CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle
power outlets draw power from the vehi-
cle’s battery, even when not in use (i.e.,
cellular devices, etc.). Eventually, if
plugged in long enough without engine
operation, the vehicle’s battery will dis-
charge sufficiently to degrade battery life
and/or prevent the engine from starting.
REFUELING IN EMERGENCY
Emergency Fuel Filler Door Release
If you are unable to open the fuel filler door,
use the fuel filler door emergency release.
1. Open the liftgate.
2. Remove access door located on right inte-
rior trim panel for release cable with the
tip of your key.
3. Grab the release cable tether and pull up
to release the fuel filler door.
IF YOUR ENGINE
OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can
reduce the potential for overheating your en-
gine by taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, place the
transmission in NEUTRAL, but do not in-
crease engine idle speed.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads “H,” pull over and stop the
vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air con-
ditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer
remains on the “H” and you hear continu-
ous chimes, turn the engine off immedi-
ately and call for service.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 maximum 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.WARNING!
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 try to open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
212
Checking Oil Level
WARNING!
• Never smoke while working in the engine
compartment: gas and inflammable va-
pors may be present, with the risk of fire.
• Be very careful when working in the
engine compartment when the engine is
hot: you may get burned. Do not get too
close to the radiator cooling fan: the
electric fan may start; danger of injury.
Scarves, ties and other loose clothing
might be pulled by moving parts.
CAUTION!
• Be careful not to confuse the various
types of fluids while topping up: they are
not compatible with each other! Topping
up with an unsuitable fluid could se-
verely damage your car.
• The oil level must never exceed the MAX
mark.
• Always top up using engine oil of the
same specifications as that already in
the engine.
CAUTION!
• If the engine oil is being topped up, wait
for the engine to cool down before loos-
ening the filler cap, particularly for ve-
hicles with aluminium cap (if equipped).
WARNING: risk of burns!
• Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase
will cause aeration or loss of oil pressure.
This could damage your engine.
To assure proper engine lubrication, the en-
gine oil must be maintained at the correct
level. Check the oil level at regular intervals,
such as every fuel stop. The best time to
check the engine oil level is about five min-
utes after a fully warmed up engine is shut
off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
ground will improve the accuracy of the oil
level readings.
There are three possible dipstick types,
• Crosshatched zone.
• Crosshatched zone marked SAFE.• Crosshatched zone marked with MIN at the
low end of the range and MAX at the high
end of the range.
NOTE:
Always maintain the oil level within the cross-
hatch markings on the dipstick.
Adding 1 quart (1.0 liters) of oil when the
reading is at the low end of the dipstick range
will raise the oil level to the high end of the
range marking.
Cooling System
WARNING!
• 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 auto-
231
WARNING!
matically and may start at any time,
whether the engine is running or not.
• When working near the radiator cooling
fan, turn the ignition to the OFF mode.
The fan is temperature controlled and
can start at any time the ignition is in the
ON mode.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protec-
tion every 12 months (before the onset of
freezing weather, where applicable). If the
engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty, the sys-
tem should be drained, flushed, and refilled
with fresh OAT coolant (conforming to
MS.90032) by an authorized dealer. Check
the front of the A/C condenser for any accu-
mulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean
by gently spraying water from a garden hose
vertically down the face of the condenser.
Check the engine cooling system hoses for
brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and
tightness of the connection at the coolant
recovery bottle and radiator. Inspect the en-tire system for leaks. DO NOT REMOVE THE
COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE
COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
Adding Washer Fluid
The windshield and rear window washers
share the same fluid reservoir. The fluid res-
ervoir is located in the front of the engine
compartment. Be sure to check the fluid level
in the reservoir at regular intervals. Fill the
reservoir with windshield washer solvent (not
radiator antifreeze) and operate the system
for a few seconds to flush out the residual
water.
When refilling the washer fluid reservoir, take
some washer fluid and apply it to a cloth or
towel and wipe clean the wiper blades, this
will help blade performance.
To prevent freeze-up of your windshield
washer system in cold weather, select a solu-
tion or mixture that meets or exceeds the
temperature range of your climate. This rat-
ing information can be found on most washer
fluid containers.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield washer
solvents are flammable. They could ignite
and burn you. Care must be exercised
when filling or working around the washer
solution.
CAUTION!
Do not travel with the windshield washer
fluid reservoir empty: the windshield
washer is essential for improving visibility.
Repeated operation of the system without
fluid could damage or cause rapid deterio-
ration of some system components.
Brake System
In order to assure brake system performance,
all brake system components should be in-
spected periodically. Refer to the “Mainte-
nance Plan” in this section for the proper
maintenance intervals.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
232