STEERING
To help prevent damage to the power
steering system:
•
Do not hold the steering wheel at its
furthest turning points for more than
three to five seconds when the engine
is running.
• Avoid continuously steering back and
forth with elevated engine RPM as this
may overheat the system. If trying to
free a stuck vehicle, pause between
attempts to allow the power steering
system to cool or seek assistance.
Typical steering and driving maneuvers
allow the system to cool.
• Do not operate the vehicle if the power
steering pump fluid level is below the
MIN mark on the reservoir.
• Some noise is normal during operation.
If excessive, check for low power
steering pump fluid level before
seeking service by your dealer.
• Heavy or uneven efforts may be caused
by low power steering fluid. Check for
low power steering pump fluid level
before seeking service by your dealer.
• Do not fill the power steering pump
reservoir above the MAX mark on the
reservoir, as this may result in leaks
from the reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down
or if you switch off the engine, you can
steer the vehicle manually, but it takes
more effort.
Operating the steering system excessively
at an elevated engine RPM (>1200 rpm)
for more than 2 minutes can result in
steering system damage from overheating.
Move the steering wheel to the full left
position then full right position at idle
speed, or stop using the system for 2
minutes to allow the system to cool down. If the power steering system exhibits heavy
or uneven efforts, check for the following
before seeking service from your dealer:
•
An improperly inflated tire.
• Overloading of front suspension.
• Uneven vehicle loading.
• Binding suspension components.
If the power steering system wanders or
pulls, check for:
• An improperly inflated tire.
• Uneven vehicle loading.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension
components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment.
• High crosswinds.
If you service or replace any steering
components, install new fasteners. Many
fasteners have thread adhesive coatings,
or have prevailing torque features, which
you cannot re-use. Do not re-use a bolt or
nut. Torque fasteners to specifications.
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds
may also make the steering seem to
wander or pull.
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Parking
WARNING: When parking your
vehicle, do not leave the transmission in
gear; if the key is in the on position and
the vehicle rolls, the engine could start.
Failure to follow these instructions could
result in an unattended vehicle moving,
possibly causing personal injury or
property damage.
Always use the parking brake. When
parking on a grade, block the wheels and
turn the front wheels to one side so that if
your vehicle rolls, the front tires act against
the curb to stop your vehicle. The front
wheels are more effective at stopping a
rolling vehicle than the rear wheels.
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by several
things, such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under, and how you
maintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
• Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds without
stopping.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
• Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105
km/h]).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size. •
Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
• Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.
• Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
• Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.
• Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
• Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.
• Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).
• Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.
Conditions
• Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first
5–10 mi
(12 –16 km) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.
• Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
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Regular inspections should include:
•
Checking the brake lining (every service
interval). Establish inspection intervals
that provide for lining replacement
before damage to the disc occurs.
Excessive lining wear may expose the
backing plate to the disc causing
scoring of the disc faces. A qualified
technician should perform this
inspection and keep to instructions
provided by the service manual.
Hydraulic brake systems are
power-assisted. There is a great
reduction in braking capabilities
without engine assist.
• Proper fluid level. The level should be
at the bottom edge of the ring on each
reservoir fill port. Do not fill the master
cylinder to the top of the reservoir. If
fluid level requires attention to
maintain a proper master cylinder level,
this is an indication of either severe
operation (pad wear) or fluid leakage.
A more frequent and thorough brake
inspection is required.
• Brake lines, hoses and fittings. Repair
or replace brake line tubes, hoses or
fittings as required. Inspect these
components every 4,000 mi
(6,000 km) for the following.
• Lines for kinks, dents, corrosion or
rupture.
• Hoses for abrasions, kinks, soft
spots or rupture, collapse, cracks,
twists or loose frame supports.
When replacing a hose, be sure
there is adequate clearance to the
hose to avoid an abrasion to the
new hose.
• All connections for leaks. Driveline Parking Brake WARNING:
Use wheel chocks and
exercise caution when inspecting under
the vehicle. A vehicle roll-away could
result in property damage, personal injury
or death.
A qualified technician should adjust the
parking brake and keep to the instructions
in the service manual.
AXLE INSPECTION
Front Axle
Maintaining the front axle alignment to
specifications is very important. A qualified
technician should check and maintain the
alignment.
Regular inspections should include:
• Toe-in inspection and adjustment (if
necessary), particularly with radial
tires.
• Checking for proper tightness of axle
mounting U-bolt nuts, attaching or
mounting bolts and nuts.
• Checking the axle for damage, binding,
worn parts and adequate lubrication.
• Checking the kingpins for excessive
wear. Also, perform this check during
other scheduled maintenance, for
example as tire rotation or service,
wheel bearing service and alignment.
See the workshop manual for proper
procedures.
Toe-in
It is essential to maintain correct toe-in
and tire pressure for optimum tire wear.
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Safety Practices
WARNING: If your vehicle
is stuck in snow, mud or sand, do
not rapidly spin the tires;
spinning the tires can tear the
tire and cause an explosion. A
tire can explode in as little as
three to five seconds. WARNING: Do not spin the
wheels at over
34 mph
(55 km/h). The tires may fail and
injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal
to do with your tire mileage and
safety.
• Observe posted speed limits
• Avoid fast starts, stops and
turns
• Avoid potholes and objects on
the road
• Do not run over curbs or hit the
tire against a curb when
parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there ’s always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire
on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic.
This may further damage the flat
tire, but your safety is more
important. If you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance when driving, or
you suspect your tire or vehicle
has been damaged, immediately
reduce your speed. Drive with
caution until you can safely pull
off the road. Stop and inspect the
tires for damage. If a tire is
under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and
replace it with your spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a
cause, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest repair facility or tire
dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or
pothole can cause the front end
of your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage to
your tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you’re
driving, the wheels may be out of
alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front
or the rear can cause uneven and
rapid treadwear of your tires and
should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel
drive vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension may
require alignment of all four
wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire
and wheel assembly may result in
irregular tire wear.
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Tire Rotation
Note:
If your tires show uneven
wear ask an authorized dealer to
check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or
mechanical problem involved
before tire rotation.
Note: Your vehicle may be
equipped with a dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly. A
dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly is defined as a spare
wheel and tire assembly that is
different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and
wheels. If you have a dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly it is
intended for temporary use only
and should not be used in a tire
rotation.
Rotating your tires at the
recommended interval helps your
tires wear more evenly, providing
better tire performance and longer
tire life. Rear-wheel drive vehicles Dual rear wheel vehicles (six
tire rotation)
If your vehicle is equipped with
dual rear wheels it is
recommended that the front and
rear tires (in pairs) be rotated only
side to side. We do not
recommend splitting up the dual
rear wheels. Rotate them side to
side as a set. After tire rotation,
inflation pressures must be
adjusted for the tires new
positions in accordance with
vehicle requirements.
Sometimes irregular tire wear can
be corrected by rotating the tires.
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