• Check Gascap (refer to “Refueling The Ve-
hicle” in “Starting And Operating” for fur-
ther information)
• Oil Change Required (with a single chime)
• ECO (Fuel Saver Indicator) — if equipped
Gear Shift Indicator (GSI) — If Equipped
The Gear Shift Indicator (GSI) system is en-
abled on vehicles with a manual transmis-
sion, or when a vehicle with an automatic
transmission is in manual shift mode. The
GSI provides the driver with a visual indica-
tion when the recommended gear shift point
has been reached. This indication notifies
the driver that changing gear will allow a
reduction in fuel consumption. When the up
shift indicator is shown on the display, the
GSI is advising the driver to engage a higher
gear. When the down shift indicator is shown
on the display, the GSI is advising the driver
to engage a lower gear.
The GSI indicator remains illuminated until
the driver changes gear, or the driving condi-
tions return to a situation where changing gear
is not required to improve fuel consumption.
Oil Change Required
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil
change indicator system. The “Oil Change
Required” message will display in the instru-
ment cluster display for approximately
10 seconds after a single chime has sounded
to indicate the next scheduled oil change
interval. The engine oil change indicator sys-
tem is duty cycle based, which means the
engine oil change interval may fluctuate de-
pendent upon your personal driving style.
Unless reset, this message will continue to
display each time you turn the ignition switch
to the ON position. To turn off the message
temporarily, push and release theMENUbut-
ton. To reset the oil change indicator system
(after performing the scheduled mainte-
nance), perform the following procedure:
WARNING LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
The warning/indicator lights will illuminate in
the instrument panel together with a dedi-
cated message and/or acoustic signal when
applicable. These indications are indicativeand precautionary and as such must not be
considered as exhaustive and/or alternative
to the information contained in the Owner’s
Manual, which you are advised to read care-
fully in all cases. Always refer to the informa-
tion in this chapter in the event of a failure
indication. All active telltales will display first
if applicable. The system check menu may
appear different based upon equipment op-
tions and current vehicle status. Some tell-
tales are optional and may not appear.
Red Warning Lights
— Air Bag Warning Light
This light indicates a fault with the air bag,
and will turn on for four to eight seconds as a
bulb check when the ignition is placed in the
ON/RUN or ACC/ON/RUN position. This light
will illuminate with a single chime when a
fault with the air bag has been detected, it
will stay on until the fault is cleared. If the
light is either not on during startup, stays on,
or turns on while driving, have the system
inspected at an authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
58
WARNING!
• ONLY use the driver’s side floor mat on
the driver’s side floor area. To check for
interference, with the vehicle properly
parked with the engine off, fully depress
the accelerator, the brake, and the
clutch pedal (if present) to check for
interference. If your floor mat interferes
with the operation of any pedal, or is not
secure to the floor, remove the floor mat
from the vehicle and place the floor mat
in your trunk.
• ONLY use the passenger’s side floor mat
on the passenger’s side floor area.
• ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or
slide into the driver’s side floor area
when the vehicle is moving. Objects can
become trapped under accelerator,
brake, or clutch pedals and could cause
a loss of vehicle control.
• NEVER place any objects under the floor
mat (e.g., towels, keys, etc.). These ob-
jects could change the position of the
floor mat and may cause interference
WARNING!
with the accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals.
• If the vehicle carpet has been removed
and re-installed, always properly attach
carpet to the floor and check the floor
mat fasteners are secure to the vehicle
carpet. Fully depress each pedal to
check for interference with the accelera-
tor, brake, or clutch pedals then re-
install the floor mats.
• It is recommended to only use mild soap
and water to clean your floor mats. After
cleaning, always check your floor mat
has been properly installed and is se-
cured to your vehicle using the floor mat
fasteners by lightly pulling mat.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and
uneven wear patterns. Check for stones,
nails, glass, or other objects lodged in thetread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts,
cracks, and bulges. Check the wheel nuts for
tightness. Check the tires (including spare)
for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake
lights and exterior lights while you work the
controls. Check turn signal and high beam
indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and lock-
ing.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight
parking for fuel, coolant, oil, or other fluid
leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes are detected or
if fuel, or brake fluid leaks are suspected. The
cause should be located and corrected imme-
diately.
SAFETY
114
ENGINE BREAK-IN
RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the
engine and drivetrain (transmission and axle)
in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles
(500 km). After the initial 60 miles
(100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or
90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration
within the limits of local traffic laws contrib-
utes to a good break-in. Wide-open throttle
acceleration in low gear can be detrimental
and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the
factory is a high-quality energy conserving
type lubricant. Oil changes should be consis-
tent with anticipated climate conditions un-
der which vehicle operations will occur. For
the recommended viscosity and quality
grades, refer to “Dealer Service” in “Servic-
ing And Maintenance”.
CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight
Mineral Oil in the engine or damage may
result.
NOTE:
A new engine may consume some oil during
its first few thousand miles (kilometers) of
operation. This should be considered a nor-
mal part of the break-in and not interpreted
as a problem.
PARKING BRAKE
Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that the
parking brake is fully applied. Also, be cer-
tain to leave an automatic transmission in
PARK, or manual transmission in REVERSE
or FIRST gear.
The parking brake lever is located in the
center console. To apply the parking brake,
pull the lever up as firmly as possible. To
release the parking brake, pull the lever up
slightly, push the center button, then lower
the lever completely.When the parking brake is applied with the
ignition switch ON, the “Brake Warning Light”
in the instrument cluster will illuminate.
NOTE:
• When the parking brake is applied and the
automatic transmission is placed in gear,
the “Brake Warning Light” will flash. If
vehicle speed is detected, a chime will
sound to alert the driver. Fully release the
parking brake before attempting to move
the vehicle.
Parking Brake Lever
121
Checking Oil Level — Gasoline Engine
To ensure proper lubrication of your vehicle's
engine, the engine oil must be maintained at
the correct level. The engine oil level should
be checked five minutes after a warmed up
engine has been shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
ground will improve the accuracy of the oil
level readings. Always maintain the oil level
within the SAFE zone on the dipstick. Adding
1 quart (0.95 liters) of oil when the reading is
at the bottom of the crosshatch zone will
result in a reading at the top of the cross-
hatch zone on these engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase
will cause aeration or loss of oil pressure.
This could damage your engine.
Checking Oil Level — Diesel 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.For vehicles equipped with a Diesel Particu-
late Filter (DPF), it is acceptable to have an
oil level up to 3/8 inch (10 mm) above the
MAX line. Beyond 3/8 inch (10 mm) it is
recommended to change the oil.
The best time to check the engine oil level is
about five minutes after a fully warmed en-
gine is shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
ground will improve the accuracy of the oil
level readings. Maintain the oil level between
the MIN and MAX markings on the dipstick.
Adding 1 U.S. Quart (0.95 L) of oil when the
reading is at the MIN mark will result in a
MAX reading on these engines.
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
WARNING!
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-
matically and may start at any time,
whether the engine is running or not.
• When working near the radiator cooling
fan, disconnect the fan motor lead or
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 or rusty in
appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed and refilled with fresh engine coolant
(antifreeze). Check the front of the A/C con-
denser (if equipped) or radiator for any accu-
mulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
182
WARNING!
• Use only manufacturer's recommended
brake fluid. Refer to “Fluids And Lubri-
cants” in “Technical Specifications” for
further information. Using the wrong
type of brake fluid can severely damage
your brake system and/or impair its per-
formance. The proper type of brake fluid
for your vehicle is also identified on the
original factory installed hydraulic mas-
ter cylinder reservoir.
• To avoid contamination from foreign
matter or moisture, use only new brake
fluid or fluid that has been in a tightly
closed container. Keep the master cylin-
der reservoir cap secured at all times.
Brake fluid in a open container absorbs
moisture from the air resulting in a lower
boiling point. This may cause it to boil
unexpectedly during hard or prolonged
braking, resulting in sudden brake fail-
ure. This could result in a collision.
• Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot en-
gine parts, causing the brake fluid to
WARNING!
catch fire. Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care should
be taken to avoid its contact with these
surfaces.
• Do not allow petroleum based fluid to
contaminate the brake fluid. Brake seal
components could be damaged, causing
partial or complete brake failure. This
could result in a collision.
Manual Transmission
Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid level by removing the fill
plug. The fluid level should be between the
bottom of the fill hole and a point not more
than 3/16 of an inch (4.76 mm) below the
bottom of the hole.
Add fluid, if necessary, to maintain the
proper level.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level Check — Gasoline Engine
It is best to check the fluid level when the
transmission is at normal operating tempera-
ture (approximately 180°F/82°C). This oc-
curs after at least 15 miles (25 km) of driv-
ing. At normal operating temperature, the
fluid cannot be held comfortably between the
fingertips.
Use the following procedure to check the
transmission fluid level properly:
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
2. Remove the engine cover by pulling it up
off the mounting studs (two in the front
and two in the rear).
3. Run the engine at normal idle speed for at
least 60 seconds, and leave the engine
running for the rest of this procedure.
4. Fully apply the parking brake, and press
the brake pedal.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
184
worn to the tread wear indicators, the tire
should be replaced. Refer to “Replacement
Tires” in this section for further information.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including, but not limited to:
• Driving style.
•
Tire pressure - Improper cold tire inflation
pressures can cause uneven wear patterns to
develop across the tire tread. These abnormal
wear patterns will reduce tread life, resulting
in the need for earlier tire replacement.
• Distance driven.
• Performance tires, tires with a speed rating
of V or higher, and Summer tires typically
have a reduced tread life. Rotation of these
tires per the vehicle scheduled mainte-
nance is highly recommended.
WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be replaced
after six years, regardless of the remaining
tread. Failure to follow this warning can
result in sudden tire failure. You could lose
WARNING!
control and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible.
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease,
and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a bal-
ance of many characteristics. They should be
inspected regularly for wear and correct cold
tire inflation pressures. The manufacturer
strongly recommends that you use tires
equivalent to the originals in size, quality and
performance when replacement is needed.
Refer to the paragraph on “Tread Wear Indi-
cators” in this section. Refer to the Tire and
Loading Information placard or the Vehicle
Certification Label for the size designation of
your tire. The Load Index and Speed Symbol
for your tire will be found on the original
equipment tire sidewall.It is recommended to replace the two front
tires or two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just
one tire can seriously affect your vehicle’s
handling. If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel’s specifications match
those of the original wheels.
It is recommended you contact an authorized
tire dealer or original equipment dealer with
any questions you may have on tire specifi-
cations or capability. Failure to use equiva-
lent replacement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your vehicle.
WARNING!
• Do not use a tire, wheel size, load rating,
or speed rating other than that specified
for your vehicle. Some combinations of
unapproved tires and wheels may
change suspension dimensions and per-
formance characteristics, resulting in
changes to steering, handling, and brak-
ing of your vehicle. This can cause un-
predictable handling and stress to steer-
ing and suspension components. You
could lose control and have a collisionSERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
196