WARNING!(Continued)
•Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the
driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. Ob-
jects can become trapped under the brake pedal
and accelerator pedal causing a loss of vehicle
control.
• If required, mounting posts must be properly in-
stalled, if not equipped from the factory.
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or
mounting can cause interference with the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal operation causing loss of
control of the vehicle.
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. 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 overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid (if
equipped), or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
104 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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 deter-
mine 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 illumi-
nates, 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.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility tomaintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level 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
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of replacement 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
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 305
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
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion 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 vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
8. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is part of
an onboard diagnostic system, called OBD, that monitors engine and automatic transmission control sys-
tems. 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 OFF to ON/
RUN, have the condition checked promptly.
Certain conditions, such as poor fuel quality, etc., may
illuminate the MIL after engine start. The vehicle should
be serviced if the light stays on through several of your
typical driving cycles. In most situations, the vehicle will
drive normally and will not require towing.
CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) on could cause damage to the engine
control system. It also could affect fuel economy and
driveability. If the MIL is flashing, severe catalytic
converter damage and power loss will soon occur.
Immediate service is required.
306 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Tire PSI
Press and release the UP or DOWN button untilTire PSI
is highlighted in the EVIC. Press and release the SELECT
button and one of the following will be displayed:
• If tire pressure is OK for all tires a vehicle ICON is
displayed with tire pressure values in each corner of
the ICON.
• If one or more tires have low pressure, Tire Pressure
LOW is displayed with the vehicle ICON and the tire
pressure values in each corner of the ICON.
• If the Tire Pressure system requires service, Service
Tire Pressure System is displayed.
Tire PSI is an information only function and cannot be
reset. Press and release the BACK button to return to the
main menu.
SRT
WARNING!
Measurement of vehicle statistics with the perfor-
mance pages is intended for off-highway or off-road
use only and should not be done on any public
roadways. It is recommended that these features be
used in a controlled environment and within the
limits of the law. The capabilities of the vehicle as
measured by the performance pages must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner which
can jeopardize the users safety or the safety of others.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents.
328 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
▫Traction ........................... .393
DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............394
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................394
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................394
POWER STEERING .....................396
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............396
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY — IF EQUIPPED. . .397
PARKING BRAKE ..................... .397
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM .............400
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .402
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............402
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............402
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............403 ▫
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........404
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................407
▫ Ready Alert Braking ...................409
▫ Rain Brake Support ....................409
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light ................410
▫ Synchronizing ESC .....................411
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............412
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .412
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........415
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........417
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........418
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........423
368 STARTING AND OPERATING
▫Tire Pressure ....................... .423
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................424
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .426
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .426
▫ Tire Types .......................... .427
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped .............428
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ...............429
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .431
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................431
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .432
▫ Replacement Tires .....................433
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......434
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....436▫
Tire Rotation ........................ .436
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .437
▫ Premium System ..................... .440
▫ General Information ...................444
FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................445
▫ 6.4L Engine ......................... .445
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................445
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............446
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......446
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................447
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................447
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................448
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............449
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 369
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the rear (driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear
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 known as hydroplaning and may causepartial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions 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 tires when tread wear indicators first become visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated.
5. Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate,
the amount of wheel slip across a given axle for im-
proved handling.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 393
WARNING!
•The ABS contains sophisticated electronic equip-
ment that may be susceptible to interference
caused by improperly installed or high output
radio transmitting equipment. This interference
can cause possible loss of anti-lock braking capa-
bility. Installation of such equipment should be
performed by qualified professionals.
• Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish
their effectiveness and may lead to a collision.
Pumping makes the stopping distance longer. Just
press firmly on your brake pedal when you need to
slow down or stop.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of phys-
ics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded
by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or
the traction afforded.
• The ABS cannot prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
• The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner that could jeopardize the user’s safety or
the safety of others.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be the same size and
type and tires must be properly inflated to produce
accurate signals for the computer.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 401