Periodic Safety Checks You
Should Make Outside The
Vehicle
TiresExamine tires for excessive tread wear
and uneven wear patterns. Check for
stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect
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 pressure.Lights
Have someone observe the operation
of brake lights and exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check
turn signal and high beam indicator
lights on the instrument 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 (2500/3500), or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the
cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
50
25. Tire Pressure Monitoring Tell-
tale LightEach tire, including the
spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the in-
flation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure la-
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 mainte-
nance, and it is the driver’s responsi-
bility to maintain correct tire pres-
sure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumina-
tion 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 malfunctionsmay 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.
Undesirable system operation or
sensor damage may result when us-
ing replacement equipment that is
not of the same size, type, and/or
style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use tire seal-
ant from a can or balance beads if
your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors
may result.
117
POWER STEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 POWER STEERING FLUID CHECK . . . . . . . . .153
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . . .153
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) . . . . . . . . .154
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) . . . . . . .154
BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . .154
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) . .154
ESC ACTIVATION/MALFUNCTION INDICATORLIGHT AND ESC OFF INDICATOR LIGHT . . . .156
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . .157
TIRE PRESSURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES . . . . . . . . . . . .157
RADIAL-PLY TIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
TIRE SPINNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
LIFE OF TIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
REPLACEMENT TIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
TIRE CHAINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . .161
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .161
PREMIUM SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
FUEL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
METHANOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
ETHANOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
CLEAN AIR GASOLINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
MMT IN GASOLINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
MATERIALS ADDED TO FUEL . . . . . . . . . . . .166
138
TIRES — GENERAL
INFORMATION
TIRE PRESSURE
Proper tire inflation pressure is essen-
tial to the safe and satisfactory opera-
tion of your vehicle. Three primary
areas are affected by improper tire
pressure:
SafetyWARNING!
Improperly inflated tires are dan-gerous and can cause collisions.
Under-inflation increases tire
flexing and can result in over-
heating and tire failure.
Over-inflation reduces a tire's ability to cushion shock. Objects
on the road and chuckholes can
cause damage that result in tire
failure.
Over-inflated or under-inflated
tires can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems. You could lose
control of your vehicle.
Unequal tire pressures from one side of the vehicle to the other can
cause the vehicle to drift to the
right or left.
Always drive with each tire in- flated to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure.
Economy
Improper inflation pressures can
cause uneven wear patterns to de-
velop across the tire tread. These ab-
normal wear patterns will reduce
tread life resulting in a need for earlier
tire replacement. Under-inflation also
increases tire rolling resistance result-
ing in higher fuel consumption.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle
Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Over-inflation pro-
duces a jarring and uncomfortable
ride. TIRE INFLATION
PRESSURES
The proper cold tire inflation pressure
is listed on the driver's side B-Pillar or
rear edge of the driver's side door.
Some vehicles may have Supplemen-
tal Tire Pressure Information for ve-
hicle loads that are less than the maxi-
mum loaded vehicle condition. These
pressure conditions will be found in
the “Supplemental Tire Pressure In-
formation” section of this manual.
The pressure should be checked and
adjusted as well as inspecting for signs
of tire wear or visible damage at least
once a month. Use a good quality
pocket-type gauge to check tire pres-
sure. Do not make a visual judgement
when determining proper inflation.
Radial tires may look properly in-
flated even when they are under-
inflated.
157
CAUTION!
After inspecting or adjusting the
tire pressure, always reinstall the
valve stem cap. This will prevent
moisture and dirt from entering the
valve stem, which could damage
the valve stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always “cold tire inflation
pressure.” Cold tire inflation pressure
is defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than
1.6 km after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire sidewall.
Check tire pressures more often if
subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary
with temperature changes.
Tire pressures change by approxi-
mately 7 kPa per 7°C of air tempera-
ture change. Keep this in mind when
checking tire pressure inside a garage,
especially in the winter. Example: If garage temperature =
20°C and the outside temperature =
0°C then the cold tire inflation pres-
sure should be increased by 21 kPa,
which equals 7 kPa for every 7°C for
this outside temperature condition.
Tire pressure may increase from 13 to
40 kPa during operation. DO NOT
reduce this normal pressure build up
or your tire pressure will be too low.
Tire Pressures For High Speed
Operation
The manufacturer advocates driving
at safe speeds within posted speed
limits. Where speed limits or condi-
tions are such that the vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, maintaining
correct tire inflation pressure is very
important. Increased tire pressure
and reduced vehicle loading may be
required for high-speed vehicle op-
eration. Refer to original equipment
or an authorized tire dealer for recom-
mended safe operating speeds, load-
ing and cold tire inflation pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your ve-
hicle under maximum load is dan-
gerous. The added strain on your
tires could cause them to fail. You
could have a serious collision. Do
not drive a vehicle loaded to the
maximum capacity at continuous
speeds above 120 km/h.
RADIAL-PLY TIRESWARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with
other types of tires on your vehicle
will cause your vehicle to handle
poorly. The instability could cause
a collision. Always use radial ply
tires in sets of four. Never combine
them with other types of tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are
repairable only in the tread area be-
cause of sidewall flexing. Consult
your authorized tire dealer for radial
tire repairs.
158
REPLACEMENT TIRES
The tires on your new vehicle provide
a balance of many characteristics.
They should be inspected regularly
for wear and correct cold tire inflation
pressure. The manufacturer strongly
recommends that you use tires
equivalent to the originals in size,
quality and performance when re-
placement is needed (refer to the
paragraph on “Tread Wear Indica-
tors”). Refer to the “Tire and Loading
Information” placard for the size des-
ignation of your tire. The Load Index
and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on registration Document/log
book.
It is recommended to replace the two
front tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you
ever replace a wheel, make sure that
the wheel’s specifications match those
of the original wheels.It is recommended you contact your
original equipment or an authorized
tire dealer with any questions you
may have on tire specifications or ca-
pability. Failure to use equivalent re-
placement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not use a tire, wheel size or
rating other than that specified for
your vehicle. Some combinations
of unapproved tires and wheels
may change suspension dimen-
sions and performance character-
istics, resulting in changes to
steering, handling, and braking of
your vehicle. This can cause un-
predictable handling and stress to
steering and suspension compo-
nents. You could lose control and
have a collision resulting in serious
injury or death. Use only the tire
and wheel sizes with load ratings
approved for your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!
(Continued)
Never use a tire with a smaller load
index or capacity, other than what
was originally equipped on your ve-
hicle. Using a tire with a smaller
load index could result in tire over-
loading and failure. You could lose
control and have a collision.Failure to equip your vehicle with
tires having adequate speed capa-
bility can result in sudden tire fail-
ure and loss of vehicle control.CAUTION!Replacing original tires with tires of a
different size may result in false
speedometer and odometer readings.TIRE CHAINSUse of Security Chain Company (SCC)
Super Z6 low profile (P/N SZ-139) or
equivalent are recommended on 215/55
R18 95H tires with 18 x 7.0 wheels,
40 mm offset.
160
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or
tires, observe the following precau-
tions:
Because of restricted chain clear-
ance between tires and other sus-
pension components, it is impor-
tant that only chains in good
condition are used. Broken chains
can cause serious damage. Stop
the vehicle immediately if noise
occurs that could indicate chain
breakage. Remove the damaged
parts of the chain before further
use. Do not exceed 70 km/h.
Drive cautiously and avoid severeturns and large bumps, especially
with a loaded vehicle.
Install chains on the front wheels as tightly as possible and then
retighten after driving about
0.8 km.
Do not drive for prolonged peri- ods of time on dry pavement.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Observe the tire chain manufactur-
er's instructions on the method of
installation, operating speed, and
conditions for use. Always use the
lower suggested operating speed of
the chain manufacturer, if different
from the speed recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer.
This notice applies to all chain trac-
tion devices, including link and cable
(radial) chains.
TIRE ROTATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Tires on the front and rear axles of
vehicles operate at different loads and
perform different steering, driving,
and braking functions. For these rea-
sons, they wear at unequal rates.These effects can be reduced by timely
rotation of tires. The benefits of rota-
tion are especially worthwhile with ag-
gressive tread designs such as those on
all season type tires. Rotation will in-
crease tread life, help to maintain mud,
snow, and wet traction levels, and con-
tribute to a smooth, quiet ride.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to ro-
tation being performed.
TIRE PRESSURE
MONITOR SYSTEM
(TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) will warn the driver of a low
tire pressure based on the vehicle rec-
ommended cold placard pressure.
The tire pressure will vary with tem-
perature by about 7 kPa for every
7°C. This means that when the out-
side temperature decreases, the tire
pressure will decrease. Tire pressure
should always be set based on cold
inflation tire pressure. This is defined
as the tire pressure after the vehicle
has not been driven for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1.6 km after
a three hour period. The cold tire in-
flation pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded
into the tire sidewall. Refer to “Tires –
General Information” in “Starting
161
NOTE:
The TPMS is not intended to re-
place normal tire care and main-
tenance, or to provide warning of
a tire failure or condition. The TPMS should not be used asa tire pressure gauge while ad-
justing your tire pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire fail-
ure. Under-inflation also reduces
fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s han-
dling and stopping ability.The TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is
the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure us-
ing an accurate tire pressure
gauge, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger il-
lumination of the “Tire Pressure
Monitoring Telltale Light.” Seasonal temperature changes will affect tire pressure, and the
TPMS will monitor the actual
tire pressure in the tire. PREMIUM SYSTEM
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses wireless technology with
wheel rim mounted electronic sensors
to monitor tire pressure levels. Sen-
sors, mounted to each wheel as part of
the valve stem, transmit tire pressure
readings to the Receiver Module.
NOTE: It is particularly impor-
tant for you to check the tire pres-
sure in all of the tires on your ve-
hicle monthly and to maintain the
proper pressure.
The TPMS consists of the following
components:
1. Receiver Module
2. Four Tire Pressure Monitoring
Sensors
3. Three Trigger Modules (mounted
in three of the four wheel-wells)
4. Various Tire Pressure Monitoring
System Messages, which display in
the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)
5.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale
Light
Tire Pressure Monitoring Low
Pressure Warnings
The “Tire Pressure Monitoring
Telltale Light” will illuminate
in the instrument cluster and a
chime will sound when tire pressure is
low in one or more of the four active
road tires. In addition, the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
will display a “Inflate Tire to XX”
message for a minimum of five sec-
onds and a graphic showing the pres-
sure values of each tire with the low
tire pressure values flashing. The rec-
ommended cold placard pressure in-
flation value is the pressure value dis-
played in the “Inflate Tire to XX”
message displayed in the EVIC.
Should this occur, you should stop as
soon as possible, and inflate all tires
with low pressure (those flashing in
the EVIC graphic) to the vehicle’s rec-
ommended cold placard pressure
value. Once the system receives the
updated tire pressures, the system will
automatically update, the “Inflate
Tire to XX” message will no longer be
displayed, the graphic display in the
EVIC will stop flashing, and the “Tire
163