6-25
What to do in an emergency
6
Always follow these emergency tow-
ing precautions:
Place the Engine Start/Stop button
in 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.
ODH067025N
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
7-8
Maintenance
Owner maintenance schedule
When you stop for fuel:
• Check the engine oil level.
Check coolant level in the engine
coolant reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid
level.
Check for low or under-inflated
tires.
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound of
the 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 engine
coolant 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
