenance Service Items1Maintenance Service Items•Independent of the Maintenance Minder
information, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.
•Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000
km).
•Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3 if
they are noisy.
Maintenance Minder
Message System Message
Indicator
Sub Items Main
Item
*1: If a message SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the
engine oil every year.
# : See information on maintenance and emissions warranty.
CODEMaintenance Main Items
A●Replace engine oil*1B●Replace engine oil*1 and oil filter●Inspect front and rear brakes●Check parking brake adjustment●Inspect tie rod ends, steering gearbox, and boots●Inspect suspension components●Inspect driveshaft boots●Inspect brake hoses and lines (Including ABS/VSA)●Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids●Inspect exhaust system#●Inspect fuel lines and connections#*2: If you drive in dusty conditions, replace the air cleaner element every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
*3: If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace the dust and pollen filter every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
*4: If you tow your vehicle behind a motorhome, the transmission fluid must be changed every 2 years or
30,000 miles (48,000 km), whichever comes first.
CODEMaintenance Sub Items
1●Rotate tires2●Replace air cleaner element*2●Replace dust and pollen filter*3●Inspect drive belt
3●Replace transmission fluid*44●Replace spark plugs●Inspect valve clearance
5●Replace engine coolant6●Replace rear differential fluid*
* Not available on all models