WARNING!
• When temperatures are below the freezing point, electrolyte in a discharged battery mayfreeze. Do not attempt jump-starting because the battery could rupture or explode and
cause personal injury. Battery temperature must be brought above the freezing point
before attempting a jump-start.
• Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan whenever the hood is raised. It can start anytime the ignition switch is on. You can be injured by moving fan blades.
• Remove any metal jewelry, such as watch bands or bracelets, that might make an inadver-
tent electrical contact. You could be severely injured.
• Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn your skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas
which is flammable and explosive. Keep open flames or sparks away from the battery.
• Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could establish a ground connection and
personal injury could result.
• Failure to follow this procedure could result in personal injury or property damage due to
battery explosion.
• Do not connect the cable to the negative post (-) of the discharged battery. The resulting electrical spark could cause the battery to explode and could result in personal injury.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved by a rocking motion.
Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE and DRIVE. Using minimal accelerator pedal pressure to maintain
the rocking motion, without spinning the wheels, is most effective.
NOTE:
• Shifts between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be achieved at wheel speeds of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or less. Whenever the transmission remains in NEUTRAL for more than 2 seconds,
you must press the brake pedal to engage DRIVE or REVERSE.
• To improve the vehicle's traction when starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel, it may be desirable to switch the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to “Partial Off ” mode by momen-
tarily pressing the ESC Off
switch. For further information on ESC, refer to the Owner's
Manual on the DVD.
CAUTION!
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting between REVERSE and DRIVE, do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (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 30 mph (48 km/h)
while in gear (no transmission shifting occurring).
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178
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive wheel speeds may cause
tire damage or failure. A tire could explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle's
wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) when you are stuck. Do not let anyone near a spinning
wheel, no matter what the speed.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
In order to move the vehicle in cases where the transmission will not shift out of PARK (such as a
dead battery), a Manual Park Release is available.
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying the parking brake, before activating the Manual
Park Release. Activating the Manual Park Release will allow your vehicle to roll away if it is not
secured by the parking brake or by proper connection to a tow vehicle. Activating the Manual
Park Release on an unsecured vehicle could lead to serious injury or death for those in or
around the vehicle.
Follow these steps to activate the Manual Park Release:
1. Apply the parking brake.
Manual Park Release Location
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179
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic oil change indicator system. The oil change indicator
system will remind you that it is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil change indicator message will illuminate. This
means that service is required for your vehicle. Operating conditions such as frequent short-trips,
trailer tow, extremely hot or cold ambient temperatures will influence when the “Oil Change
Required” message is displayed. Severe Operating Conditions can cause the change oil message
to illuminate as early as 3,500 miles (5,600 km) since last reset. Have your vehicle serviced as soon
as possible, within the next 500 miles (805 km).
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator message after completing the scheduled oil
change. If a scheduled oil change is performed by someone other than your authorized dealer, the
message can be reset by referring to the steps described under “Oil Change Reset” in “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” or "Driver Information Display (DID)” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” in your Owners Manual on the DVD for further information.
NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or twelve
months, whichever comes first.
Severe Duty All Models
Change Engine Oil at 4000 miles (6,500 km) if the vehicle is operated in a dusty and off road
environment. This type of vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear or damage. Rotate tires at the first sign ofirregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil indicator system turns on.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir and brake master cylinder, fill as needed.
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights.
Required Maintenance Intervals.
Refer to the maintenance schedules on the following page for the required maintenance intervals.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change Indicator System:
• Change oil and filter
• Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil
indicator system turns on.
• Inspect battery and clean and tighten terminals as required
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and park brake
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses
• Inspect exhaust system
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or off-road conditions
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190
TIRE PRESSURES
Check the inflation pressure of each tire, including the spare tire, at least monthly and inflate to
the recommended pressure for your vehicle.
The tire pressures recommended for your vehicle are found on the “Tire and Loading Informa-
tion” label located on the driver’s side door opening.
NOTE:
Refer to the Owner's Manual on the DVD for
more information regarding tire warnings and
instructions.
WARNING!
• Overloading of your tires is dangerous. Overloading can cause tire failure, affect vehiclehandling, and increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended load
capacity for your vehicle . Never overload them.
• Improperly inflated tires are dangerous 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 chuck holes can cause damage that
results in tire failure. Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems. You could lose
control of your vehicle. Over-inflated or under-inflated tires can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, resulting in loss of vehicle control. Always drive with each tire inflated
to the recommended cold tire inflation pressure.
Tire And Loading Information Location (Example)
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198
SPARE TIRES — IF EQUIPPED
NOTE:
For vehicles equipped with Tire Service Kit instead of a spare tire, please refer to “Tire Service Kit”
in “What To Do In Emergencies” on your DVD for further information.
CAUTION!
Because of the reduced ground clearance, do not take your vehicle through an automatic car
wash with a compact or limited-use temporary spare installed. Damage to the vehicle may
result.
Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And Wheel — If Equipped
Your vehicle may be equipped with a spare tire and wheel equivalent in look and function to the
original equipment tire and wheel found on the front or rear axle of your vehicle. This spare tire
may be used in the tire rotation for your vehicle. If your vehicle has this option, refer to an
authorized tire dealer for the recommended tire rotation pattern.
Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped
The compact spare is for temporary emergency use only. You can identify if your vehicle is
equipped with a compact spare by looking at the spare tire description on the Tire and Loading
Information Placard located on the driver’s side door opening or on the sidewall of the tire.
Compact spare tire descriptions begin with the letter “T” or “S” preceding the size designation.
Example: T145/80D18 103M.
T,S=Temporary Spare Tire
Since this tire has limited tread life, the original equipment tire should be repaired (or replaced)
and reinstalled on your vehicle at the first opportunity.
Do not install a wheel cover or attempt to mount a conventional tire on the compact spare wheel,
since the wheel is designed specifically for the compact spare tire. Do not install more than one
compact spare tire and wheel on the vehicle at any given time.
WARNING!
Compact spares are for temporary emergency use only. With these spares, do not drive more
than 50 mph (80 km/h). Temporary use spares have limited tread life. When the tread is worn
to the tread wear indicators, the temporary use spare tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to
follow the warnings, which apply to your spare. Failure to do so could result in spare tire failure
and loss of vehicle control.
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