able to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a
variety of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle, to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the origi-
nal equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pres-
sures and warning have been established for
the tire size equipped on your vehicle. Un-
desirable system operation or sensor dam-
age may result when using replacement
equipment that is not of the same size, type,
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Using aftermarket tire seal-
ants may cause the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) sensor to become inoper-
able. After using an aftermarket tire sealant it
is recommended that you take your vehicle
to an authorized dealership to have your
sensor function checked.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) OFF Indicator Light — If Equipped
Yellow Telltale Light What It Means
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) OFF Indicator Light — If Equipped
This light indicates the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is off.
131
•Tire Inflation Pressures........................196
•Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation.............197
•Radial Ply Tires.............................197
•Tire Types................................198
•Run Flat Tires — If Equipped.....................199
•Spare Tires — If Equipped.......................199
•Tire Spinning..............................200
•Tread Wear Indicators.........................200
•Life Of Tire...............................201
•Replacement Tires...........................201
•TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .202
•TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .203
•TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) . . . . .. . . .204
•Base System...............................205
•Premium System — If Equipped...................207
•TPMS Deactivation — If Equipped..................209
•FUEL REQUIREMENTS — GASOLINE ENGINE . . . . . . . . . . .210•Methanol.................................210
•Ethanol..................................210
•Clean Air Gasoline...........................211
•MMT In Gasoline............................211
•Materials Added To Fuel.......................211
•ADDING FUEL...............................212•Locking Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap).................212
•Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message...................212
•TRAILER TOWING . . ..........................213•Common Towing Definitions.....................213
163
WARNING!
Do not descend a steep grade in NEUTRAL.
Use vehicle brakes in conjunction with en-
gine braking. Descending a grade too fast
could cause you to lose control and be
seriously injured or killed.
Driving Across An Incline
If at all possible avoid driving across an incline.
If it is necessary, know your vehicle’s abilities.
Driving across an incline places more weight on
the down-hill wheels, which increases the pos-
sibilities of a down-hill slide or rollover. Make
sure the surface has good traction with firm and
stable soils. If possible transverse the incline at
an angle heading slightly up or down.
WARNING!
Driving across an incline increases the risk of
a rollover, which may result in severe injury.
If You Stall Or Begin To Lose Headway
If you stall or begin to lose headway while
climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to cometo a stop and immediately apply the brake.
Restart the engine and shift to REVERSE. Back
slowly down the hill allowing engine and hill
descent braking to control the descent and
apply your brakes if necessary, but do not allow
the tires to lock.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or
cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or
grade, never attempt to turn around. To do so
may result in tipping and rolling the vehicle,
which may result in severe injury. Always
back carefully straight down a hill in RE-
VERSE gear. Never back down a hill in
NEUTRAL using only the vehicle brakes.
Never drive diagonally across a hill, always
drive straight up or down.
Driving Through WaterExtreme care should be taken crossing any
type of water. Water crossings should be
avoided if possible, and only be attempted
when necessary in a safe responsible manner.You should only drive through areas which are
designated and approved. You should tread
lightly and avoid damage to the environment.
You should know your vehicles abilities and be
able to recover it if something goes wrong. You
should never stop or shut a vehicle off when
crossing deep water unless you ingested water
into the engine air intake. If the engine stalls, do
not attempt to restart it. Determine if it has
ingested water first. The key to any crossing is
low and slow. You want to use low (L Off-Road
[if equipped] ) with the 4WD LOCK engaged
and proceed very slowly with a constant slow
speed (3-5 mph [5–8 km/h] maximum) and light
throttle. Keep the vehicle moving; do not try to
accelerate through the crossing. After crossing
any water higher than the bottom of the axle
differentials, you should inspect all of the ve-
hicle fluids for signs of water ingestion.
CAUTION!
Water ingestion into the transaxle, transfer
case, engine or vehicle interior can occur if
you drive too fast or through too deep of
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182
CAUTION!(Continued)
water. Water can cause permanent damage
to engine, driveline or other vehicle compo-
nents and your brakes will be less effective
once wet and/or muddy.
Before You Cross Any Type Of Water
As you approach any type of water, you need to
determine if you can cross it safely and respon-
sibly. If necessary, get out and walk through the
water or probe it with a stick. You need to be
sure of its depth, approach angle, current and
bottom condition. Be careful of murky or muddy
waters; check for hidden obstacles. Make sure
you will not be intruding on any wildlife, and you
can recover the vehicle if necessary. The key to
a safe crossing is the water depth, current and
bottom conditions. On soft bottoms, the vehicle
will sink in, effectively increasing the water level
on the vehicle. Be sure to consider this when
determining the depth and the ability to safely
cross.Crossing Puddles, Pools, Flooded Areas
Or Other Standing Water
Puddles, pools, flooded or other standing water
areas normally contain murky or muddy waters.
These water types normally contain hidden
obstacles and make it difficult to determine an
accurate water depth, approach angle, and
bottom condition. Murky or muddy water holes
are where you want to hook up tow straps prior
to entering. This makes for a faster, cleaner and
easier vehicle recovery. If you are able to deter-
mine you can safely cross, than proceed using
the low and slow method.
CAUTION!
Muddy waters can reduce the cooling sys-
tem effectiveness by depositing debris onto
the radiator.
After Driving Off-RoadOff-road operation puts more stress on your
vehicle than does most on-road driving. After
going off-road, it is always a good idea to check
for damage. That way you can get any problemstaken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your
vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steering,
suspension, and exhaust system for dam-
age.
•Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as required.
•Check threaded fasteners for looseness, par-
ticularly on the chassis, drivetrain compo-
nents, steering, and suspension. Retighten
them, if required, and torque to the values
specified in the Service Manual.
•Check for accumulations of plants or brush.
These things could be a fire hazard. They
might hide damage to fuel lines, brake hoses,
axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
•After extended operation in mud, sand, wa-
ter, or similar dirty conditions, have the radia-
tor, fan, brake rotors, wheels, brake linings,
and axle yokes inspected and cleaned as
soon as possible.
183
WARNING!(Continued)
•The capabilities of an ESC-equipped ve-
hicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner, which could jeopar-
dize the user’s safety or the safety of
others
•Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly
maintain your vehicle, may change the
handling characteristics of your vehicle,
and may negatively affect the performance
of the ESC system. Changes to the steer-
ing system, suspension, braking system,
tire type and size or wheel size may ad-
versely affect ESC performance. Improp-
erly inflated and unevenly worn tires may
also degrade ESC performance. Any ve-
hicle modification or poor vehicle mainte-
nance that reduces the effectiveness of the
ESC system can increase the risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, per-
sonal injury and death.ESC Operating Modes
The ESC system has three available operating
modes for four–wheel drive equipped vehicles
and two available operating modes for two–
wheel drive equipped vehicles.
Full On (Four-Wheel Drive Models) Or On
(Two-Wheel Drive Models)
This is the normal operating mode for ESC.
Whenever the vehicle is started, the ESC sys-
tem will be in this “On” mode. This mode should
be used for most driving situations. ESC should
only be turned to “Partial Off” or “ESC Off” for
specific reasons as noted below.
Partial Off (Four-Wheel Drive Models) Or On
(Two-Wheel Drive Models)
This mode is entered by momentarily pushing
the “ESC Off” switch. When in “Partial Off”
mode, the TCS portion of ESC, except for the
“limited slip” feature described in the TCS sec-
tion, has been disabled, and the"ESC OFF
Indicator Light"will be illuminated. All other
stability features of ESC function normally. This
mode is intended to be used if the vehicle is in
deep snow, sand or gravel conditions, and morewheel spin than ESC would normally allow is
required to gain traction.
To turn ESC on again, momentarily push the
“ESC Off” switch. This will restore the normal
“ESC On” mode of operation.
NOTE:
To improve the vehicle’s traction when driv-
ing with snow chains, or starting off in deep
snow, sand or gravel, it may be desirable to
switch to the “Partial Off” mode by pushing
the “ESC Off” switch. Once the situation
requiring ESC to be switched to the “Partial
Off” mode is overcome, turn ESC back on by
momentarily pushing the “ESC Off” switch.
This may be done while the vehicle is in
motion.
WARNING!
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS func-
tionality of ESC (except for the limited slip
feature described in the TCS section) has
been disabled and the “ESC Off Indicator
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192
WARNING!(Continued)
•Overinflation reduces a tire’s ability to
cushion shock. Objects on the road and
chuckholes can cause damage that result
in tire failure.
•Overinflated or underinflated tires can af-
fect vehicle handling and can fail suddenly,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
•Unequal tire pressures can cause steering
problems. You could lose control of your
vehicle.
•Unequal tire pressures from one side of
the vehicle to the other can cause the
vehicle to drift to the right or left.
•Always drive with each tire inflated to the
recommended cold tire inflation pressure.
Both under-inflation and over-inflation affect the
stability of the vehicle and can produce a feeling
of sluggish response or over responsiveness in
the steering.NOTE:
•Unequal tire pressures from side to side
may cause erratic and unpredictable
steering response.
•Unequal tire pressure from side to side
may cause the vehicle to drift left or right.
Fuel Economy
Underinflated tires will increase tire rolling resis-
tance resulting in higher fuel consumption.
Tread Wear
Improper cold tire inflation pressures can cause
abnormal wear patterns and reduced tread life,
resulting in the need for earlier tire replacement.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a comfortable
ride. Over-inflation produces a jarring and un-
comfortable ride.
Tire Inflation PressuresThe proper cold tire inflation pressure is listed
on the driver’s side B-Pillar or rear edge of the
driver’s side door.At least once a month:
•Check and adjust tire pressure with a good
quality pocket-type pressure gauge. Do not
make a visual judgement when determining
proper inflation. Tires may look properly in-
flated even when they are under-inflated.
•Inspect tires for signs of tire wear or visible
damage.
CAUTION!
After inspecting or adjusting the tire pres-
sure, always reinstall the valve stem cap.
This will prevent moisture and dirt from en-
tering the valve stem, which could damage
the valve stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the placard are
always “cold tire inflation pressure”. Cold tire
inflation pressure is defined as the tire pressure
after the vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km)
after sitting for a minimum of three hours. The
196
cold tire inflation pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded into the tire
sidewall.
Check tire pressures more often if subject to a
wide range of outdoor temperatures, as tire
pressures vary with temperature changes.
Tire pressures change by approximately 1 psi (7
kPa) per 12°F (7°C) of air temperature change.
Keep this in mind when checking tire pressure
inside a garage, especially in the Winter.
Example: If garage temperature = 68°F (20°C)
and the outside temperature = 32°F (0°C) then
the cold tire inflation pressure should be in-
creased by 3 psi (21 kPa), which equals 1 psi (7
kPa) for every 12°F (7°C) for this outside tem-
perature condition.
Tire pressure may increase from 2 to 6 psi (13
to 40 kPa) during operation. DO NOT reduce
this normal pressure build up or your tire pres-
sure will be too low.Tire Pressures For High Speed
Operation
The manufacturer advocates driving at safe
speeds and within posted speed limits. Where
speed limits or conditions are such that the
vehicle can be driven at high speeds, maintain-
ing correct tire inflation pressure is very impor-
tant. Increased tire pressure and reduced ve-
hicle loading may be required for high-speed
vehicle operation. Refer to your authorized tire
dealer or original equipment vehicle dealer for
recommended safe operating speeds, loading
and cold tire inflation pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your vehicle under
maximum load is dangerous. The added
strain on your tires could cause them to fail.
You could have a serious collision. Do not
drive a vehicle loaded to the maximum ca-
pacity at continuous speeds above 75 mph
(120 km/h).
Radial Ply Tires
WARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with other types of
tires on your vehicle will cause your vehicle
to handle poorly. The instability could cause
a collision. Always use radial ply tires in sets
of four. Never combine them with other types
of tires.
Tire Repair
If your tire becomes damaged, it may be re-
paired if it meets the following criteria:
•The tire has not been driven on when flat.
•The damage is only on the tread section of
your tire (sidewall damage is not repairable).
•The puncture is no greater thana¼ofan
inch (6 mm).
Consult an authorized tire dealer for tire repairs
and additional information.
Damaged Run Flat tires, or Run Flat tires that
have experienced a loss of pressure should be
replaced immediately with another Run Flat tire
197
of identical size and service description (Load
Index and Speed Symbol).
Tire Types
All Season Tires — If Equipped
All Season tires provide traction for all seasons
(Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter). Traction
levels may vary between different all season
tires. All season tires can be identified by the
M+S, M&S, M/S or MS designation on the tire
sidewall. Use all season tires only in sets of
four; failure to do so may adversely affect the
safety and handling of your vehicle.
Summer Or Three Season Tires — If
Equipped
Summer tires provide traction in both wet and
dry conditions, and are not intended to be
driven in snow or on ice. If your vehicle is
equipped with Summer tires, be aware these
tires are not designed for Winter or cold driving
conditions. Install Winter tires on your vehicle
when ambient temperatures are less than 40°F
(5°C) or if roads are covered with ice or snow.
For more information, contact an authorized
dealer.Summer tires do not contain the all season
designation or mountain/snowflake symbol on
the tire sidewall. Use Summer tires only in sets
of four; failure to do so may adversely affect the
safety and handling of your vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not use Summer tires in snow/ice condi-
tions. You could lose vehicle control, result-
ing in severe injury or death. Driving too fast
for conditions also creates the possibility of
loss of vehicle control.
Snow Tires
Some areas of the country require the use of
snow tires during the Winter. Snow tires can be
identified by a “mountain/snowflake” symbol on
the tire sidewall.If you need snow tires,
select tires equivalent in
size and type to the
original equipment tires.
Use snow tires only in
sets of four; failure to do
so may adversely affect
the safety and handling
of your vehicle.
Snow tires generally have lower speed ratings
than what was originally equipped with your
vehicle and should not be operated at sustained
speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h). For speeds
above 75 mph (120 km/h), refer to original
equipment or an authorized tire dealer for rec-
ommended safe operating speeds, loading and
cold tire inflation pressures.
While studded tires improve performance on
ice, skid and traction capability on wet or dry
surfaces may be poorer than that of non-
studded tires. Some states prohibit studded
tires; therefore, local laws should be checked
before using these tire types.
198