6-25
What to do in an emergency
6
Always follow these emergency tow-
ing precautions:
Place the Engine Start/Stop buttonin the ACC position so the steering
wheel is not locked.
Place the shift lever in N (Neutral).
Release the parking brake.
Depress the brake pedal with more force than normal since you will
have reduced braking perform-
ance.
More steering effort will be required because the power steer-
ing system will be disabled.
Use a vehicle heavier than your own to tow your vehicle.
The drivers of both vehicles should communicate with each other fre-
quently.
Before emergency towing, check that the hook is not broken or dam-
aged.
Fasten the towing cable or chain securely to the hook.
Do not jerk the hook. Apply steady and even force. Use a towing cable or chain less
than 16 feet (5 m) long. Attach a
white or red cloth (about 12 inches
(30 cm) wide) in the middle of the
cable or chain for easy visibility.
Drive carefully so the towing cable or chain remains tight during tow-
ing.
Before towing, check the automat- ic transmission for fluid leaks under
your vehicle. If the automatic trans-
mission fluid is leaking, flatbed
equipment or a towing dolly must
be used.
ODH063025
To avoid damage to your vehicle
and vehicle components when
towing:
Always pull straight ahead
when using the towing hooks.
Do not pull from the side or at
a vertical angle.
Do not use the towing hooks
to pull a vehicle out of mud,
sand or other conditions from
which the vehicle cannot be
driven out under its own
power.
Limit the vehicle speed to 10
mph (15 km/h) and drive less
than 1 mile (1.5 km) when tow-
ing to avoid serious damage
to the automatic transmis-
sion.
CAUTION
7
Maintenance
7
Maintenance
Engine compartment .............................................7-3
Maintenance services ...........................................7-5
Owner's responsibility ......................................................7-5
Owner maintenance precautions ..................................7-5
Owner maintenance ...............................................7-6
Owner maintenance schedule ........................................7-7
Scheduled maintenance services.........................7-8
Normal maintenance schedule .......................................7-9
Maintenance under severe usage conditions ..........7-22
Explanation of scheduled maintenance
items.......................................................................7\
-24
Engine oil ..............................................................7-27
Checking the engine oil level .......................................7-27
Checking the engine oil and filter ..............................7-28
Engine coolant......................................................7-29
Checking the engine coolant level..............................7-29
Changing engine coolant...............................................7-31
Brake fluid ............................................................7-32
Checking the brake fluid level .....................................7-32
Washer fluid .........................................................7-34
Checking the washer fluid level ..................................7-34
Parking brake .......................................................7-34
Checking the parking brake .........................................7-34
Air cleaner ............................................................7-35
Filter replacement ...........................................................7-35
Climate control air filter .....................................7-36
Filter inspection ...............................................................7-36
Wiper blades .........................................................7-38
Blade inspection ..............................................................7-38
Blade replacement ..........................................................7-38
Battery...................................................................7-40
For best battery service................................................7-41
Battery recharging .........................................................7-42
Reset features .................................................................7-44
Tires and wheels ..................................................7-45
Tire care ........................................................................\
....7-45
Recommended cold tire inflation pressures.............7-46
Check tire inflation pressure........................................7-47
Tire rotation .....................................................................7-4\
8
Wheel alignment and tire balance ..............................7-49
Tire replacement .............................................................7-49
Wheel replacement .........................................................7-50
Tire traction ......................................................................7-\
50
Tire maintenance ............................................................7-51
Tire sidewall labeling ......................................................7-51
Tire terminology and definitions.................................7-55
All season tires ................................................................7-58
7
7-7
7
Maintenance
Owner maintenance schedule
When you stop for fuel:
• Check the engine oil level.
Check coolant level in the enginecoolant reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Check for low or under-inflated tires.
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound ofthe exhaust or any smell of
exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice if there is any
increased steering effort or loose-
ness in the steering wheel, or
change in its straight-ahead posi-
tion.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or "pulls" to one side
when traveling on smooth, level
road.
When stopping, listen and check for unusual sounds, pulling to one
side, increased brake pedal travel
or "hard-to-push" brake pedal.
If any slipping or changes in the operation of your transmission
occurs, check the transmission
fluid level.
Check the automatic transmission P (Park) function. Check the parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your
vehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
At least monthly:
Check coolant level in the enginecoolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare for tires
that are worn, show uneven wear,
or are damaged.
Check for loose wheel lug nuts.
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. This may result in
coolant being blown out of the
opening and cause serious
burns and other injuries.
WARNING
7-26
Maintenance
Brake hoses and lines
Visually check for proper installation,
chafing, cracks, deterioration and
any leakage. Replace any deteriorat-
ed or damaged parts immediately.
Brake fluid
Check brake fluid level in the brake
fluid reservoir. The level should be
between the MIN and the MAX
marks on the side of the reservoir.
Use only hydraulic brake fluid con-
forming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 specifi-
cation.
Parking brake
Inspect the parking brake system
including the parking brake pedal
and cables.
Brake discs, pads, calipers
and rotors
Check the pads for excessive wear,
discs for run out and wear, and
calipers for fluid leakage.
Exhaust pipe and muffler
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes,
muffler and hangers for cracks, dete-
rioration, or damage. Start the
engine and listen carefully for any
exhaust gas leakage. Tighten con-
nections or replace parts as neces-
sary.
Suspension mounting bolts
Check the suspension connections
for looseness or damage. Retighten
to the specified torque.
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint
With the vehicle stopped and the
engine off, check for excessive free-
play in the steering wheel. Check the
linkage for bends or damage. Check
the dust boots and ball joints for
deterioration, cracks, or damage.
Replace any damaged parts.
Drive shafts and boots
Check the drive shafts, boots and
clamps for cracks, deterioration, or
damage. Replace any damaged
parts and, if necessary, repack the
grease.
Air conditioning refrigerant
Check the air conditioning lines and
connections for leakage and dam-
age.
7-27
7
Maintenance
E
EN
N G
GI
IN
N E
E
O
O I
IL
L
Checking the engine oil level
1. Follow all of the oil manufacturer's
precautions.
2. Be sure the vehicle is on level ground in P (Park) with the parking
brake set and the wheels blocked.
3. Turn the engine on and allow the engine to reach normal operating
temperature.
4. Turn the engine off and wait about five minutes for the oil to return to
the oil pan.
5. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, and re-insert it fully.
6. Pull the dipstick out again andcheck the level. The level should
be between F and L.
7. If it is near or at L, add enough oil to bring the level to F.
✽ ✽NOTICE
To prevent damage to your engine:
• Do not overfill with engine oil.
Add oil in small quantities and
recheck level to ensure engine is
not overfilled.
• Do not spill engine oil when adding or changing engine oil. Use
a funnel to help prevent oil from
being spilled on engine compo-
nents. Wipe off spilled oil immedi-
ately
ODH076002N
ODH073061L
■ Lambda 3.8L
■Tau 5.0L
7-45
7
Maintenance
T
TI
IR
R E
ES
S
A
A N
N D
D
W
W H
HE
EE
EL
LS
S
Tire care
For proper maintenance, safety, and
maximum fuel economy, you must
always maintain recommended tire
inflation pressures and stay within
the load limits and weight distribution
recommended for your vehicle.
(Continued)Replace tires that are worn,
show uneven wear, or are
damaged. Worn tires can
cause loss of braking effec-
tiveness, steering) control, or
traction.
ALWAYS replace tires with the
same size as each tire that
was originally supplied with
this vehicle. Using tires and
wheels other than the recom-
mended sizes could cause
unusual handling characteris-
tics, poor vehicle control, or
negatively affect your vehi-
cle's Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) resulting in a serious
accident.
Tire failure may cause loss of
vehicle control resulting in an
accident. To reduce risk of
SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH,
take the following precautions:
Inspect your tires monthly for
proper inflation as well as
wear and damage.
The recommended cold tire
pressure for your vehicle can
be found in this manual and
on the tire label located on the
driver's side center pillar.
Always use a tire pressure
gauge to measure tire pres-
sure. Tires with too much or
too little pressure wear
unevenly causing poor han-
dling.
Check the pressure of the
spare every time you check
the pressure of the other tires
on your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING
7-46
Maintenance
All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the driver's side center
pillar
Recommended cold tire infla-
tion pressures
All tire pressures (including the
spare) should be checked when the
tires are cold. "Cold tires" means the
vehicle has not been driven for at
least three hours or driven less than
one mile (1.6 km).
Warm tires normally exceed recom-
mended cold tire pressures by 4 to 6
psi (28 to 41 kPa). Do not release air
from warm tires to adjust the pres-
sure or the tires will be under-inflat-
ed. For recommended inflation pres-
sure, refer to "Tire and Wheels" in
chapter 8. Recommended pressures must
be maintained for the best ride,
vehicle handling, and minimum
tire wear.
Over-inflation or under-inflation
can reduce tire life, adversely
affect vehicle handling, and
lead to sudden tire failure that
could result in loss of vehicle
control resulting in an accident.
Severe under-inflation can lead
to severe heat build-up, causing
blowouts, tread separation and
other tire failures that can result
in the loss of vehicle control
resulting in an accident. This
risk is much higher on hot days
and when driving for long peri-
ods at high speeds.
WARNING
ODH083005L
7-47
7
Maintenance
Check tire inflation pressure
Check your tires, including the spare
tire, once a month or more.
How to check
Use a good quality tire pressure
gauge to check tire pressure. You
can not tell if your tires are properly
inflated simply by looking at them.
Radial tires may look properly inflat-
ed when they are under-inflated.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve stem. Press the tire gauge firm-
ly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire inflation
pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the tire and loading
information label, no further adjust-
ment is necessary. If the pressure is
low, add air until you reach the rec-
ommended pressure. Make sure to
put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. Without the valve cap, dirt or
moisture could get into the valve
core and cause air leakage. If a valve
cap is missing, install a new one as
soon as possible.If you overfill the tire, release air by
pushing on the metal stem in the
center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gauge. Be
sure to put the valve caps back on
the valve stems. Without the valve
cap, dirt or moisture could get into
the valve core and cause air leakage.
If a valve cap is missing, install a new
one as soon as possible.
Under-inflation results in exces-
sive wear, poor handling and
reduced fuel economy. Wheel
deformation is also possible.
Keep your tire pressures at the
proper levels. If a tire frequently
needs refilling, have it checked
by an authorized retailer of
Genesis Branded products.
Over-inflation produces a harsh
ride, excessive wear at the cen-
ter of the tire tread, and a
greater possibility of damage
from road hazards.
CAUTION