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Suzuki XL7 (2007 year). Manual - part 10

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

Your Driving, the Road, and

Drunken Driving

WARNING

Death and injury associated with drinking

Your Vehicle

and driving is a national tragedy. It is the

Defensive driving really means “Be

number one contributor to the highway

Defensive Driving

ready for anything.” On city streets,

death toll, claiming thousands of victims

The best advice anyone can give about

rural roads, or expressways, it means

every year.

driving is: Drive defensively.

“Always expect the unexpected.”

Assume that pedestrians or other

Alcohol affects four things that anyone

Please start with a very important safety

drivers are going to be careless and

needs to drive a vehicle:

device in your vehicle: Buckle up. Refer to

make mistakes. Anticipate what they

“Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone” in

• Judgment

might do and be ready. Rear-end col-

“Safety Belts” in the “Seats and Restraint

• Muscular Coordination

lisions are about the most prevent-

Systems” section.

• Vision

able of accidents. Yet they are

• Attentiveness

common. Allow enough following

distance. Defensive driving requires

Police records show that almost half of all

that a driver concentrate on the driv-

motor vehicle-related deaths involve alco-

ing task. Anything that distracts from

hol. In most cases, these deaths are the

the driving task makes proper defen-

result of someone who was drinking and

sive driving more difficult and can

driving. In recent years, more than 16000

even cause a collision, with resulting

annual motor vehicle-related deaths have

injury. Ask a passenger to help do

been associated with the use of alcohol,

these things, or pull off the road in a

with more than 300000 people injured.

safe place to do them. These simple

defensive driving techniques could

Many adults - by some estimates, nearly

save your life.

half the adult population - choose never to

drink alcohol, so they never drive after

drinking. For persons under

21, it is

against the law in every U.S. state to drink

alcohol. There are good medical, psycho-

logical, and developmental reasons for

these laws.

The obvious way to eliminate the leading

highway safety problem is for people never

to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if

people do? How much is “too much” if

someone plans to drive? It is a lot less than

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

many might think. Although it depends on

in both France and Germany. The BAC

each person and situation, here is some

limit for all commercial drivers in the United

general information on the problem.

States is 0.04 percent.

The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of

The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after

someone who is drinking depends upon

three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course,

four things:

as we have seen, it depends on how much

alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the

• The amount of alcohol consumed

person drinks them.

• The drinker’s body weight

• The amount of food that is consumed

But the ability to drive is affected well

before and during drinking

below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research

• The length of time it has taken the

shows that the driving skills of many peo-

drinker to consume the alcohol

ple are impaired at a BAC approaching

0.05 percent, and that the effects are

According to the American Medical Associ-

1527211

worse at night. All drivers are impaired at

ation, a 180 lbs (82 kg) person who drinks

It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For

BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics

three 12 ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in

show that the chance of being in a collision

example, if the same person drank three

an hour will end up with a BAC of about

double martinis

(3 ounces or

90 ml of

increases sharply for drivers who have a

0.06 percent. The person would reach the

BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with

liquor each) within an hour, the person’s

same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120

BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A per-

a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled

ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if

his or her chance of having a collision. At a

son who consumes food just before or dur-

each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of liquors

ing drinking will have a somewhat lower

BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of

like whiskey, gin, or vodka.

this driver having a collision is 12 times

BAC level.

greater; at a level of

0.15 percent, the

There is a gender difference, too. Women

chance is 25 times greater!

generally have a lower relative percentage

of body water than men. Since alcohol is

The body takes about an hour to rid itself

of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of

carried in body water, this means that a

woman generally will reach a higher BAC

coffee or number of cold showers will

speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the

level than a man of her same body weight

will when each has the same number of

right answer. What if there is an emer-

gency, a need to take sudden action, as

drinks.

when a child darts into the street? A per-

The law in most U.S. states, and through-

son with even a moderate BAC might not

out Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 per-

be able to react quickly enough to avoid

cent. In some other countries, the limit is

the collision.

even lower. For example, it is 0.05 percent

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

There is something else about drinking

can provide. That means you can lose con-

whether it is pavement or gravel; the con-

and driving that many people do not know.

trol of your vehicle.

dition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or

Medical research shows that alcohol in a

icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes;

Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect

person’s system can make crash injuries

the weight of the vehicle; and the amount

your vehicle’s performance. Refer to

worse, especially injuries to the brain, spi-

of brake force applied.

“Accessories and Modifications” in

“Ser-

nal cord, or heart. This means that when

vice” in the

“Service and Appearance

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some peo-

anyone who has been drinking - driver or

Care” section.

ple drive in spurts - heavy acceleration fol-

passenger - is in a crash, that person’s

lowed by heavy braking

- rather than

chance of being killed or permanently dis-

Braking

keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.

abled is higher than if the person had not

Refer to “Brake System Warning Light” in

The brakes may not have time to cool

been drinking.

“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in

between hard stops. The brakes will wear

the “Instrument Panel” section.

out much faster if you do a lot of heavy

WARNING

braking. If you keep pace with the traffic

Braking action involves perception time

Drinking and then driving is very dan-

and allow realistic following distances, you

and reaction time.

gerous. Your reflexes, perceptions,

will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.

attentiveness, and judgment can be

First, you have to decide to push on the

That means better braking and longer

affected by even a small amount of

brake pedal. That is perception time. Then

brake life.

alcohol. You can have a serious - or

you have to bring up your foot and do it.

If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while

even fatal - collision if you drive after

That is reaction time.

you are driving, brake normally but do not

drinking. Please do not drink and

Average reaction time is about three-

pump the brakes. If you do, the pedal may

drive or ride with a driver who has

fourths of a second. But that is only an

get harder to push down. If the engine

been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or

average. It might be less with one driver

stops, you will still have some power brake

if you are with a group, designate a

and as long as two or three seconds or

assist. But you will use it when you brake.

driver who will not drink.

more with another. Age, physical condition,

Once the power assist is used up, it may

alertness, coordination, and eyesight all

take longer to stop and the brake pedal will

Control of a Vehicle

play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and frus-

be harder to push.

You have three systems that make your

tration. But even in three-fourths of a sec-

vehicle go where you want it to go. They

Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect

ond, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/

are the brakes, the steering, and the accel-

your vehicle’s performance. Refer to

h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a

erator. All three systems have to do their

“Accessories and Modifications” in

“Ser-

lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping

work at the places where the tires meet the

vice” in the

“Service and Appearance

enough space between your vehicle and

road.

Care” section.

others is important.

Sometimes, as when you are driving on

And, of course, actual stopping distances

snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those

vary greatly with the surface of the road,

control systems than the tires and road

4-3

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-

tem (ABS), an advanced electronic braking

system that will help prevent a braking

skid.

When you start the engine and begin to

drive away, ABS will check itself. You may

hear a momentary motor or clicking noise

while this test is going on, and you may

even notice that the brake pedal moves a

little. This is normal.

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1527212

Let us say the road is wet and you are driv-

As you brake, the computer keeps receiv-

ing safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out

ing updates on wheel speed and controls

in front of you. You slam on the brakes and

braking pressure accordingly.

continue braking. Here is what happens

807057

Remember: ABS does not change the time

with ABS:

you need to get your foot up to the brake

If there is a problem with ABS, this warning

light will stay on. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake

A computer senses that wheels are slow-

pedal or always decrease stopping dis-

ing down. If one of the wheels is about to

tance. If you get too close to the vehicle in

System Warning Light” in “Warning Lights,

Gages, and Indicators” in the “Instrument

stop rolling, the computer will separately

front of you, you will not have time to apply

work the brakes at each wheel.

the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or

Panel” section.

stops. Always leave enough room up

ABS can change the brake pressure faster

ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.

than any driver could. The computer is pro-

grammed to make the most of available tire

Using ABS

and road conditions. This can help you

Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the

steer around the obstacle while braking

brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock

hard.

work for you. You may hear the anti-lock

pump or motor operate, and feel the brake

pedal pulsate, but this is normal.

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

Braking in Emergencies

the system on. But you can turn the trac-

“Accessories and Modifications” in

“Ser-

With ABS, you can steer and brake at the

tion control system off if you ever need to.

vice” in the

“Service and Appearance

same time. In many emergencies, steering

You should turn the system off if your vehi-

Care” section for more information.

can help you more than even the very best

cle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or

braking.

snow and rocking the vehicle is required.

Electronic Stability Control

Refer to “Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It

The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) sys-

Traction Control System (TCS)

Out” in this section.

tem is an advanced computer controlled

Your vehicle has a traction control system

system that helps the driver maintain direc-

that limits wheel spin. This is especially

tional control of the vehicle in difficult driv-

useful in slippery road conditions. The sys-

ing conditions. This is accomplished by

tem operates only if it senses that one or

selectively applying any one of the vehi-

both of the front wheels are spinning or

cle’s brakes and reducing engine power.

beginning to lose traction. When this hap-

The ESC system comes on automatically

pens, the system reduces engine power to

whenever you start your vehicle.

limit wheel spin.

78J001

The SERVICE STABILITY CTRL message

The traction control system can be turned

may be displayed in the DIC after first driv-

off by pressing the traction control button,

ing the vehicle and exceeding 30 mph 48

located on the floor console to the left of

(km/h) for 30 seconds. The ESC system is

the shift lever.

off until the message has turned off. This

could take up to 15 minutes. Refer to “DIC

The traction control system can be acti-

Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-

vated again by pressing the traction control

mation Center (DIC)” in the

“Instrument

1545635

button.

Panel” section for more information.

This light will come on when your traction

If the system is limiting wheel spin when

The SERVICE STABILITY CTRL message

control system is limiting wheel spin.

you press the button, the traction control

will stay on if there is a problem with the

off light will appear on the instrument panel

You may feel or hear the system working,

system. When this message is on, the sys-

cluster. The system will not turn off until

but this is normal. This light may also come

tem is not operational. Adjust your driving

there is no longer a current need to limit

on after extended heavy braking indicating

accordingly. ESC can be turned off using

wheel spin. You can turn the system back

the brakes have become too hot to limit

the traction control button. To disable ESC,

on at any time by pressing the button

wheel spin.

press and hold the traction control button

again. If the light does not come on, you

for five seconds. ESC can be activated

The traction control system automatically

may not have traction control and your

again by pressing the traction control but-

comes on whenever you start your vehicle.

vehicle should be serviced by a dealer.

ton.

To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery

Adding non-SUZUKI accessories can

road conditions, you should always leave

affect your vehicle’s performance. Refer to

4-5

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System

Experienced driver or beginner, each of us

If your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD),

is subject to the same laws of physics

the AWD system operates automatically

when driving on curves. The traction of the

without any action required by the driver. If

tires against the road surface makes it pos-

the front drive wheels begin to slip, the rear

sible for the vehicle to change its path

wheels will automatically begin to drive the

when you turn the front wheels. If there is

vehicle as required. Torque is also applied

no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle

to the rear wheels during launches. There

1710823

going in the same direction. If you have

may be a slight engagement noise during

This light will come on along with the ALL

ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you

hard use but this is normal.

WHEEL DRIVE OFF message when the

will understand this.

rear drive system is overheating. This light

The traction you can get in a curve

will turn off when the rear drive system

depends on the condition of your tires and

cools down. If this light stays on, it must be

the road surface, the angle at which the

reset. To reset the light, turn the ignition off

curve is banked, and your speed. While

and then back again. If the light stays on,

you are in a curve, speed is the one factor

see your dealer for service.

you can control.

1710820

Refer to “All Wheel Drive Off” under “DIC

Suppose you are steering through a sharp

Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-

This light and the SERVICE ALL WHEEL

curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both

mation Center (DIC)” in the

“Instrument

DRIVE message in the Driver Information

control systems - steering and accelera-

Panel” section for more information.

Center (DIC) will come on and stay on to

tion - have to do their work where the tires

indicate that there may be a problem with

meet the road. Adding the sudden acceler-

Steering

the drive system and service is required.

ation can demand too much of those

Refer to “Service All-Wheel Drive Light” in

Power Steering

places. You can lose control. Refer to

“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in

If you lose power steering assist because

“Traction Control System

(TCS)” and

the “Instrument Panel” section and “DIC

the engine stops or the power steering sys-

“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.

Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-

tem is not functioning, you can steer, but it

What should you do if this ever happens?

mation Center (DIC)” in the

“Instrument

will take more effort.

Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal,

Panel” section for more information.

steer the vehicle the way you want it to go,

Steering Tips

and slow down.

It is important to take curves at a reason-

Speed limit signs near curves warn that

able speed.

you should adjust your speed. Of course,

A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents

the posted speeds are based on good

mentioned on the news happen on curves.

weather and road conditions. Under less

Here is why:

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

favorable conditions you will want to go

from a possible collision. Then steer

Off-Road Recovery

slower.

around the problem, to the left or right

You may find that your vehicle’s right

depending on the space available.

wheels have dropped off the edge of a

If you need to reduce your speed as you

road onto the shoulder while you are driv-

approach a curve, do it before you enter

ing.

the curve, while your front wheels are

straight ahead.

Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”

through the curve. Maintain a reasonable,

steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you

are out of the curve, and then accelerate

gently into the straightaway.

Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect

your vehicle’s performance. Refer to

“Accessories and Modifications” in

“Ser-

vice” in the

“Service and Appearance

Care” section.

811539

Steering in Emergencies

An emergency like this requires close

There are times when steering can be

810696

attention and a quick decision. If you are

more effective than braking. For example,

holding the steering wheel at the recom-

If the level of the shoulder is only slightly

you come over a hill and find a truck

mended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can

below the pavement, recovery should be

stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly

turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly with-

fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and

pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out

out removing either hand. But you have to

then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so

from between parked cars and stops right

act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly

that your vehicle straddles the edge of the

in front of you. You can avoid these prob-

straighten the wheel once you have

pavement. You can turn the steering wheel

lems by braking - if you can stop in time.

avoided the object.

up to one-quarter turn until the right front

But sometimes you cannot; there is not

tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn

room. That is the time for evasive action -

The fact that such emergency situations

your steering wheel to go straight down the

steering around the problem.

are always possible is a good reason to

roadway.

practice defensive driving at all times and

Your vehicle can perform very well in

wear safety belts properly.

emergencies like these. First apply your

Passing

brakes.

The driver of a vehicle about to pass

another on a two-lane highway waits for

Refer to “Braking” in this section. It is bet-

just the right moment, accelerates, moves

ter to remove as much speed as you can

around the vehicle ahead, then goes back

4-7

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass

roads. And, if your tires do not have much

washes can cause problems, too. The

makes lights dazzle and flash more than

tread left, you will get even less traction. It

water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid

clean glass would, making the pupils of

is always wise to go slower and be cau-

puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow

your eyes contract repeatedly.

tious if rain starts to fall while you are driv-

down before you hit them.

ing. The surface may get wet suddenly

Remember that the headlamps light up far

when your reflexes are tuned for driving on

Hydroplaning

less of a roadway when you are in a turn or

dry pavement.

Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much

curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it

water can build up under your tires that

is easier to pick out dimly lighted objects.

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.

they can actually ride on the water. This

Just as the headlamps should be checked

Even if your windshield wiper blades are in

can happen if the road is wet enough and

regularly for proper aim, so should your

good shape, a heavy rain can make it

you are going fast enough. When your

eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers

harder to see road signs and traffic signals,

vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no

suffer from night blindness - the inability to

pavement markings, the edge of the road,

contact with the road.

see in dim light - and are not even aware

and even people walking.

of it.

Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it

It is wise to keep your windshield wiper and

can if your tires do not have much tread or

washer system in good shape and keep

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads

if the pressure in one or more is low. It can

your windshield washer fluid reservoir filled

happen if a lot of water is standing on the

with washer fluid. Replace your windshield

road. If you can see reflections from trees,

wiper inserts when they show signs of

telephone poles, or other vehicles, and

streaking or missing areas on the wind-

raindrops dimple the water’s surface, there

shield, or when strips of rubber start to

could be hydroplaning.

separate from the inserts.

Hydroplaning usually happens at higher

WARNING

speeds. There just is not a hard and fast

rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is

Wet brakes can cause accidents.

to slow down when it is raining.

They may not work as well in a quick

stop and may cause pulling to one

side. You could lose control of the

vehicle. After driving through a large

puddle of water or a car wash, apply

1527470

the brake pedal lightly until the

brakes work normally.

Rain and wet roads can mean driving trou-

ble. On a wet road, you cannot stop, accel-

erate, or turn as well because your tire-to-

Driving too fast through large water pud-

road traction is not as good as on dry

dles or even going through some car

4-10

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

vehicle has a traction system, you will want

If You Are Caught in a Blizzard

You can run the engine to keep warm, but

to slow down and adjust your driving to the

If you are stopped by heavy snow, you

be careful.

road conditions. Under certain conditions,

could be in a serious situation. You should

you may want to turn the traction system

probably stay with your vehicle unless you

WARNING

off, such as when driving through deep

know for sure that you are near help and

Snow can trap exhaust gases under

snow and loose gravel, to help maintain

you can hike through the snow. Here are

your vehicle. This can cause deadly

vehicle motion at lower speeds. Refer to

some things to do to summon help and

CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get

“Traction Control System

(TCS)” and

keep yourself and your passengers safe:

inside. CO could overcome you and

“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.

•

Turn on your hazard flashers.

kill you. You cannot see it or smell it,

The Anti-Lock Brake System

(ABS)

•

Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert

so you might not know it is in your

improves your vehicle’s stability when you

police that you have been stopped by the

vehicle. Clear away snow from

make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even

snow.

around the base of your vehicle,

though you have ABS, you will want to

•

Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket

especially any that is blocking the

begin stopping sooner than you would on

around you. If you do not have blankets

exhaust pipe. And check around

dry pavement. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake

or extra clothing, make body insulators

again from time to time to be sure

System (ABS)” in this section.

from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,

snow does not collect there.

floor mats

- anything you can wrap

Open a window just a little on the

•

Allow greater following distance on any

around yourself or tuck under your cloth-

side of the vehicle that is away from

slippery road.

ing to keep warm.

the wind. This will help keep CO out.

•

Watch for slippery spots. The road might

be fine until you hit a spot that is covered

Run your engine only as long as you must.

with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice

This saves fuel. When you run the engine,

patches may appear in shaded areas

make it go a little faster than just idle. That

where the sun cannot reach, such as

is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses

around clumps of trees, behind build-

less fuel for the heat that you get and it

ings, or under bridges. Sometimes the

keeps the battery charged.

surface of a curve or an overpass may

remain icy when the surrounding roads

You will need a well-charged battery to

are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead

restart the vehicle, and possibly for signal-

of you, brake before you are on it. Try not

ing later on with your headlamps. Let the

to brake while you are actually on the

heater run for a while.

ice, and avoid sudden steering maneu-

vers.

Then, shut the engine off and close the

window almost all the way to preserve the

808411

heat. Start the engine again and repeat

this only when you feel really uncomfort-

4-15

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

able from the cold. But do it as little as pos-

Loading Your Vehicle

sible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can.

CAUTION

It is very important to know how much

To help keep warm, you can get out of the

weight your vehicle can carry. Two labels

Spinning the wheels can destroy

vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exer-

on your vehicle show how much weight it

parts of your vehicle as well as the

cises every half hour or so until help

may properly carry, the Tire and Loading

tires. If you spin the wheels too fast

comes.

Information label and the Vehicle Certifica-

while shifting the transaxle back and

tion label.

forth, you can destroy the transaxle.

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,

Refer to “Rocking Your Vehicle to

Mud, Ice, or Snow

WARNING

Get It Out” in this section.

In order to free your vehicle when it is

Do not load your vehicle any heavier

stuck, you will need to spin the wheels, but

For information about using tire chains on

than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

you do not want to spin your wheels too

your vehicle, refer to

“Tire Chains” in

(GVWR), or either the maximum front

fast. The method known as rocking can

“Tires” in the

“Service and Appearance

or rear Gross Axle Weight Rating

help you get out when you are stuck, but

Care” section.

(GAWR). If you do, parts on your

you must use caution.

vehicle can break, and it can change

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out

the way your vehicle handles. These

WARNING

First, turn the steering wheel left and right.

could cause you to lose control and

If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at

That will clear the area around the front

crash. Also, overloading can shorten

high speed, they can explode, and

wheels. If your vehicle has traction control,

the life of your vehicle.

you or others could be injured. And,

you should turn the traction control system

the transaxle or other parts of the

off. Refer to

“Traction Control System

vehicle can overheat. That could

(TCS)” in this section. Then shift back and

cause an engine compartment fire or

forth between REVERSE (R) and a for-

other damage. When you are stuck,

ward gear, spinning the wheels as little as

spin the wheels as little as possible.

possible. Release the accelerator pedal

Do not spin the wheels above 35 mph

while you shift, and press lightly on the

(55 km/h) as shown on the speedom-

accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in

eter.

gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in the

forward and reverse directions, you will

cause a rocking motion that may free your

vehicle. If that does not get your vehicle

out after a few tries, it may need to be

towed out. If your vehicle does need to be

towed out, refer to “Towing Your Vehicle”

in this section.

4-16

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DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

Tire and Loading Information Label

tion and “Inflation - Tire Pressure” in “Tires”

6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,

in the “Service and Appearance Care” sec-

the load from your trailer will be trans-

Label Example

tion.

ferred to your vehicle. Consult this man-

ual to determine how this reduces the

There is also important loading information

available cargo and luggage load

on the Certification/Tire label. It tells you

capacity for your vehicle.

the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)

If your vehicle can tow a trailer, refer to

for the front and rear axles. See “Certifica-

“Towing a Trailer” in this section for impor-

tion/Tire Label” later in this section.

tant information on towing a trailer, towing

safety rules, and trailering tips.

Steps for Determining Correct Load

Limit

1)

Locate the statement “The combined

weight of occupants and cargo should

never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on

your vehicle’s placard.

1556694

2)

Determine the combined weight of the

A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Infor-

driver and passengers that will be riding

mation label is attached to the vehicle’s

in your vehicle.

center pillar

(B-pillar). With the driver’s

3)

Subtract the combined weight of the

door open, you will find the label attached

driver and passengers from XXX kg or

below the door lock post (striker). The tire

XXX lbs.

and loading information label lists the num-

4)

The resulting figure equals the available

ber of occupant seating positions (A), and

amount of cargo and luggage load

the maximum vehicle capacity weight (B)

capacity. For example, if the

“XXX”

in kilograms and pounds. The vehicle

amount equals 1400 lbs and there will

capacity weight includes the weight of all

be five 150 lb passengers in your vehi-

occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-

cle, the amount of available cargo and

installed options.

luggage load capacity is 650 lbs (1400

- 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).

The Tire and Loading Information label

5)

Determine the combined weight of lug-

also lists the tire size of the original equip-

gage and cargo being loaded on the

ment tires (C) and the recommended cold

vehicle. That weight may not safely

tire inflation pressures (D). For more infor-

exceed the available cargo and luggage

mation on tires and inflation, refer to “Tires”

load capacity calculated in Step 4.

in the “Service and Appearance Care” sec-

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