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DRIVING AND OPERATING 153
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer
and vehicle control can be affected
when traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material
on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues —such as enough
water, ice, or packed snow on the
road to make a mirrored surface
— and slow down when you have
any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden
changes could cause the tires to
slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid
only the braking skid.Track Events and
Competitive Driving
(V-Series Only)
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and qualified
drivers and should not be used on
public roads. High-speed driving,
aggressive cornering, hard braking,
and other high-performance driving
can be dangerous. Improper driver
inputs for the conditions may result
in loss of control of the vehicle,
which could injure or kill you or
others. Always drive safely.
Track events and competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty. See
the warranty manual before using the
vehicle for competitive driving.
{Warning
Prior to each track event and again
before returning to public roads,
tighten the wheel nuts with a
torque wrench to the proper torque
specification. Wheel nuts that are
improperly or incorrectly tightened
can cause the wheels to become
loose or come off, resulting in a
crash. See Capacities and
Specifications 0321 for wheel nut
torque specifications.
Caution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving, the
engine may use more oil than it
would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and
maintain the proper level. See
Engine Oil 0246.
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158 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For slippery road driving:
.
Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0183.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0180.
See Driver Mode Control 0185.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice. .
Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0328. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
(Continued)
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 159
Warning (Continued)
.Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0172.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps. If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0183.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle0295.
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178 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See“Skidding”underLoss
of Control 0152.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using
only the accelerator pedal may
damage the transmission. The
repair will not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. If the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes to
hold the vehicle in place.
If equipped with the 2.0L L4 engine,
engine speeds may be increased while
driving at highway speeds while the
engine is still warming up.
Manual Mode
Tap Shift Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Tap Shift, could damage the vehicle.
Always upshift when necessary
while using Tap Shift.
Vehicles with Tap Shift have controls
on the back of the steering wheel to
manually shift the automatic
transmission. Permanent Tap Shift Mode
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back on the shift lever to
activate M (Manual Mode). The
M in the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the D will
switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
3. Press the controls on the back of the steering wheel to shift. Use
the left steering wheel control to
downshift, and the right control
to upshift. To shift to the lowest
available gear, press and hold the
left control.
To exit Permanent Tap Shift Mode: 1. To exit M (Manual Mode) and return to D (Drive), pull back on
the shift lever. The D in the shift
pattern will illuminate in red,
and the M will switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 185
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster.
A DIC message may display.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn off
until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
guntil the
traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC OFF light
gcome on and stay on
in the instrument cluster. A DIC
message may display.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on
again, press and release
g. The
traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC OFF light
gin the instrument
cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle's performance. See Accessories
and Modifications 0240.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control (DMC) adds a
sportier feel, provides a more
comfortable ride, or assists in different
weather conditions or terrains. This
system simultaneously changes the
software settings of various
sub-systems to optimize driving
performance. Depending on the option
package, available features, and mode
selection; the Exhaust, Suspension,
Transfer-Case, Steering, Brakes and
Powertrain will change settings to
achieve the desired mode
characteristics. If the vehicle is
equipped with Magnetic Ride Control,
selecting the various Driver Modes
adjusts the ride of the vehicle to
enhance the ride performance for the
road conditions and the
selected mode.
Driver Mode Control has multiple
modes: My Mode, Tour, Sport, Snow/
Ice, Track and V-Mode. The Track
Mode and V-Mode are for V-Series
models only. Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice,
and Track are four modes that have preset vehicle settings for use in
different driving conditions. For
further detail see
“Mode Description ”.
My Mode and V-Mode are two modes
which can be customized by the
driver. In these two modes, vehicle
settings are configured to enhance
and personalize the driving
experience. See “Drive Mode
Customization ”for further details on
available customizations.
Mode Activation
Driver Mode Control Switch
To activate My Mode, Tour, Sport,
Snow/Ice, and Track Mode, press (up
arrow) or (down arrow) on the MODE
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186 DRIVING AND OPERATING
switch on the center console to make
a mode selection. Every press will
scroll to the next available mode.
When a mode is selected, a unique
and persistent indicator will be
displayed in the driver information
center (DIC).
V-Mode Button
To activate V-Mode, press the V-Mode
button on the steering wheel. To
deactivate, the driver can either select
a different mode through the DMC
switch or press the V-Mode button on
the steering wheel. When V-Mode is
deactivated through the V-Mode
button, DMC is always set back to
Tour Mode.
Mode Description
Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft ride.
This setting provides a balanced
setting between comfort and handling.
This is the standard mode. For further
details on Tour Mode see “Driver
Mode Selector Attributes Affected ”.
When Tour Mode is selected, no
indicator will display.
Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand a more controlled
response.
When selected, the Sport Mode
indicator will display.
In this mode, the vehicle monitors
driving behaviors and automatically
enables Performance Shift Features
when spirited driving is detected.
These features maintain lower
transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and improve
acceleration response. The vehicle will
exit this feature and return to normal
operation after a short period when no spirited driving is detected. The
steering will change to provide more
precise control. If the vehicle has
Magnetic Ride Control, the suspension
will change to provide better
cornering performance. Competitive
Driving Mode (Only available on FE3
suspensions) can be accessed through
this mode. See
Competitive Driving
Mode 0191.
For further details on Sport Mode, see
“Driver Mode Selector Attributes
Affected”.
The Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
(PAL) feature is enabled in Sport
Mode. PAL allows the transmission to
hold the current gear after a quick
release of a heavily applied accelerator
pedal. This provides greater engine
braking and enhanced vehicle control.
When PAL is activated, there may be
an additional green gear symbol which
appears in the instrument cluster
display. See Performance Shifting Light
0 111.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 187
Snow/Ice Mode
Snow/Ice Mode is used for slippery
surfaces to help control wheel speed.
This can compromise the acceleration
on dry asphalt.
Snow/Ice Mode will use a different
accelerator pedal map to optimize
traction on a slippery surface. The
accelerator pedal will reduce engine
torque at small pedal inputs.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator will display.
This feature is not intended for use
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow, or gravel. If the
vehicle becomes stuck, seeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0159.
For further details on Snow/Ice Mode
see “Driver Mode Selector Attributes
Affected”. Track Mode (V-Series Only)
Use when maximum vehicle handling
is desired. For use when driving on a
closed race course or drag strip.
When selected, the Track Mode
indicator will display.
When in Track Mode, the automatic
transmission and steering will
function similar to Sport Mode. The
accelerator pedal is adjusted to give
maximum control during the highest
level of spirited driving. The Magnetic
Ride Control will be set to the
optimum level for vehicle
responsiveness. Performance Traction
Management (PTM) can be accessed
through this mode. See
“Performance
Traction Management ”in Competitive
Driving Mode 0191.
For further details on Track Mode, see
“Driver Mode Selector Attributes
Affected”. My Mode
My Mode is used to personalize
everyday driving. This mode is
designed to allow the driver to
configure vehicle sub-systems to their
own preference for city or normal
driving.
Through the center display, the
following vehicle sub-systems may be
available for customization in
this mode.
.
Engine Sound: Stealth, Tour
(Default), Sport, Track
. Steering: Tour (default), Sport,
Track
. Suspension: Tour (default), Sport,
Track
. Brake Response: Tour (default),
Sport
For information on the range of
settings, see “Driver Mode
Customization ”.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 189
Driver Mode Selector Attributes Affected
Modes:TOUR
Default SPORT TRACK SNOW/ICE
Powertrain TourSport Track Snow/Ice
Throttle Progression TourTourTrack Snow/Ice
Transmission Shift Mode TourSport Track Snow/Ice
Engine Sound TourSport Track Tour
Steering TourSport Track Tour
Suspension (if equipped with Magnetic Ride) Tour SportTrack Tour
Traction and Stability Control Tour Sport ESC Track Tour
Competitive Driving Mode (if equipped) Not Available Available Not Available Not Available
Performance Traction Mode (if equipped) Not Available Not Available Available Not Available
Brake Response TourSport Sport Tour
Throttle Progression
Adjusts throttle sensitivity by
selecting how quick or slow the
throttle reacts to input.
. Snow/Ice - The accelerator pedal
will reduce engine torque at small
pedal inputs. This allows better
wheel control on slippery surfaces. .
Track - The accelerator pedal is
adjusted to give maximum control
during the highest level of spirited
driving.
Transmission Shift Mode
Sport or Track –Dynamic
Performance Mode (DPM) allows the
transmission to hold the current gear after a quick release of a heavily
applied accelerator pedal. This
provides greater engine braking and
enhanced vehicle control without
using the paddles. DPM recognizes
aggressive cornering, heavy braking,
and high acceleration to select and