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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. En-
gine 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
Activation/Malfunction Indicator 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.
WARNING!
•The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent all
accidents, including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
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The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” (lo-
cated in the instrument cluster) starts to flash as soon as
the tires lose traction and the ESC system becomes active.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” also
flashes when Traction Control System is active. If the
“ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator 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 momen-
tarily each time the ignition 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 buzzing or clicking sounds
when it is active. This is normal; the sounds will stop
when ESC becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation.
TheESC OFF Indicator Lightindicates the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is partially
off or full off.
The ESC OFF switch is located in the center console.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize an exces-
sively 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 appro-
priate wheel(s) to counteract the sway of the trailer. TSC
will become active automatically once an excessively
swaying trailer is recognized.
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NOTE:TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying. Al-
ways use caution when towing a trailer and follow the
trailer tongue weight recommendations. Refer 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
reduced and you may feel the brakes being applied to
individual wheels to attempt to stop the trailer from
swaying. TSC is disabled when the ESC system is in the
“Partial Off” mode.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle
down, stop at the nearest safe location, and adjust the
trailer load to eliminate trailer sway.
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST)
The DST function uses the integration of the ESC system
with the electric power steering to increase the safety
level of the whole car. In critical situations (understeer-
ing, oversteering, braking with different grip conditions),
through the DST function the ESC system controls the
steering to implement an additional torque contribution
on the steering wheel, to suggest the most correct ma-
neuver to the driver. The coordinated action of brakes
and steering increases the safety and car control feeling.
NOTE:The DST is a driving aid system and does not
replace the driver ’s actions while driving the car.
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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 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 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 or brake fluid leaks are
suspected, the cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
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To apply the EPB manually, pull up on the switch
momentarily. You may hear a slight whirring sound from
the back of the vehicle while the EPB engages. Once the
parking brake is fully engaged, the BRAKE warning
lamp in the instrument cluster and an indicator on the
switch will illuminate. If your foot is on the brake pedalwhile you apply the EPB, you may notice a small amount
of brake pedal movement. The EPB can be applied even
when the ignition switch is in the STOP/OFF position
but the BRAKE warning lamp will not illuminate, how-
ever, it can only be released when the ignition switch is in
the MAR/RUN position.
NOTE:The EPB fault lamp will illuminate if the EPB
switch is held for longer than 10 seconds (static condi-
tions) or 30 seconds (dynamic conditions) in either the
released or applied position. The light will extinguish
upon releasing the switch.
If the Auto Park Brake feature is enabled, the EPB will
automatically engage whenever the transmission is
moved into PARK, or with a manual transmission, when
the ignition switch is in the STOP/OFF position. If your
foot is on the brake pedal, you may notice a small amount
of brake pedal movement while the EPB is engaging.
Electric Park Brake Switch
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The electric park brake will be automatically released if
the driver ’s seat belt is buckled and driver’s intention to
start (in forward or reverse direction) is recognized by the
system
To release the EPB manually, the ignition switch must be
in the MAR/RUN position. Put your foot on the brake
pedal, then push the EPB switch down momentarily. You
may hear a slight whirring sound from the back of the car
while the parking brake disengages. You may also notice
a small amount of movement in the brake pedal. Once
the EPB is fully disengaged, The BRAKE warning lamp
in the instrument cluster and the LED indicator on the
switch will extinguish.NOTE:
•When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the front
wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away
from the curb on an uphill grade. Apply the EPB
before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the
load on the transmission locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK.
The EPB should always be applied whenever the
driver is not in the vehicle.
•If the clutch pedal is released at the same time the gas
pedal is pressed, the EPB will be automatically re-
leased (manual transmissions only).
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CAUTION!
If the Brake System Warning Light remains on with
the parking brake released, a brake system malfunc-
tion is indicated. Have the brake system serviced by
an authorized dealer immediately.
If exceptional circumstances should make it necessary to
engage the EPB while the vehicle is in motion, maintain
upward pressure on the EPB switch for as long as
engagement is desired. The brake warning lamp could
illuminate in case of the hydraulic system is not available.
The rear stop lamps will also be illuminated automati-
cally while the vehicle remains in motion.
To disengage the EPB while the vehicle is in motion,
release the switch. If the vehicle is brought to a complete
stop using the EPB, when the vehicle reaches approxi-
mately 1.9 mph (3 km/h) the EPB will remain engaged.
WARNING!
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake engaged,
or repeated use of the parking brake to slow the
vehicle may cause serious damage to the brake sys-
tem; failure to do so can lead to brake failure and a
collision.
In the unlikely event of a malfunction of the EPB system,
a yellow EPB fault lamp will illuminate. This may be
accompanied by the Brake warning lamp flashing. In this
status some EPB functionalities may be deactivated. In
this event, urgent service of the EPB system is required.
Do not rely on the EPB to hold the vehicle stationary.
7
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Hill Climbing
NOTE:Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the
conditions at the crest and/or on the other side.
Before climbing a steep hill,shift the transmission to a
lower gear and shift the 4WD System to 4WD LOW. Use
first gear and 4WD LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose headwaywhile climbing a
steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and
immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine and
shift to REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill allowing the
compression braking of the engine to help regulate your
speed. If the brakes are required to control vehicle speed,
apply them lightly and avoid locking or skidding the
tires.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill or grade, never
attempt to turn around. To do so may result in
tipping and rolling the vehicle. Always back straight
down a hill in REVERSE gear carefully. Never back
down a hill in NEUTRAL using only the brake.
NOTE:Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill -
drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a
hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain headway by
turning the front wheels slowly left and right. This may
provide a fresh “bite” into the surface and will usually
provide traction to complete the climb.
414 STARTING AND OPERATING