Special Driving Conditions

Hazardous Driving Conditions

Hazardous driving conditions such as water, snow, ice, mud, or sand may be encountered:

Drive carefully and allow extra braking distance.

Avoid sudden braking or steering maneuvers.

If you become stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use second gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid wheel spin.

WARNING

Downshifting with the automatic transmission on slippery surfaces while moving may cause an accident. A sudden change in tire speed may cause the tires to skid. Be careful when downshifting on slippery surfaces.

Use sand, rock salt, or other non-slip material under the drive wheels to provide traction when stuck in ice, snow, or mud.

Rocking the Vehicle

If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the steering wheel right and clear the area around the front wheels. Then shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and forward gear.

Try to avoid wheel spin and do not race the engine.

To avoid transmission damage, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator pedal during shifting and gently press the accelerator pedal once the transmission is engaged. Slowly alternating wheel rotation forward and reverse creates a rocking motion that may free the vehicle.

WARNING

If the tires spin at high speed, they may explode and you or others may be injured. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are nearby the vehicle.

The vehicle may overheat, which may cause an engine compartment fire or other damage. Minimize wheel spin and avoid wheel spin at speeds above 35 mph (56 km/h), as indicated on the speedometer.

CAUTION

If you are still stuck after rocking the vehicle several times, have the vehicle towed out by a tow truck to avoid engine overheating, possible transmission damage, and tire damage. See "Towing" in Chapter 6.

To avoid transmission damage, turn OFF the ESC before rocking the vehicle.

Cornering Smoothly

Avoid braking or shifting gears in turns, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should always be taken with gentle acceleration.

Night Driving

Night driving presents more hazards than driving during the day. Here are some important tips to remember:

• Slow down and keep a greater distance between you and other vehicles, as it may be more difficult to see at night, especially in areas where there may be no street lights.
• Adjust the mirrors to reduce glare from other drivers' headlights.
• Keep the headlights clean and properly aimed. Dirty or misaimed headlights make it much harder to see at night.
• Try not to look directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. You may be temporarily blinded, and your eyes will need a few seconds to adjust to the darkness.

Driving in the Rain

Rain and wet roads can make driving dangerous. Here are some things to consider when driving in rain or on slippery roads:

• Slow down and allow more following distance. Heavy rain reduces visibility and increases the distance needed to stop your vehicle.
• Turn off cruise control (if equipped).
• Replace the wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or have missing areas on the windshield.
• Make sure your tires have adequate tread depth. If your tires do not have enough tread, making a quick stop on a wet road may cause a skid and possibly an accident. Refer to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.
• Turn on the headlights to make it easier for others to see you.
• Driving too fast through large puddles may affect your brakes. If you must drive through puddles, drive through them slowly.
• If you believe your brakes may be wet, lightly apply them while driving until normal braking returns.

Hydroplaning

If the road is wet enough and you are traveling fast enough, your vehicle may lose contact with the road surface and actually ride on water. The best advice is to SLOW DOWN when the road is wet. The risk of hydroplaning increases as tire tread depth decreases. (Refer to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.)

Driving in Flooded Areas

Avoid driving through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is not higher than the bottom of the wheel hub. Drive slowly through any water. Allow adequate stopping distance because braking effectiveness may be reduced.

After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while driving slowly.