Driving tips / Winter driving 8-7
. Slow down and employ extra caution at all times . When driving off-road , you will not have the benefit of marked traffic lanes , banked curves , traffic signs and the like .
. Do not drive across steep slopes . Instead , drive either straight up or straight down the slopes . A vehicle can much more easily tip over sideways than it can end over end . Avoid driving straight up or down slopes that are too steep .
. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers , especially at higher speeds .
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel . A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure your hands . Instead , drive with your fingers and thumbs on the outside of the rim .
. Do not drive or park over or near flammable materials such as dry grass or fallen leaves , as they may burn easily . The exhaust system is very hot while the engine is running and right after the engine stops . This could create a fire hazard .
Precautions when driving under especially dangerous situations :
. If you must rock the vehicle to free it from sand or mud , depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move the shift lever / select lever back and forth between “ 1 ”/“ D ” and “ R ” repeatedly . Do not race the engine . For the best possible traction , avoid spinning the wheels when trying to free the vehicle .
. When the road surface is extremely slippery , you can obtain better traction by starting the vehicle with the transmission in 2nd than 1st ( both for MT and CVT ). For CVT models , refer to “ Selection of manual mode ” F7-29 .
& After driving
S08AH11
. Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand , mud or water . Do this by driving slowly and stepping on the brake pedal . Repeat that process several times to dry out the brake discs and brake pads .
. After driving through tall grass , mud , rocks , sand , rivers , etc ., check that there is no grass , bush , paper , rags , stones , sand , etc . adhering to or trapped on the underbody . Clear off any such matter from the underbody . If the vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody , a mechanical breakdown or fire could occur .
. Wash the vehicle ’ s underbody after offroad driving . Suspension components are particularly prone to dirt buildup , so they need to be washed thoroughly .
Winter driving
S08AI
& Operation during cold weather
S08AI01
! Maintenance
S08AI0105
Carry some emergency equipment , such as a window scraper , a bag of sand , flares , a small shovel and jumper cables .
Check the battery and cables . Cold temperatures reduce battery capacity . The battery must be in good condition to provide enough power for cold winter starts .
It normally takes longer to start the engine in very cold weather conditions . Use an engine oil of a proper grade and viscosity for cold weather . Using heavy summer oil will make it harder to start the engine .
Keep the door locks from freezing by squirting them with deicer or glycerin .
Forcing a frozen door open may damage or separate the rubber weather strips around the door . If the door is frozen , use hot water to melt the ice , and afterwards thoroughly wipe the water away .
Use a windshield washer fluid that contains an antifreeze solution . Do not use engine antifreeze or other substitutes because they may damage the paint of
– CONTINUED –