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Winter driving
& Driving on snowy and icy roads
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To prevent skidding and slipping , avoid sudden braking , abrupt acceleration , highspeed driving , and sharp turning when driving on snowy or icy roads .
Always maintain ample distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you to avoid the need for sudden braking .
To supplement the foot brake , use the engine brake effectively to control the vehicle speed . ( Shift into a lower gear when necessary .)
Avoid shifting down abruptly . Such behavior can cause the wheels to lock , possibly leading to loss of vehicle control .
An anti-lock brake system ( ABS ) enhances your vehicle ’ s braking performance on snowy and icy roads . For information on braking on slippery surfaces , refer to “ ABS ( Anti-lock Brake System )” FP365 and “ Vehicle Dynamics Control system ” FP367 .
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control on slippery roads such as snowy or icy roads . This may cause loss of vehicle control .
CAUTION
Avoid prolonged continuous driving in snowstorms . Snow will enter the engine ’ s intake system and may hinder the airflow , which could result in engine shutdown or even breakdown .
! Wiper operation when snowing
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Before driving in cold weather , make sure the wiper blade rubbers are not frozen to the windshield or rear window .
If the wiper blade rubbers are frozen to the windshield or rear window , perform the following procedure .
. To thaw the windshield wiper blade rubbers , use the defroster with the airflow selection in “ ” and the temperature set for maximum warmth until the wiper blade rubbers are completely thawed . Refer to “ Climate control ” FP277 .
. If your vehicle is equipped with a wiper deicer , use it . It is helpful to thaw the windshield wiper blade rubbers . Refer to “ Defogger and deicer ” FP273 .
. To thaw the rear wiper blade rubbers , use the rear window defogger . Refer to “ Defogger and deicer ” FP273 .
When driving in snow , if frozen snow starts to stick on the surface of the windshield despite wiper operation , use the defroster with the airflow selection in “ ” and the temperature set for maximum warmth . After the windshield gets warmed enough to melt the frozen snow on it , wash it away using the windshield washer . Refer to “ Windshield washer ” FP245 .
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the wiper from working effectively . If snow is stuck on the wiper arm , pull off the road to a safe place , then remove it . If you stop the vehicle at road side , use the hazard warning flasher to alert other drivers . Refer to “ Hazard warning flasher ” FP168 .
We recommend use of non-freezing type wiper blades ( winter blades ) during the seasons you could have snow and freezing temperatures . Blades of this type give superior wiping performance in snowy conditions . Be sure to use blades that are suitable for your vehicle .
CAUTION
During high-speed driving , nonfreezing type wiper blades may not perform as well as standard wiper blades . If this happens , reduce the vehicle speed .