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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 bolts 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 proper 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.
90 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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28. Transmission Temperature Warning Light — If
EquippedThis light indicates that the transmission fluid
temperature is running hot. This may occur
with severe usage, such as trailer towing. If this
light turns on while driving, safely pull over
and stop the vehicle. Then, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL and run the engine at idle or faster until the
light turns off.
CAUTION!
Continuous driving with the Transmission Tempera-
ture Warning Light illuminated will eventually cause
severe transmission damage or transmission failure.
WARNING!
If you continue operating the vehicle when the
Transmission Temperature Warning Light is illumi-
nated you could cause the fluid to boil over, come in
contact with hot engine or exhaust components and
cause a fire.
29. Brake Warning Light This light monitors various brake functions,
including brake fluid level and parking brake
application. If the brake light turns on it may
indicate that the parking brake is applied or
that the brake fluid level is low.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has been
disengaged, and the fluid level is at the full mark on the
master cylinder reservoir, it indicates a possible brake
hydraulic system malfunction. In this case, the light will
remain on until the condition has been corrected. If the
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 157
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problem is related to the brake booster, the ABS pump
will run when applying the brake and a brake pedal
pulsation may be felt during each stop.
The dual brake system provides a reserve braking capac-
ity in the event of a failure of a portion of the hydraulic
system. A leak in either half of the dual brake system is
indicated by the Brake Warning Light, which will turn on
when the brake fluid level in the master cylinder has
dropped below a specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is corrected.
NOTE:The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level condi-
tions. The vehicle should have service performed and the
brake fluid level checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is neces-
sary.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 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.
158 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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POWER STEERING .....................216
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............217
PARKING BRAKE ..................... .218
BRAKE SYSTEM ...................... .220
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .221
▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . .221
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............222
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............223
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................223
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........225
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light ................226
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........228
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............229
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .229
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........233
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........235
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........236
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........241
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .241
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................242
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .244
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .244
▫ Tire Types .......................... .245
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped .............247
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ...............247
196 STARTING AND OPERATING
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Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
shallow standing water, consider the following Cautions
and Warnings before doing so.
WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
• Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stopping
distances. Therefore, after driving through stand-
ing water, drive slowly and lightly press on the
brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
• Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your pas-
sengers, and others around you.
CAUTION!
• Always check the depth of the standing water
before driving through it. Never drive through
standing water that is deeper than the bottom of
the tire rims mounted on the vehicle.
• Determine the condition of the road or the path
that is under water and if there are any obstacles in
the way before driving through the standing water.
• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving
through standing water. This will minimize wave
effects.
• Driving through standing water may cause damage
to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always
inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, trans-
mission, axle, etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e.,
fluid that is milky or foamy in appearance) after
driving through standing water. Do not continue to
(Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING 215
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L ..........327
ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II . .328
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............328
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS ......................... .329
REPLACEMENT PARTS ..................331
DEALER SERVICE ..................... .331
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES ...........331
▫ Engine Oil ......................... .332
▫ Engine Oil Filter ..................... .335▫
Engine Air Cleaner Filter ................335
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery ...............336
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance .............337
▫ Body Lubrication .....................338
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades ...............339
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ..................340
▫ Exhaust System ..................... .341
▫ Cooling System ..................... .343
▫ Brake System ....................... .349
▫ Power Steering Fluid ...................351
7
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▫Automatic Transmission ................352
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion .......................... .354
FUSES ............................. .360
▫ Underhood Fuses ..................... .361
▫ Interior Fuses ....................... .365
▫ Central Unit Fuse Panel .................368
VEHICLE STORAGE ....................369
REPLACEMENT BULBS .................370
BULB REPLACEMENT ..................371
▫ Headlamps ......................... .371
▫ Front Turn Signal Lamps ................372 ▫
Parking And Daytime Running Lights .......372
▫ Front/Rear Side Marker Lamps ............372
▫ Rear Tail, Stop, Backup And Turn Signal
Lamps ............................ .373
▫ Third Brake Light (Center Mount) ..........373
▫ License Plate Lights ....................374
FLUID CAPACITIES ....................374
FLUIDS, LUBRICANTS, AND GENUINE
PARTS ............................. .375
▫ Engine ............................ .375
▫ Chassis ........................... .377
326 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 329 of 414
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L
1 — Air Cleaner Filter5 — Power Distribution Center (Fuses)
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 6 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
3 — Oil Fill Cap 7 — Engine Coolant Pressure Cap
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 8 — Engine Oil Dipstick
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 327