A clicking sound may be heardwhile setting or releasing the
EPB. This is a normal condition,
and indicates that the EPB prop-
erly functions.
When leaving your key with a parking lot attendant or valet
assistant, inform him/her of the
EPB operation.
The EPB may malfunction if you drive with the EPB set.
Gradually depress the accelera- tor, when you want to automati-
cally release EPB by depressing
it.
EPB malfunction indicator
This warning light illuminates when
the Engine Start/Stop button is
turned ON and OFF in approximate-
ly 3 seconds, even though the sys-
tem normally operates.
If the EPB malfunction indicator
remains ON, flash, or does not illumi-
nate, when turning ON the Engine
Start/Stop button, this indicates the
malfunction of the EPB.
If this occurs, immediately have your
vehicle checked by an authorized
EQUUS dealer.
The EPB malfunction indicator may
illuminate, when the ESC malfunc-
tion indicator illuminates. In this
case, it does not indicate the EPB
malfunction.
NOTICE
5-21
Driving your vehicle05
To prevent unintentional vehi-cle movement when parking
or after leaving the vehicle, do
not substitute setting of the
parking brake with setting of
the shift lever. Set the parking
brake and secure to position
the shift lever in P(Park).
Never allow anyone, who is unfamiliar with the vehicle, to
touch the EPB switch. If the
EPB is unintentionally
released, serious injury may
occur.
All vehicles must always set the parking brake, while park-
ing, in order to avoid inadver-
tent vehicle movement, which
may injure occupants or
passers-by.
WARNING
OVI055111N
The EPB warning light may illu-minate, when the EPB switch is
abnormally operated. Turn the
engine OFF and, after a few min-
utes, turn it ON again. The EPB
warning light will go OFF and
the EPB switch will be normally
operable. However, when the
EPB warning light still remains
ON, have the system be checked
by an authorized EQUUS dealer.
The EPB is not set ON, when the parking brake warning light
does not illuminate or flash,
even though the EPB switch was
pulled up.
When the parking brake warning light flashes with the EPB warn-
ing light ON, press the EPB
switch, and then pull it up.
Repeat this one more time.
When the EPB warning does not
go OFF, have the system
checked by an authorized
EQUUS dealer.
Emergency braking
When there is a problem with the
brake while driving, emergency brak-
ing is possible by pulling and holding
the EPB switch.
However, braking distance will be
longer than it is in normal driving.
Information
In emergency braking with the EPB
switch, the parking brake warning
light will illuminate to indicate the
system operation.
If there is noise or burning smell
after emergency braking, immedi-
ately have your vehicle checked
by an authorized EQUUS dealer.
When the EPB (electric parkingbrake) is not released
When the EPB is normally released,
we recommend that you contact an
authorized EQUUS dealer, tow your
vehicle, and have the system
checked.
If you continuously notice a noise
or burning smell after using the
EPB for emergency braking, we
recommend that you have the sys-
tem checked by an authorized
EQUUS dealer.
NOTICE
NOTICE
i
NOTICE
5-22
Driving your vehicle
Do not operate the parking
brake while the vehicle is mov-
ing except in an emergency situ-
ation. It may damage the brake
system and lead to an accident.
WARNING
Information
• The Auto Hold does not operate,when:
- The driver's seat belt is unfastenedand driver's door is opened
- The engine hood is opened
- The trunk is opened
- The shift lever is in P (Park)
- The EPB is set
• For your safety, the Auto Hold auto- matically switches to EPB, when:
- The driver's seat belt is unfastenedand driver's door is opened
- The engine hood is opened with the shift lever in D (Drive)
- The trunk is opened with the shift lever in R (Reverse)
- The vehicle stops for more than 10 minutes
- The vehicle stands on a steep slope
- The vehicle moves several times
In these cases, the brake warning
light illuminates, the AUTO HOLD
indicator color changes from green
to white, and a message will be dis-
played with warming sound to
inform you that EPB is automatical-
ly set. (Continued)(Continued)
Before driving off again, depress
brake pedal, take a look around
your vehicle, and manually release
the parking brake and the EPB
switch.
• When the AUTO HOLD indicator illuminates in yellow, the Auto Hold
does not properly work. Take your
vehicle to an authorized EQUUS
dealer and have the system checked.
When there is a malfunction with
the driver’s door, hood or trunk
open detection system, the AUTO
HOLD may not properly operate.
Take your vehicle to an authorized
EQUUS dealer and have the sys-
tem checked.
NOTICE
i
5-24
Driving your vehicle
Depress the accelerator slow-ly when you start the vehicle.
For your safety, cancel the AUTO HOLD operation, when:
- Drive a downhill
- Slowly drive, park or drivebackwards
- Wash the vehicle in an auto- matic car wash
WARNING
Check the brake warning light by
turning the ignition switch ON (do not
start the engine). This light illumi-
nates when the parking brake is
depressed with the ignition switch in
the START or ON position.
Before driving, make sure that the
parking brake is fully released and
the brake warning light goes OFF.
When the brake warning light
remains ON even after releasing the
parking brake while engine is run-
ning, there may be a malfunction in
the brake system. Immediate atten-
tion is necessary.
If at all possible, immediately stop
driving. If not, use extreme caution
and continuously drive the vehicle
until you can reach a safe location.
Electronic stability control
(ESC)
The ESC system is to stabilize the
vehicle in cornering maneuvers. The
ESC monitors your steering and driv-
ing. The ESC applies to a brake of an
individual wheel and engage in the
engine management system in order
to stabilize the vehicle.
5-28
Driving your vehicle
OVI055021N
Never drive too fast or quickly
when cornering. The ESC can-
not prevent accidents under
this condition. Excessively high
speed in turning, abrupt driving
maneuvers, and hydroplaning
on a wet surface may result in
serious accidents. Only safe
and attentive driving can pre-
vent accidents, avoiding trac-
tion loss of a vehicle. Even with
the ESC equipment of your
vehicle, always follow all the
driving precautions, including
driving at a safe speed.
WARNING
WKH-002
Hill-start assist control (HAC)
A vehicle has the tendency to slide
backwards on a steep slope, when the
driver begins to accelerate after a
stop. The HAC prevents the vehicle
from sliding backwards by automati-
cally operating the brake systems for
about 2 seconds. The brake systems
are automatically released, when the
accelerator pedal is depressed or after
about 2 seconds.
Information
• The HAC does not operate when theshift lever is in P(Park) or
N(Neutral).
• The HAC activates, even when the ESC is OFF. However, it does not
activate, when the ESC malfunc-
tions.
Good braking practices
Make sure the parking brake isreleased and that the parking
brake indicator goes OFF before
driving.
Driving through water may get the brakes wet. The brakes may also
get wet after washing the vehicle.
Wet brakes can be dangerous!
Your vehicle may not quickly stop,
when the brakes are wet. Wet
brakes may cause the vehicle to
slide to one side.
To dry the brake, lightly depress
the brake pedal until the braking
operation returns to normal, taking
care to keep the vehicle under con-
trol at all times. When the braking
operation does not return to nor-
mal, immediately and safely stop
the vehicle and call an authorized
EQUUS dealer for assistance.i
5-32
Driving your vehicle
The HAC is activated only for
about 2 seconds, so always
depress the accelerator pedal
to begin driving upwards after a
stop.
WARNING
Whenever parking or leaving the vehicle, always securely
set the parking brake and
locate the vehicle's shift lever
in P(Park). A vehicle, of which
the shift lever is not in P(Park)
with the parking brake set ON,
is at risk of inadvertently mov-
ing and injuring you or others.
All vehicles should always set the parking brake, when park-
ing, to avoid inadvertent
movement, which may injure
occupants or pedestrians.
WARNING
Do not slide down (or coast down)the vehicle on a slope out of gear.
This is extremely hazardous. Keep
the vehicle in gear at all times,
depress the brake pedal to slow
down, and then shift to a lower
gear so that engine braking will
help you maintain a safe speed.
Do not "ride" the brake pedal. Resting your foot on the brake
pedal, while driving, is dangerous
because it may result brake over-
heating or lose braking effects. It
also wears out the brake compo-
nents.
If a tire goes flat while driving, gen- tly depress the brake pedal. Keep
the driving direction straight ahead
while slowing down the speed.
When the speed is lowered
enough to be safe, pull off and stop
the vehicle in a safe place.
When your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, do
not let your car creep forward. To
avoid creeping forward, firmly
depress the brake pedal when
stopping the vehicle.
Be careful when parking on a slope. Firmly set the parking brake
and place the shift lever in P(Park).
When parking the vehicle on a
downward slope, steer the front
wheels sideways (into the curbs) to
prevent the vehicle from rolling.
When parking the vehicle on an
upwards, turn the front wheels
sideways (away from the curb) to
prevent the vehicle from rolling.
If there is no curb, or if it is required
by other conditions, block the
wheels with obstacles to keep the
vehicle from rolling. Under some conditions, your park-
ing brake may freeze in the
engaged position. This is most like-
ly to happen, when there is an
accumulation of snow or ice
around or near the rear brakes, or
when the brake is wet. When there
is a risk that the parking brake may
freeze, temporarily depress the
brake pedal while locating the shift
lever(automatic transmission) in
P(Park) and block the rear wheels.
Thus, the vehicle may not roll.
Then, release the parking brake.
Do not hold the vehicle on a slope by depressing the accelerator. This
may overheat the transmission.
Always use the brake pedal or
parking brake.
5-33
Driving your vehicle05
The Smart Cruise Control willbe canceled in following situa-tions:
The Smart Cruise Control will be
manually canceled in below situa-
tions:
While driving
- The brake pedal is depressed.
- Pull the lever (to CANCEL) locatedon the steering wheel.
While stopping with operating sys- tem
- Depress the brake pedal and pullthe lever (to CANCEL).
The advanced Smart Cruise Control
turns OFF temporarily when the indi-
cator on the LCD display turns OFF.
The CRUISE indicator continuously
illuminates.
The Smart Cruise Control will be
automatically canceled in below sit-
uations:
The driver's door is opened.
The shift lever is moved to N (Neutral), R (Reverse) or P (Park).
The EPB (electric parking brake) is set.
The vehicle speed is over 120 mph (190 km/h). The vehicle stops on a steep slope.
The ESC, ABS or TCS operates.
The ESC is turned OFF.
The sensor is covered or blocked
with dust or foreign substances.
When the vehicle is stopped for over 5 minutes.
The vehicle stops and goes repeat- edly for a long period of time.
The driver starts driving by depress- ing the accelerator or pressing the
RES+ button when a vehicle far
away in front stops.
The accelerator pedal is continuous- ly depressed for more than 1 minute.
Each of depressing actions will
cancel the Smart Cruise Control
operation. (The SET indicator, the
set speed and the vehicle-to-vehi-
cle distance on the LCD display will
go OFF.)
When the Smart Cruise Control is
automatically canceled, it will not
be resume even by pressing the
RES+ or SET- button. Also, the
EPB (electric parking brake) will be
set upon stopping the vehicle.
When the Smart Cruise Control is
cancelled by other than the above
reasons, we recommend you to
have the system checked by an
authorized EQUUS dealer.
NOTICE
5-41
Driving your vehicle05
OVI055031N
5-74
Driving your vehicle
An AutoSock, which is in the wrong size or is improperly
installed, may damage brake
lines, suspension, body and
wheels of your vehicle.
Stop driving and retighten the AutoSock, whenever there are
snapping sounds between the
vehicle and the AutoSock.
Use high quality ethylene gly-
col coolant
The cooling system of your vehicle is
filled with the high-quality ethylene
glycol coolant when being delivered.
It is the only type of coolant that your
vehicle is filled with, because it pre-
vents corrosion of the cooling sys-
tem, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Refill the cooling
system in accordance with your
maintenance schedule in the chapter
7. Before winter, check your coolant
to assure that the freezing point is
sufficiently lower than the expected
winter temperature.
Check battery and cables
The winter temperature increases
the battery consumption. Inspect the
battery and cables, as described in
the chapter 7. The battery charging
level can be checked by an author-
ized EQUUS dealer or in a service
station.
Change to "winter weight" oil,
if necessary
In some regions during the cold win-
ter, it is recommended to use the
"winter weight" oil with lower viscosi-
ty. For further information about this,
refer to the chapter 8. When you can-
not be sure about a type of winter
weight oil, consult an authorized
EQUUS dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs and, if nec-
essary, replace them. Also check all
ignition wirings and components for
any cracks, wear-out, and damage.
NOTICE
- Chain installation
When installing the AutoSock,
park the vehicle on level ground
away from other vehicles. Press
ON the Hazard Warning flasher
and place a warning triangle
behind your vehicle, if available.
Place the shift lever in P(Park),
set the parking brake and turn
OFF the engine, before
installing the AutoSock.
WARNING
- Tire chains
The use of the AutoSock may
adversely affect vehicle han-
dling.
Do not drive faster than the lower of the two - 20 mph (30
km/h) and the AutoSock manu-
facturer’s recommended
speed limit.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and
other road hazards, which may
bounce the vehicle.
Avoid turning sharply or lock- ing the wheel brake.
WARNING