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5-5
Driving your vehicle
5
Before entering the vehicle
• Be sure all windows, outside mir-
ror(s), and outside lights are clean
and unobstructed.
Remove frost, snow, or ice.
Visually check the tyres for uneven
wear and damage.
Check under the vehicle for any
sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles
behind you if you intend to reverse.
Before starting
Make sure the bonnet, the tailgate,
and the doors are securely closed
and locked.
Adjust the position of the seat and
steering wheel.
Adjust the inside and outside
rearview mirrors.
Verify all the lights work.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
all passengers have fastened their
seat belts.
Check the gauges and indicators in
the instrument panel and the mes-
sages on the instrument display
when the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
Check that any items you are car-
rying are stored properly or fas-
tened down securely.
B BE
EF
FO
OR
RE
E
D
DR
RI
IV
VI
IN
NG
G
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS
INJURY or DEATH, take the fol-
lowing precautions:
•ALWAYS wear your seat belt.
All passengers must be prop-
erly restrained whenever the
vehicle is moving. For more
information, refer to "Seat
Belts" in chapter 2.
Always drive defensively.
Assume other drivers or pedes-
trians may be careless and
make mistakes.
Stay focused on the task of
driving. Driver distraction can
cause accidents.
Leave plenty of space between
you and the vehicle in front of
you.
WARNING
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7-83
7
Maintenance
Keep paint and trim in good condition
Scratches or chips in the finish
should be covered with "touch-up"
paint as soon as possible to reduce
the possibility of corrosion. If bare
metal is showing through, the atten-
tion of a qualified body and paint
shop is recommended.
Bird droppings : Bird droppings are
highly corrosive and may damage
painted surfaces in just a few hours.
Always remove bird droppings as
soon as possible.
Don't neglect the interior
Moisture can collect under the floor
mats and carpeting to cause corro-
sion. Check under the mats periodi-
cally to be sure the carpeting is dry.
Use particular care if you carry fer-
tilisers, cleaning materials or chemi-
cals in the vehicle.
These should be carried only in
proper containers and any spills or
leaks should be cleaned up, flushed
with clean water and thoroughly
dried.
Interior care
Interior general precautions
Prevent chemicals such as perfume,
cosmetic oil, sun cream, hand clean-
er and air freshener from contacting
the interior parts because they may
cause damage or discolouration. If
they do contact the interior parts,
wipe them off immediately.
See the instructions that follow for
the proper way to clean vinyl.
Never allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electrical/elec-
tronic components inside the vehi-
cle as this may damage them.
When cleaning leather products
(steering wheel, seats etc.), use
neutral detergents or low alcohol
content solutions. If you use high
alcohol content solutions or acid/
alkaline detergents, the colour of
the leather may fade or the sur-
face may get stripped off.
Cleaning the upholstery and
interior trim
Vinyl (if equipped)
Remove dust and loose dirt from
vinyl with a whisk broom or vacuum
cleaner. Clean vinyl surfaces with a
vinyl cleaner.
Fabric (if equipped)
Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean with a mild soap solution recom-
mended for upholstery or carpets.
Remove fresh spots immediately with
a fabric spot cleaner. If fresh spots do
not receive immediate attention, the
fabric can be stained and its colour can
be affected. Also, its fire-resistant prop-
erties can be reduced if the material is
not properly maintained.
Using anything but recommended
cleaners and procedures may affect
the fabric’s appearance and fire-
resistant properties.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
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7-84
Maintenance
Leather (if equipped)
Features of seat leather
- Leather is made from the outer
skin of an animal, which goes
through a special process to be
available for use. Since it is a nat-
ural product, each part differs in
thickness or density.
Wrinkles may appear as a natural
result of stretching and shrinking
depending on the temperature
and humidity.
- The seat is made of stretchable
fabric to improve comfort.
- The parts contacting the body are
curved and the side supporting
area is high which provides driv-
ing comfort and stability.
- Wrinkles may appear naturally
from usage. It is not a fault of the
product. Caring for the leather seats
- Vacuum the seat periodically to
remove dust and sand on the seat.
It will prevent abrasion or damage
of the leather and maintain its qual-
ity.
- Wipe the natural leather seat cover
often with dry or soft cloth.
- Use of proper leather protector
may prevent abrasion of the cover
and helps maintain the colour. Be
sure to read the instructions and
consult a specialist when using
leather coating or protective agent.
- Light coloured (beige, cream
beige) leather is easily contaminat-
ed and the stain is noticeable.
Clean the seats frequently.
- Avoid wiping with wet cloth. It may
cause the surface to crack.
Wrinkles or abrasions which
appear naturally from usage
are not covered by warranty.
Belts with metallic acces-
sories, zippers or keys inside
the back pocket may damage
the seat fabric.
Make sure not to wet the seat.
It may change the nature of
natural leather.
Jeans or clothes which could
bleach may contaminate the
surface of the seat covering
fabric.
CAUTION
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7-85
7
Maintenance
Cleaning the leather seats
- Remove all contaminations instant-
ly. Refer to instructions below for
removal of each contaminant.
- Cosmetic products (sunscreen,
foundation, etc.)
Apply cleansing cream on a cloth
and wipe the contaminated spot.
Wipe off the cream with a wet cloth
and remove water with a dry cloth.
- Beverages (coffee, soft drink, etc.)
Apply a small amount of neutral
detergent and wipe until contami-
nations do not smear.
- Oil
Remove oil instantly with
absorbable cloth and wipe with
stain remover used only for natu-
ral leather.
- Chewing gum
Harden the gum with ice and
remove gradually.Cleaning the lap/shoulder belt
webbing
Clean the belt webbing with any mild
soap solution recommended for clean-
ing upholstery or carpet. Follow the
instructions provided with the soap. Do
not bleach or re-dye the webbing
because this may weaken it.
Cleaning the interior window
glass
If the interior glass surfaces of the
vehicle become fogged (that is, cov-
ered with an oily, greasy or waxy film),
they should be cleaned with glass
cleaner. Follow the directions on the
glass cleaner container.
Do not scrape or scratch the inside
of the rear window. This may result
in damage to the rear window
defroster grid.
NOTICE