Special Driving Conditions

Hazardous Driving Conditions

When driving in hazardous conditions such as water, snow, ice, mud, or sand, take the following precautions:

• Drive carefully and allow a longer braking distance.
• Avoid sudden braking or steering.
• If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use second gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid unnecessary wheel spin.
• Place sand, rock salt, anti-skid chains, or other non-slip materials under the wheels to provide additional traction if stuck on ice, snow, or mud.

WARNING

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

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 vehicle is stuck and excessive wheel spin occurs, tire temperature may rise very quickly. If the tires are damaged, a tire may deflate or explode. This condition is dangerous and you or others may be injured. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are in any location near the vehicle.

If you attempt to free the vehicle, it may overheat quickly, which may cause an engine compartment fire or other damage. Avoid spinning the wheels as much as possible to prevent overheating of both the tires and the engine. DO NOT allow the vehicle to spin the wheels above 35 mph (56 km/h).

Information

The ESC system (if equipped) must be turned off before rocking the vehicle.

NOTICE

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

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 streaks appear on the windshield or when areas are not being wiped.
• 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 driving fast enough, your vehicle may lose contact with the road surface and effectively ride on water. The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.

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.

Highway Driving

Tires

Adjust tire pressure as specified. Insufficient inflation may cause the tires to overheat or become damaged.

Do not install worn or damaged tires, which may reduce road grip or impair braking performance.

Information

Never inflate tires above the maximum inflation pressure indicated on the tire sidewall.

Fuel, Engine Coolant, and Engine Oil

Driving at higher highway speeds consumes more fuel and is less efficient than driving at a slower, moderate speed. Maintain a moderate speed to save fuel when driving on the highway.

Always check the engine coolant level and engine oil level before driving.

Drive Belt

A loose or damaged drive belt may cause the engine to overheat.