BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 mi (480 km). During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first
1,000 mi (1,600 km). Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1,000 mi
(1,600 km).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by several
things, such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under, and how you
maintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
•
Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
•
Drive at steady speeds without
stopping.
•
Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
•
Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving.
•
Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
•
Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105
km/h]).
•
Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size.
•
Use the recommended engine oil.
•
Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
•
Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.
•
Revving the engine before turning it off.
•
Idle for periods longer than one minute.
•
Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
•
Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.
•
Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
•
Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.
•
Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow a
trailer.
•
Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).
•
Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.
Conditions
•
Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a
trailer may reduce fuel economy at any
speed.
•
Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
•
To maximize the fuel economy, drive
with the tonneau cover installed (if
equipped).
•
Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.
•
Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 5–10 mi
(12–16 km) of driving.
•
Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.
230
Driving Hints
•
Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
•
Four-wheel-drive operation (if
equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
COLD WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS
The functional operation of some
components and systems can be affected
at temperatures below approximately
-13°F (-25°C).
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Before going off-roading, consult with your
local governmental agencies to determine
designated off-road trails and recreation
areas. Also, be sure to understand any
off-road vehicle registration requirements
for the area in which you plan on driving.
Before taking your vehicle off-roading, a
basic vehicle inspection should be done to
make sure that the vehicle is in top working
condition.
Basic Off-road Driving Techniques
•
Grip the steering wheel with thumbs
on the outside of the rim. This reduces
the risk of injury due to abrupt steering
wheel motions that occur when
negotiating rough terrain. Do not grip
the steering wheel with thumbs inside
the rim.
•
Look ahead on your route noting
upcoming obstacles, surface texture
or color changes or any other factors
which may indicate a change in
available traction, and adjust the
vehicle speed and route accordingly.
•
Always keep available ground
clearance in mind and pick a route that
minimizes the risk of catching the
underside of the vehicle on an obstacle.
•
When negotiating low speed obstacles,
applying light brake pressure in
conjunction with the throttle helps
prevent the vehicle from jerking and
allows you to negotiate the obstacle
in a more controlled manner. Using 4L
also helps with this.
Crossing Obstacles
•
Review the path ahead before
attempting to cross any obstacle. It is
best if the obstacle is reviewed from
outside the vehicle so that there is a
good understanding of terrain condition
both in front of and behind the
obstacle.
•
If a large obstacle such as a rock
cannot be avoided, choose a path that
places the rock directly under the tire
rather than the undercarriage of the
vehicle. This helps prevent damage to
your vehicle.
Hill Climbing
WARNING:
Extreme care should
be used when steering the vehicle in
reverse down a slope so as not to cause
the vehicle to swerve out of control.
231
Driving Hints
•
Always attempt to climb a steep hill
along the fall line of the slope and not
diagonally.
•
If the vehicle is unable to make it up
the hill, DO NOT attempt to turn back
down the slope. Place the vehicle in
low range and slowly back down in
reverse.
•
When descending a steep slope, select
low gear and activate hill descent
control. Use the throttle and brake
pedals to control your descent speed
as described earlier in this section using
hill descent control. Hill descent control
is functional in reverse (R) and should
be used in this situation.
After Off-Road Driving
It is important to complete a full vehicle
inspection after off-road driving. Some
items to check include:
•
Check the wheels and undercarriage
for a buildup of mud or debris, which
can cause vehicle vibration.
•
Make sure that the grille and radiator
are clear of any obstructions that may
affect cooling.
•
Make sure that the brakes are in proper
working order and free of any mud,
stones and debris, which can become
trapped around the brake rotor,
backing plate and caliper.
•
Check that the air filter is clean and dry.
•
Inspect for torn or punctured boots on
ball joints, half shafts, steering gears.
•
Inspect exhaust system for damage or
looseness.
•
Inspect undercarriage fasteners. If any
are loose or damaged, tighten or
replace and make sure that you use the
proper torque specification.
•
Inspect the wheels for dents, cracks,
or other damage.
•
Clear any debris from the exhaust
components. For example, grass or hay.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
WARNING:
Do not drive through
flowing or deep water as you may lose
control of your vehicle.
Note:
Driving through standing water can
cause vehicle damage.
Note:
Engine damage can occur if water
enters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,
check the depth. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of the wheel
hubs.
E176913
When driving through standing water, drive
very slowly and do not stop your vehicle.
Your brake performance and traction may
be limited. After driving through water and
as soon as it is safe to do so:
•
Lightly press the brake pedal to dry the
brakes and to check that they work.
•
Check that the horn works.
232
Driving Hints
•
Check that the exterior lights work.
•
Turn the steering wheel to check that
the steering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS
WARNING:
Use a floor mat
designed to fit the footwell of your
vehicle that does not obstruct the pedal
area. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death.
WARNING:
Pedals that cannot
move freely can cause loss of vehicle
control and increase the risk of serious
personal injury.
WARNING:
Secure the floor mat
to both retention devices so that it
cannot slip out of position and interfere
with the pedals. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death.
WARNING:
Do not place additional
floor mats or any other covering on top
of the original floor mats. This could
result in the floor mat interfering with the
operation of the pedals. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death.
WARNING:
Always make sure that
objects cannot fall into the driver foot
well while your vehicle is moving. Objects
that are loose can become trapped
under the pedals causing a loss of
vehicle control.
E142666
To install the floor mats, position the floor
mat eyelet over the retention post and
press down to lock in position.
To remove the floor mat, reverse the
installation procedure.
Note:
Regularly check the floor mats to
make sure they are secure.
233
Driving Hints
