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.
116 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is
dangerous. Part of the brake system may have failed.
It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have
a collision. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), are also equipped with Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD). In the event of an EBD failure, the
Brake Warning Light will turn on along with the ABS
Light. Immediate repair to the ABS system is required.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be checked by
turning the ignition switch from the OFF position to the
ON/RUN position. The light should illuminate for ap-
proximately two seconds. The light should then turn off
unless the parking brake is applied or a brake fault is
detected. If the light does not illuminate, have the light
inspected by an authorized dealer.
The light also will turn on when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switch in the ON/RUN position.
NOTE: This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
14. Fuel Gauge/Fuel Door Reminder
The fuel pump symbol points to the side of the vehicle
where the fuel door is located. The pointer shows the
level of fuel in the fuel tank when the ignition switch is in
the ON/RUN position.
15. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and in-
flated 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 deter-
mine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 301
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 to
maintain 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
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS
to continue to function properly.
302 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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.
16. Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display/Odometer Display
The odometer display shows the total distance the ve-
hicle has been driven. U.S. Federal regulations require that upon transfer of
vehicle ownership, the seller certify to the purchaser the
correct mileage that the vehicle has been driven. If your
odometer needs to be repaired or serviced, the repair
technician should leave the odometer reading the same
as it was before the repair or service. If s/he cannot do so,
then the odometer must be set at zero, and a sticker must
be placed in the door jamb stating what the mileage was
before the repair or service. It is a good idea for you to
make a record of the odometer reading before the repair/
service, so that you can be sure that it is properly reset, or
that the door jamb sticker is accurate if the odometer
must be reset at zero.
When the appropriate conditions exist, this display
shows the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
messages. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter” of your owners manual for more information.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 303
through the information sub-menus and press the OK
button to select or reset the following resettable sub-
menus:
Transmission Temperature – Automatic Transmission
Only
Oil Temp
Oil Pressure
Oil Life
Multimeter
Engine Hours
Tire Pressure
Press and release the UP or DOWN arrow button until
“Tire Pressure” is highlighted in the EVIC.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, “Inflate Tire To
XX” is displayed with the vehicle ICON and the tire
pressure values in each corner of the ICON with the
pressure value of the low tire displayed in a different
color than the other tire pressure value.
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 LEFT arrow button to return
to the main menu.
Refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)”
under “Starting and Operating” for further information.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 319
DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............412
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................412
POWER STEERING .....................414
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY — IF EQUIPPED. . .415
PARKING BRAKE ..................... .415
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .418
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............418
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............419
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............419
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........420
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........421
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light ............426
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ..............427
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............428
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .428
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........431
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........433
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........434
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........438
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .438
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................440
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .441
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .441
▫ Tire Types .......................... .442
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped .............443
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ...............444
388 STARTING AND OPERATING
▫Tire Spinning ....................... .447
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................447
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .448
▫ Replacement Tires .....................448
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....450
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . . .451
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ...........454
▫ Tire Pressure Monitoring Low Pressure
Warnings .......................... .455
▫ General Information ...................459
FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................459
▫ 6.4L Engine ......................... .459
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................460 ▫
Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............460
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......461
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................461
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................462
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................462
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............463
ADDING FUEL ....................... .464
▫ Emergency Fuel Filler Door Release .........466
VEHICLE LOADING ....................467
▫ Certification Label ....................467
TRAILER TOWING .....................470
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............470
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ...............4735
STARTING AND OPERATING 389
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road condi-
tions, and driving conditions, influence the chance
that wheel lift or rollover may occur. ERM cannot
prevent all wheel lift or rollovers, especially those
that involve leaving the roadway or striking objects
or other vehicles. The capabilities of an ERM-
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner, which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC cor-
rects for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle
by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist
in counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition.Engine power may also be reduced to help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the vehicle
path intended by the driver and compares it to the actual
path of the vehicle. When the actual path does not match
the intended path, ESC applies the brake of the appro-
priate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer or
understeer condition.
•
Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
• Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” lo-
cated in the instrument cluster will start to flash as soon
as the tires lose traction and the ESC system becomes
active. The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” also flashes when the TCS is active. If the “ESC
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 421