TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION
Tire Pressure
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential to the safe and
satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Four primary
areas are affected by improper tire pressure:
•Safety and Vehicle Stability
• Economy
• Tread Wear
• Ride Comfort
Safety
WARNING!
•Improperly inflated tires are dangerous and can
cause collisions.
• Underinflation increases tire flexing and can re-
sult in overheating and tire failure.
• Overinflation reduces a tire’s ability to cushion
shock. Objects on the road and chuckholes can
cause damage that result in tire failure.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Overinflated or underinflated tires can affect ve-
hicle handling and can fail suddenly, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
• Unequal tire pressures can cause steering prob-
lems. You could lose control of your vehicle.
• Unequal tire pressures from one side of the ve-
hicle to the other can cause the vehicle to drift to
the right or left.
• Always drive with each tire inflated to the recom-
mended cold tire inflation pressure.
Both under-inflation and over-inflation affect the stabil-
ity of the vehicle and can produce a feeling of sluggish
response or over responsiveness in the steering.
NOTE:
• Unequal tire pressures from side to side may cause
erratic and unpredictable steering response.
• Unequal tire pressure from side to side may cause the
vehicle to drift left or right.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 167
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the
center console.Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning
flasher. When the switch is activated, all direc-
tional turn signals will flash on and off to warn oncom-
ing traffic of an emergency. Push the switch a second
time to turn off the Hazard Warning flasher.
This is an emergency warning system and it should not
be used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning flasher will continue to operate even
though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.
NOTE: With extended use the Hazard Warning flasher
may wear down your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate
action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmis-
sion in NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle
speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The
A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling system
and turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the temperature control to maxi-
mum heat, the mode control to floor and the blower
control to high. This allows the heater core to act as a
supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
192 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
WARNING!
•Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain
carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless and
odorless. Breathing it can make you unconscious
and can eventually poison you. To avoid breath-
ing CO, refer to “Safety Tips/Exhaust Gas” in
“Things To Know Before Starting Your Vehicle”
for further information.
• A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you park
over materials that can burn. Such materials
might be grass or leaves coming into contact with
your exhaust system. Do not park or operate your
vehicle in areas where your exhaust system can
contact anything that can burn.
CAUTION!
• The catalytic converter requires the use of un-
leaded fuel only. Leaded gasoline will destroy the
effectiveness of the catalyst as an emissions con-
trol device and may seriously reduce engine per-
formance and cause serious damage to the engine.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Damage to the catalytic converter can result if
your vehicle is not kept in proper operating
condition. In the event of engine malfunction,
particularly involving engine misfire or other
apparent loss of performance, have your vehicle
serviced promptly. Continued operation of your
vehicle with a severe malfunction could cause the
converter to overheat, resulting in possible dam-
age to the converter and vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic con-
verter will not require maintenance. However, it is
important to keep the engine properly tuned to assure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst
damage.
NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
224 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Daytime Running Lights....................72
Dealer Service .......................... .212
Deck Lid ...............................22
Deck Lid, Release .........................68
Defroster, Windshield ......................57
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ..................75
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................210
Dimmer Control ..........................73
Disposal Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ...............228
Door Locks .............................18
Child-Protection Door Lock — Rear Doors .....19
Power Door Locks ......................15
Doors .................................18
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow
Standing Water ....................... .147
Electrical Outlet, Auxiliary (Power Outlet) .......83
Electrical Power Outlets ....................83
Electric Remote Mirrors .....................64
Electronic Brake Control System ..............150
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) ........77
Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light ........96Emergency, In Case Of
Hazard Warning Flasher .................192
Jump Starting ........................ .200
Overheating ......................... .192
Emission Control System Maintenance .........211
Engine Air Cleaner ......................... .215
Break-In Recommendations ................55
Checking Oil Level .....................214
Compartment ........................ .209
Cooling ............................ .225
Exhaust Gas Caution .................56, 187
Fails To Start ........................ .135
Flooded, Starting ..................... .135
Fuel Requirements .....................183
Jump Starting ........................ .200
Oil ............................ .214, 256
Oil Filler Cap ........................ .215
Oil Filter ........................... .215
Oil Selection ......................... .214
Overheating ......................... .192
Starting ............................ .134
Enhanced
Accident Response Feature ..........206
Ethanol .............................. .184
278 INDEX
Recommendation...................214, 256
Viscosity ........................... .215
Oil Filter, Change ....................... .215
Oil Filter, Selection ...................... .215
Oil Pressure Light .........................96
Onboard Diagnostic System .................210
Operating Precautions .....................210
Operator Manual (Owner’s Manual) ............4
Outside Rearview Mirrors ...................64
Overheating, Engine ..................... .192
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual) .........4,273
Paint Care ............................ .234
Parking Brake .......................... .148
Passing Light ............................72
Placard, Tire And Loading Information ......162, 163
Power Door Locks ...........................18
Mirrors ..............................64
Windows .............................20
Pregnant Women And Seat Belts ..............31
Pretensioners Seat Belts .............................32
Radial Ply Tires ........................ .169Radio Frequency
General Information ..................12, 17
Radio Operation ........................ .125
Reclining Front Seats ......................66
Recreational Towing ..................... .189
Reformulated Gasoline ....................184
Refrigerant ............................ .218
Reminder, Seat Belt ........................25
Remote Keyless Entry Remote Keyless Entry ....................14
Unlock The Doors ......................15
Replacement Bulbs ...................... .245
Replacement Keys ........................12
Replacement Parts ....................... .212
Replacement Tires ....................... .176
Reporting Safety Defects ...................272
Restraint, Head ..........................67
Restraints, Child ..........................46
Rotation, Tires ......................... .178
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle .................
57
Safety Checks Outside Vehicle ................59
Safety Defects, Reporting ...................272
Safety, Exhaust Gas ........................56
Safety Information, Tire ....................157
282 INDEX