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DRIVING AND OPERATING 215
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails, roads,
and areas that have been set aside
for public off-road recreational
driving and obey all posted
regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb wildlife.
.Do not park over things that burn.
SeeParking over Things That Burn
0 230.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep for
any vehicle. Driving up hills can
cause the vehicle to stall. Driving
down hills can cause loss of control.
Driving across hills can cause a
rollover. You could be injured or
killed. Do not drive on steep hills. Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and obstructions.
If the terrain ahead cannot be seen,
get out of the vehicle and walk the hill
before driving further.
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm grip
on the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight up or
down the hill.
.Slow down when approaching the
top of the hill.
.Use headlamps even during the day
to make the vehicle more visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause a crash. There
could be a drop-off, embankment,
cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed.
As you near the top of a hill, slow
down and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or
backward with the transmission in
N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose control.
.When driving down a hill, keep the
vehicle headed straight down. Use a
low gear because the engine will
work with the brakes to slow the
vehicle and help keep the vehicle
under control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down a
hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could cause
loss of control and you or others
could be injured or killed. Apply the
brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking
brake.
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216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restartthe engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the parking
brake, and back straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle, it is
steep enough to cause it to
roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
.The vehicle can roll backward
quickly and you could lose
control.
.If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a lower
gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake,
shift into P (Park), and turn the
vehicle off. 3.1. Leave the vehicle and
seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled
downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill. A hill
that can be driven straight up or
down might be too steep to drive
across. Driving across an incline
puts more weight on the downhill
wheels which could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause the
tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can
hit something that will trip it –a
rock, a rut, etc. –and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.If an incline must be driven across,
and the vehicle starts to slide, turn
downhill. This should help
straighten out the vehicle and
prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped across
an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be
crushed or killed. Always get out on
the uphill side of the vehicle and
stay well clear of the rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud –
the deeper the mud, the lower the
gear. Keep the vehicle moving to avoid
getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires tend
to sink into the sand. This affects
steering, accelerating, and braking.
Drive at a reduced speed and avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow and ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream and
you and your passengers could
drown. If it is only shallow water, it
can still wash away the ground
from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could
roll over. Do not drive through
rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the ignition
system and the vehicle can stall.
Stalling can also occur if you get the
exhaust pipe under water. While the
exhaust pipe is under water, you will
not be able to start the engine. When
going through water, the brakes get
wet, and it might take longer to stop.
See Driving on Wet Roads 0217.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have
the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing
and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system for
damage and check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
(Continued)
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 219
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
Control0240.
.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) 0238.
.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.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode
for vehicles equipped with AWD.
Select Snow/Ice Mode for FWD only
vehicles. See Driver Mode Control
0 242 and
All-Wheel Drive 0237.
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 0396. 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)
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 0231.
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.
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220 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0240.
{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.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
For All-Wheel Drive (AWD), select
Off-Road or AWD mode. See Driver
Mode Control 0242 and
All-Wheel Drive 0237.
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 Vehicle 0361.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). This can cause
systems to break and change
the way the vehicle handles.
This could cause loss of control
and a crash. Overloading can
also reduce stopping
performance, damage the tires,
and shorten the life of the
vehicle.
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232 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Automatic Transmission
The shift pattern is displayed in the
top of the shift lever. The selected
gear position will illuminate red on
the shift lever, while all others will be
displayed in white. If the shift is not
immediate, as in very cold conditions,
the indicator on the shift lever may
flash until it is fully engaged.
The shift lever always starts from a
center position, represented by an up/
down arrow on the shift pattern. After
releasing the shift lever, it will return
to the center position.
The transmission does not operate
when the vehicle is off.If the vehicle is in ACC/ACCESSORY,
the transmission can be shifted into
P (Park).
If the vehicle is turned off while at a
relatively high vehicle speed, the
transmission will automatically shift
to N (Neutral). Once the vehicle is
stopped, P (Park) is automatically
selected.
P :
This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the
vehicle to prevent the vehicle from
moving easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake set.
The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If the engine has
been left running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always set the parking
brake and place the transmission
into P (Park). See Shifting Into Park
0 229 and
Electric Parking Brake 0238.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 233
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronically controlled transmission.
The shift lock release button is
designed to prevent inadvertent
shifting out of P (Park) unless the
ignition is on, the brake pedal is
applied, and the shift lock release
button is pressed.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP to turn off the
vehicle. The transmission will shift to
P (Park) automatically unless the
vehicle is in N (Neutral), See“Car
Wash Mode ”later in this section.
The vehicle will not shift into P (Park)
if it is moving too fast. Stop the
vehicle and shift into P (Park). To shift into and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park
0229 and
Shifting out of Park 0230.
Service Shift Lever Message
If the message SERVICE SHIFTER SEE
OWNER’S MANUAL appears in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), the
shift lever needs service. Have the
vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
If the vehicle is automatically shifting
into P (Park), check to see if the
P (Park) button on top of the shift
lever is stuck. To operate the vehicle,
hold the shift lever in the desired gear,
R (Reverse) or D (Drive), until vehicle
speed exceeds 15 km/h (10 mph), then
release the shift lever.
R : Use this gear to back up.
If the vehicle is shifted from either
R (Reverse) to D (Drive) or M (Manual
Mode), or M (Manual Mode) or
D (Drive) to R (Reverse) while the
speed is too high, the vehicle will shift
to N (Neutral). Reduce the vehicle
speed and try the shift again.
To shift into R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. 2. Press and hold the shift lock
release button on the side of the
shift lever.
3. From the center position, move the shift lever forward through the first
detent to the end of travel. R is
illuminated in red.
4. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
To shift out of R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse) can
be used to rock the vehicle back and
forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand
without damaging the transmission.
See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0220.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle is
already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
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236 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To shift out of D (Drive):1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear. If shifting from D (Drive) to R (Reverse) the
shift lock release button will need
to be pressed.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”underLoss
of Control 0213.
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.
If equipped, 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. Pull the control toward you to shift. Pull the left control to
downshift, and the right control to
upshift.
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.