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 173
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.
198 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
the vehicle, turn off the engine and allow it to cool.
Service, including a tune-up to manufacturer’s specifi-
cations, should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter damage:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition,
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
• Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing
the vehicle.
• Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods during very rough
idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
Cooling System
WARNING!
•Turn vehicle off and disconnect the fan motor
lead before working near the radiator cooling fan.
• You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the
hood, do not open the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is
hot.
• Keep hands, tools, clothing, and jewelry away
from the radiator cooling fan when the hood is
raised. The fan starts automatically and may start
at any time, whether the engine is running or not.
• When working near the radiator cooling fan,
disconnect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The fan is temperature
controlled and can start at any time the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
(Continued)
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 231
Customer Assistance..................... .278
Daytime Running Lights ....................78
Dealer Service .......................... .218
Deck Lid ...............................22
Deck Lid, Release .........................74
Defroster, Windshield ......................57
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ..................81
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................216
Dimmer Control ..........................79
Disposal Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ...............234
Door Locks .............................18
Child-Protection Door Lock — Rear Doors .....19
Power Door Locks ......................15
Doors .................................18
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow
Standing Water ........................153
Electrical Outlet, Auxiliary (Power Outlet) .......89
Electrical Power Outlets ....................89
Electric Remote Mirrors .....................64
Electronic Brake Control System ..............156
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) ........83Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light
.......102
Emergency, In Case Of Hazard Warning Flasher .................198
Jump Starting ........................ .206
Overheating ..........................198
Emission Control System Maintenance .........217
Engine Air Cleaner ..........................221
Break-In Recommendations ................54
Checking Oil Level .....................219
Compartment ........................ .215
Cooling ............................ .231
Exhaust Gas Caution .................56, 193
Fails To Start ........................ .141
Flooded, Starting ..................... .141
Fuel Requirements .....................189
Jump Starting ........................ .206
Oil .............................219, 263
Oil Filler Cap ........................ .220
Oil Filter ............................221
Oil Selection ..........................220
Over
heating ..........................198
Starting ............................ .140
Enhanced Accident Response Feature ..........212
Ethanol ...............................190
286 INDEX
Recommendation...................220, 263
Viscosity ............................220
Oil Filter, Change ........................221
Oil Filter, Selection .......................221
Oil Pressure Light ........................102
Onboard Diagnostic System .................216
Operating Precautions .....................216
Operator Manual (Owner’s Manual) ............4
Outside Rearview Mirrors ...................63
Overheating, Engine ..................... .198
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual) .........4,281
Paint Care ............................ .240
Parking Brake .......................... .154
Passing Light ............................78
Placard, Tire And Loading Information ......168, 169
Power Door Locks ...........................18
Mirrors ..............................64
Windows .............................20
Pregnant Women And Seat Belts ..............31
Pretensioners Seat Belts .............................32
Radial Ply Tires ........................ .175Radio Frequency
General Information ..................12, 17
Radio Operation ........................ .130
Reclining Front Seats ......................72
Recreational Towing ..................... .195
Reformulated Gasoline ....................190
Refrigerant ............................ .224
Reminder, Seat Belt ........................25
Remote Keyless Entry Remote Keyless Entry ....................14
Unlock The Doors ......................15
Replacement Bulbs .......................251
Replacement Keys ........................12
Replacement Parts ........................218
Replacement Tires ........................182
Reporting Safety Defects ...................280
Restraint, Head ..........................73
Restraints, Child ..........................46
Rotation, Tires ..........................184
Safety Checks
Inside Vehicle .................56
Safety Checks Outside Vehicle ................58
Safety Defects, Reporting ...................280
Safety, Exhaust Gas ........................56
Safety Information, Tire ....................163
290 INDEX