that meets the door-latch post, next tothe driver's seating position), or TireLabel which is located on the B-Pillar orthe edge of the driver’s door. The coldinflation pressure should never be setlower than the recommended pressureon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel or Tire Label.
When weather temperature changesoccur, tire inflation pressures alsochange. A 10°F (6°C) temperature dropcan cause a corresponding drop of 1 psi(0.07 bar) in inflation pressure. Checkyour tire pressures frequently and adjustthem to the proper pressure which canbe found on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label or Tire Label.
To check the pressure in your tire(s):
1. Make sure the tires are cool,meaning they are not hot fromdriving even a mile.
Note:If you are checking tire pressurewhen the tire is hot, (for example drivenmore than 1.0 mi (1.6 km), never bleedor reduce air pressure. The tires are hotfrom driving and it is normal forpressures to increase aboverecommended cold pressures. A hot tireat or below recommended cold inflationpressure could be significantlyunder-inflated.
Note:If you have to drive a distance toget air for your tire(s), check and recordthe tire pressure first and add theappropriate air pressure when you getto the pump. It is normal for tires to heatup and the air pressure inside to go upas you drive.
2.Remove the cap from the valve on
one tire, then firmly press the tiregauge onto the valve and measurethe pressure.
3. Add enough air to reach therecommended air pressure.
Note:If you overfill the tire, release airby pressing on the metal stem in thecenter of the valve. Then recheck thepressure with your tire gauge.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5.Repeat this procedure for each tire,including the spare.
Note:Some spare tires operate at ahigher inflation pressure than the othertires. For T type mini-spare tires, see theDissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly information for a description.Store and maintain at 60 psi (4.15 bar).For full-size and dissimilar spare tires,see the Dissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly information for a description.Store and maintain at the higher of thefront and rear inflation pressure as
shown on the Tire Label.
6.Visually inspect the tires to makesure there are no nails or otherobjects embedded that could pokea hole in the tire and cause an airleak.
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Age
WARNING: Tires degrade overtime depending on many factors suchas weather, storage conditions, andconditions of use (load, speed, inflationpressure) the tires experiencethroughout their lives.
WARNING: In general, tires shouldbe replaced after six years regardlessof tread wear. However, heat caused byhot climates or frequent high loadingconditions can accelerate the agingprocess and may require tires to bereplaced more frequently.You should replace your spare tire whenyou replace the road tires or after six
years due to aging even if it has notbeen used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
Both U.S. and Canada Federalregulations require tire manufacturersto place standardized information on thesidewall of all tires. This informationidentifies and describes the fundamentalcharacteristics of the tire and alsoprovides a U.S. DOT Tire IdentificationNumber for safety standard certificationand in case of a recall.
This begins with the letters DOT andindicates that the tire meets all federalstandards. The next two numbers orletters are the plant code designatingwhere it was manufactured, the next twoare the tire size code and the last fournumbers represent the week and yearthe tire was built. For example, the
numbers 317 mean the 31st week of1997. After 2000 the numbers go to fourdigits. For example, 2501 means the25th week of 2001. The numbers inbetween are identification codes usedfor traceability. This information is usedto contact customers if a tire defectrequires a recall.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tiresdesigned to provide a safe ride andhandling capability.
WARNING: Replace the wheelsand tires with the exact original brand,size and construction that cameoriginally on your vehicle. Use of anyother wheel or tire combinations, evenwith identical size ratings, may result ininsufficient running clearances, tirerubbing and eventual puncture. Failureto follow tire replacementrecommendations can lead to tire failure,loss of vehicle control, serious injury ordeath.
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Driving habits have a great deal to dowith your tire mileage and safety.
•Observe posted speed limits
•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
•Avoid potholes and objects on theroad
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tireagainst a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive thereis always the possibility that you mayeventually have a flat tire on thehighway. Drive slowly to the closest safearea out of traffic. This may furtherdamage the flat tire, but your safety ismore important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ridedisturbance while driving, or you suspectyour tire or vehicle has been damaged,immediately reduce your speed. Drivewith caution until you can safely pull offthe road. Stop and inspect the tires fordamage. If a tire is under-inflated or
damaged, deflate it, remove the wheeland replace it with your spare tire andwheel (if provided). If you cannot detecta cause, have the vehicle towed to thenearest repair facility or tire dealer tohave the vehicle inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or potholecan cause the front end of your vehicleto become misaligned or cause damageto your tires. If your vehicle seems topull to one side when you’re driving, thewheels may be out of alignment. Havean authorized dealer check the wheelalignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or therear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should becorrected by an authorized dealer.Front-wheel drive vehicles and thosewith an independent rear suspension (ifequipped) may require alignment of allfour wheels.
The tires should also be balancedperiodically. An unbalanced tire andwheel assembly may result in irregulartire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:If your tires show uneven wearask an authorized dealer to check forand correct any wheel misalignment,tire imbalance or mechanical probleminvolved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equippedwith a dissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly. A dissimilar spare wheel andtire assembly is defined as a sparewheel and tire assembly that is differentin brand, size or appearance from theroad tires and wheels. If you have a
dissimilar spare wheel and tire assemblyit is intended for temporary use only andshould not be used in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated,inflation pressure must be checked andadjusted to the vehicle requirements.
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TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING: The tire pressuremonitoring system is not a substitute formanually checking tire pressures. You shouldperiodically check tire pressures using apressure gauge. Failure to correctly maintaintire pressures could increase the risk of tirefailure, loss of control, vehicle rollover andpersonal injury.
Note: You should only use tire sealants inroadside emergencies as they may causedamage to the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor.
Note: If the tire pressure monitoring systemsensor becomes damaged, it may notfunction.
Each tire, including the spare (ifprovided), should be checkedmonthly when cold and inflated tothe inflation pressure recommended by thevehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placardor tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehiclehas tires of a different size than the sizeindicated on the vehicle placard or tireinflation pressure label, you shoulddetermine the proper tire inflation pressurefor those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle hasbeen equipped with a Tire PressureMonitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates alow tire pressure telltale when one or moreof your tires is significantly under-inflated.Accordingly, when the low tire pressuretelltale illuminates, you should stop andcheck your tires as soon as possible, andinflate them to the proper pressure. Drivingon a significantly under-inflated tire causesthe tire to overheat and can lead to tirefailure. Under-inflation also reduces fuelefficiency and tire tread life, and may affectthe vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitutefor proper tire maintenance, and it is thedriver’s responsibility to maintain correct tirepressure, even if under-inflation has notreached the level to trigger illumination ofthe TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with aTPMS malfunction indicator to indicate whenthe system is not operating properly. TheTPMS malfunction indicator is combined withthe low tire pressure telltale. When thesystem detects a malfunction, the telltale willflash for approximately one minute and thenremain continuously illuminated. Thissequence will continue upon subsequentvehicle start-ups as long as the malfunctionexists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,the system may not be able to detect orsignal low tire pressure as intended. TPMSmalfunctions may occur for a variety ofreasons, including the installation ofreplacement or alternate tires or wheels onthe vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
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When Inflating Your Tires
WARNING: Do not use the tirepressure displayed in the information displayas a tire pressure gauge. Failure to followthis instruction could result in personal injuryor death.
When putting air into your tires (such as at agas station or in your garage), the tirepressure monitoring system may not respondimmediately to the air added to your tires.
It may take up to two minutes of driving over20 mph (32 km/h) for the light to turn off afteryou have filled your tires to therecommended inflation pressure.
How Temperature Affects Your TirePressure
The tire pressure monitoring system monitorstire pressure in each pneumatic tire. Whiledriving in a normal manner, a typicalpassenger tire inflation pressure mayincrease about 2–4 psi (14–28 kPa) from acold start situation. If the vehicle is stationaryovernight with the outside temperature
significantly lower than the daytimetemperature, the tire pressure may decreaseabout 3 psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C)in ambient temperature. This lower pressurevalue may be detected by the tire pressuremonitoring system as being significantlylower than the recommended inflationpressure and activate the system warninglight for low tire pressure. If the low tirepressure warning light is on, visually checkeach tire to verify that no tire is flat. If one ormore tires are flat, repair as necessary.Check the air pressure in the road tires. Ifany tire is under-inflated, carefully drive thevehicle to the nearest location where air canbe added to the tires. Inflate all the tires tothe recommended inflation pressure.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL (If
Equipped)
WARNING: If the tire pressure monitorsensor becomes damaged it may notfunction.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring systemindicator light illuminates when the sparetire is in use. To restore the full function ofthe monitoring system, all road wheelsequipped with tire pressure monitoringsensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
Note:You should only use tire sealants inroadside emergencies as they may causedamage to the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor.
If you get a flat tire when driving, do notapply the brake heavily. Instead, graduallydecrease your speed. Hold the steeringwheel firmly and slowly move to a safe placeon the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorized dealerin order to prevent damage to the tirepressure monitoring system sensors. SeeTire Pressure Monitoring System (page 352).Replace the spare tire with a road tire assoon as possible. During repairing orreplacing of the flat tire, have an authorizeddealer inspect the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor for damage.
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Side Sensing System..................................203Obstacle Distance Indicator............................204
Sitting in the Correct Position.....................141Snow ChainsSee: Using Snow Chains...................................351
Spare WheelSee: Changing a Road Wheel.........................356
Special Notices.................................................13New Vehicle Limited Warranty...........................13On Board Diagnostics Data LinkConnector............................................................14Special Instructions...............................................13
Special Operating Conditions ScheduledMaintenance................................................512Exceptions.............................................................515
Speed ControlSee: Cruise Control.............................................217
Stability Control.............................................198Principle of Operation........................................198
Starting a Gasoline Engine.........................162Automatic Engine Shutdown............................163Failure to Start......................................................163Fast Restart...........................................................162Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes...................164Important Ventilating Information...................164Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle isMoving...............................................................164
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle isStationary..........................................................164
Starting and Stopping the Engine..............161General Information.............................................161
Steering..........................................................240Electric Power Steering....................................240
Steering Wheel................................................80Storage Compartments...............................160SunroofSee: Moonroof.....................................................100
Sun Shades....................................................100Sun Visors.......................................................100Illuminated Vanity Mirror...................................100
Supplementary Restraints System..............47Principle of Operation..........................................47
Symbols Glossary..............................................7SYNC™ 3..........................................................394General Information...........................................394
SYNC™ 3 Troubleshooting...........................481
T
Technical SpecificationsSee: Capacities and Specifications...............366
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) AutoLine Program (U.S. Only)...........................271Tire Care.........................................................336Glossary of Tire Terminology..........................338
Information About Uniform Tire QualityGrading.............................................................337Information Contained on the TireSidewall............................................................339Temperature A B C.............................................338Traction AA A B C...............................................337Treadwear.............................................................337
Tire Inflation When PuncturedSee: Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit....................329
Tire Pressure Monitoring System.............352Changing Tires With a Tire PressureMonitoring System.........................................353Understanding Your Tire Pressure MonitoringSystem .............................................................353
Tire Repair KitSee: Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit....................329
Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit.......................329First Stage: Reinflating the Tire with SealingCompound and Air.........................................331General Information...........................................329Second Stage: Checking Tire Pressure........333Tips for Use of your TMK..................................330What to do after the Tire has beenSealed...............................................................334What to do when a Tire Is Punctured.............331
TiresSee: Wheels and Tires......................................329
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Index