KEY IGNITION PARK
INTERLOCK
This vehicle is equipped with a Key
Ignition Park Interlock which re-
quires the transmission to be in PARK
before the ignition switch can be
turned to the LOCK position. The key
fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the
LOCK position, and the transmission
is locked in PARK whenever the igni-
tion switch is in the LOCK position.
NOTE: If a malfunction occurs,
the system will trap the key fob in
the ignition switch to warn you
that this safety feature is inoper-
able. The engine can be started
and stopped but the key fob cannot
be removed until you obtain ser-
vice.
BRAKE/TRANSMISSION
SHIFT INTERLOCK
SYSTEM
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake
Transmission Shift Interlock System
(BTSI) that holds the shift lever in
PARK unless the brakes are applied.To shift the transmission out of PARK,
the ignition switch must be turned to
the ON/RUN position (engine run-
ning or not) and the brake pedal must
be pressed.
SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
The transmission gear position dis-
play (located in the instrument clus-
ter) indicates the transmission gear
range. You must press the brake pedal
to move the shift lever out of PARK
(Refer to Brake/Transmission Shift
Interlock System in this section). To
drive, move the shift lever from PARK
or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled trans-
mission provides a precise shift sched-
ule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first
few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will de-
velop within a few hundred kilome-
ters.
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or
REVERSE when the accelerator
pedal is released and the vehicle is
stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on
the brake pedal when shifting be-
tween these gears.
The transmission shift lever has only
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and
DRIVE shift positions. Manual down-
shifts can be made using the Elec-
tronic Range Select (ERS) shift con-
trol (described later in this section).
Moving the shift lever to the left or
right (–/ +) while in the DRIVE posi-
tion will select the highest available
transmission gear, and will display
that gear in the instrument cluster as
6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.Shift Lever
237
WARNING!(Continued)
When leaving the vehicle, alwaysremove the key fob and lock your
vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a ve- hicle unattended is dangerous for
a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fa-
tally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift
lever.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, (or in a location ac-
cessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition (in a vehicle
equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go™) in the ACC or ON/RUN
position A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever outof PARK, you must place the ig-
nition from the LOCK/OFF posi-
tion to the ON/RUN position, and
also press the brake pedal. Other-
wise, damage to the shift lever
could result.
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or NEU-
TRAL into another gear range, as
this can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be
used to ensure that you have engaged
the transmission into the PARK posi-
tion:
When shifting into PARK, firmly move the shift lever all the way
forward and to the left until it stops
and is fully seated.
Look at the transmission gear posi- tion display and verify that it indi-
cates the PARK position.
With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever will not move out
of PARK.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with
the engine running. The engine may
be started in this range. Apply the
parking brake and shift the transmis-
sion into PARK if you must leave the
vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and
never turn off the ignition to coast
down a hill. These are unsafe prac-
tices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions.
You might lose control of the ve-
hicle and have a collision.
239
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or
driving for any other reason with
the transmission in NEUTRAL can
cause severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in
“What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It provides
the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts
through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum
driving characteristics under all nor-
mal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting
occurs (such as when operating the
vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into
strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the ElectronicRange Select (ERS) shift control (de-
scribed below) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a
lower gear range will improve perfor-
mance and extend transmission life
by reducing excessive shifting and
heat buildup.
During cold temperatures, transmis-
sion operation may be modified de-
pending on engine and transmission
temperature as well as vehicle speed.
This feature improves warm up time
of the engine and transmission to
achieve maximum efficiency. Engage-
ment of the torque converter clutch is
inhibited until the transmission fluid
is warm (refer to the “Note” under
“Torque Converter Clutch” in this
section). During extremely cold tem-
peratures (-27°C or below), operation
may briefly be limited to third gear
only. Normal operation will resume
once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected thatcould result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion remains in third gear regardless
of which forward gear is selected.
PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL
will continue to operate. The Mal-
function Indicator Light (MIL) may
be illuminated. Limp Home Mode al-
lows the vehicle to be driven to an
authorized dealer for service without
damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem,
the transmission can be reset to regain
all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If
the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal op-
eration.
240
CAUTION!(Continued)
Driving through standing watermay cause damage to your vehi-
cle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids
(i.e., engine oil, transmission,
axle, etc.) for signs of contamina-
tion (i.e., fluid that is milky or
foamy in appearance) after driv-
ing through standing water. Do
not continue to operate the ve-
hicle if any fluid appears con-
taminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehi- cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine.
Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.
WARNING!
Driving through standing waterlimits your vehicle’s traction ca-
pabilities. Do not exceed 8 km/h
when driving through standing
water.
Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s braking ca-
pabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after
driving through standing water,
drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to
dry the brakes.
Getting water inside your vehi- cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
Failure to follow these warnings may result in injuries that are se-
rious or fatal to you, your passen-
gers, and others around you.
POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system
will give you good vehicle response
and increased ease of maneuverability in tight spaces. The system will pro-
vide mechanical steering capability if
power assist is lost.
If for some reason the power assist is
interrupted, it will still be possible to
steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions, you will observe a substantial
increase in steering effort, especially
at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
NOTE:
Increased noise levels at the end
of the steering wheel travel are
considered normal and do not
indicate that there is a problem
with the power steering system.
Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering
pump may make noise for a
short amount of time. This is due
to the cold, thick fluid in the
steering system. This noise
should be considered normal,
and it does not in any way dam-
age the steering system.
244
ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light And ESC OFF
Indicator Light
The “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator
Light” in the instrument
cluster will come on when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. It should turn off with the
engine running. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” comes on continuously with the
engine running, a malfunction has
been detected in the ESC system. If this
light remains on after several ignition
cycles, and the vehicle has been driven
several kilometers at speeds greater
than 48 km/h, see your authorized
dealer as soon as possible to have the
problem diagnosed and corrected.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” (located in the instru-
ment cluster) starts to flash as soon as
the tires lose traction and the ESC sys-
tem becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” also flashes when TCS is active. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” begins to flash during
acceleration, ease up on the accelerator
and apply as little throttle as possible.
Be sure to adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road conditions.
NOTE:
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” and the “ESC
OFF Indicator Light” come on
momentarily each time the igni-
tion switch is turned ON.
Each time the ignition is turned
ON, the ESC system will be ON
even if it was turned off
previously.
The ESC system will make buzz- ing or clicking sounds when it is
active. This is normal; the
sounds will stop when ESC be-
comes inactive following the
maneuver that caused the ESC
activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator
Light” indicates the Elec-
tronic Stability Control
(ESC) is off.
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL
(TSC)
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to
recognize an excessively swaying
trailer and will take the appropriate
actions to attempt to stop the sway.
The system may reduce engine power
and apply the brake of the appropri-
ate wheel(s) to counteract the sway of
the trailer. TSC will become active
automatically once an excessively
swaying trailer is recognized. No
driver action is required. Note that
TSC cannot stop all trailers from
swaying. Always use caution when
towing a trailer and follow the trailer
tongue weight recommendations. Re-
fer to “Trailer Towing” in this section
for further information. When TSC is
functioning, the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will
flash, the engine power may be re-
duced and you may feel the brakes
being applied to individual wheels to
attempt to stop the trailer from sway-
ing. TSC is disabled when the ESC
system is in the “Partial Off” mode.
251
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow
the vehicle down, stop at the near-
est safe location, and adjust the
trailer load to eliminate trailer
sway.
HILL START ASSIST (HSA)
The HSA system is designed to assist
the driver when starting a vehicle
from a stop on a hill. HSA will main-
tain the level of brake pressure the
driver applied for a short period of
time after the driver takes their foot
off of the brake pedal. If the driver
does not apply the throttle during this
short period of time, the system will
release brake pressure and the vehicle
will roll down the hill. The system will
release brake pressure in proportion
to the amount of throttle applied as
the vehicle starts to move in the in-
tended direction of travel.
TIRE SAFETY
INFORMATION
Tire Markings
NOTE:
P (Passenger) - Metric tire sizing
is based on U.S. design standards.
P-Metric tires have the letter “P”
molded into the sidewall preced-
ing the size designation. Ex-
ample: P215/65R15 95H.
European-Metric tire sizing isbased on European design stan-
dards. Tires designed to this
standard have the tire size
molded into the sidewall begin-
ning with the section width. The
letter "P" is absent from this tire
size designation.
Example: 215/65R15 96H.
LT (Light Truck) - Metric tire siz-
ing is based on U.S. design stan-
dards. The size designation for
LT-Metric tires is the same as for
P-Metric tires except for the let-
ters “LT” that are molded into the
sidewall preceding the size desig-
nation. Example: LT235/85R16.
1—U.S.DOT
Safety Standards
Code (TIN) 4 — Maximum
Load
2—
Size Designa-
tion5 — Maximum
Pressure
3 — Service De-
scription 6 — Treadwear,
Traction and Tem-
perature Grades
252
Towing Requirements – Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailerwhile using a compact spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential for the safe and satisfac-
tory operation of your vehicle. Re-
fer to “Tires – General Informa-
tion” in “Starting and Operating”
for proper tire inflation procedures.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pressures before
trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or vis- ible tire damage before towing a
trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Starting and Op-
erating” for the proper inspection
procedure.
When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Information” in “Start-
ing and Operating” for proper tire
replacement procedures. Replacing
tires with a higher load carrying
capacity will not increase the vehi-
cle's GVWR and GAWR limits. Towing Requirements – Trailer
Brakes
–Do
notinterconnect the hydraulic
brake system or vacuum system of
your vehicle with that of the trailer.
This could cause inadequate brak-
ing and possible personal injury.
– When towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge actuated
brake system, an electronic brake
controller is not required.
– Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 450 kg and re-
quired for trailers in excess of
750 kg.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than
450 kg loaded, it should have its
own brakes, and they should be of
adequate capacity. Failure to do
this could lead to accelerated brake
lining wear, higher brake pedal ef-
fort, and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes toyour vehicle's hydraulic brake
lines. It can overload your brake
system and cause it to fail. You
might not have brakes when you
need them and could have an ac-
cident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping distance. When
towing, you should allow for ad-
ditional space between your ve-
hicle and the vehicle in front of
you. Failure to do so could result
in an accident.
Towing Requirements – Trailer
Lights And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regard-
less of the trailer size, stop lights and
turn signals on the trailer are required
for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include
a seven-pin or a thirteen-pin wiring
harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.
NOTE: Do not cut or splice wiring
into the vehicles wiring harness.
280
9. Disconnect the positive(+)end of
the jumper cable from the positive (+)
post of the discharged vehicle.
If frequent jump-starting is required
to start your vehicle you should have
the battery and charging system in-
spected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle
power outlets draw power from the
vehicle’s battery, even when not in
use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.). Even-
tually, if plugged in long enough
without engine operation, the vehi-
cle’s battery will discharge suffi-
ciently to degrade battery life and/or
prevent the engine from starting.
FREEING A STUCK
VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud,
sand or snow, it can often be moved
using a rocking motion. Turn the steer-
ing wheel right and left to clear the area
around the front wheels. Then shift
back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE while gently pressing the
accelerator. Use the least amount of
accelerator pedal pressure that will
maintain the rocking motion, without
spinning the wheels or racing the en-
gine.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the
wheels may lead to transmission
overheating and failure. Allow the
engine to idle with the transmission
in NEUTRAL for at least one minute
after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheat-
ing and reduce the risk of transmis-
sion failure during prolonged efforts
to free a stuck vehicle.
NOTE:Press the "ESC Off" switch,
to place the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system in "Partial Off"
mode before rocking the vehicle. Re-
fer to “Electronic Brake Control Sys-
tem” in “Starting and Operating” for
further information. Once the ve-
hicle has been freed, press the "ESC
Off" switch again to restore "ESC
On" mode.
CAUTION!
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting between DRIVE and
REVERSE, do not spin the
wheels faster than 24 km/h, or
drivetrain damage may result.
Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may lead to
transmission overheating and
failure. It can also damage the
tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 48 km/h while in gear (no
transmission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be danger-
ous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A
tire could explode and injure some-
one. Do not spin your vehicle's
wheels faster than 48 km/h or for
longer than 30 seconds continu-
ously without stopping when you
are stuck and do not let anyone
near a spinning wheel, no matter
what the speed.
298