tires CHRYSLER PACIFICA 2008 1.G Owners Manual

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness, and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid, trans-
mission fluid or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
80 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The term ªICº before the certification/registration num-
ber only signifies that Industry Canada technical specifi-
cations were met.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
ABS aids the driver in maintaining vehicle control under
adverse braking conditions. The system controls hydrau-
lic brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup and help
avoid skidding on slippery surfaces during braking.
NOTE:ABS improves steering control of the vehicle
during hard braking maneuvers.
WARNING!
²ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics
from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and
tires or the traction afforded.
²ABS cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning. Only
a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents.
²The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user's safety
or the safety of others.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 153
3

WARNING!
²BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics
from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking efficiency beyond that afforded by the
condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the
traction afforded.
²The BAS cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver
can prevent accidents.
²The capabilities of a BAS-equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user 's safety
or the safety of others.
ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESP cor-
rects for over/under steering of the vehicle by applying
the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counter-
acting the over/under steer condition. Engine power
may also be reduced to help the vehicle maintain the
desired path. ESP uses sensors in the vehicle to determine
the vehicle path intended by the driver and compares it
to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path
does not match the intended path, ESP applies the brake
of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the
oversteer or understeer condition.
²Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
²Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 155
3

ESP/TCS Indicator Light
The ªESP/TCS Indicator Lightº located in the instrument
cluster, starts to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESP system becomes active. The ªESP/TCS Indicator
Lightº also flashes when TCS is active. If the ªESP/TCS
Indicator Lightº begins to flash during acceleration, ease
up on the accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road conditions.WARNING!
²Electronic Stability Program (ESP) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions.
²ESP cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, driving on
very slippery surfaces, or hydroplaning. Only a
safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents.
²The capabilities of an ESP-equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user's safety
or the safety of others.
156 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

21. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Lamp
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires are significantly under-inflated. Ac-
cordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible,
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation alsoreduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
NOTE:Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver 's responsi-
bility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if underin-
flation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 195
4

alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replace-
ment or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
NOTE:Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle, to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires
and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels (the spare is not moni-
tored or equipped with a sensor). TPMS pressures
and warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use aftermarket tire sealants
or balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
For additional information on TPMS, refer to Section 5 Ð
Starting and Operating, ªTire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
temº of this manual.
196 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

mParking Brake.........................285
mBrake System..........................287
NAnti-Lock Brake System................288
mPower Steering........................290
mDriving On Slippery Surfaces..............291
NAcceleration.........................291
NTraction............................292
mDriving Through Water..................292
NFlowing/Rising Water..................292
NShallow Standing Water.................293
mTire Safety Information...................294
NTire Markings........................294
NTire Identification Number (TIN)..........298NTire Loading And Tire Pressure...........299
mTires Ð General Information...............303
NTire Pressure.........................303
NTire Inflation Pressures.................304
NRadial-Ply Tires......................306
NCompact Spare Tire Ð If Equipped.........307
NLimited Use Spare Ð If Equipped.........307
NTire Spinning........................308
NTread Wear Indicators..................309
NLife Of Tire.........................309
NReplacement Tires.....................310
NAlignment And Balance.................311
mTire Chains...........................312
272 STARTING AND OPERATING

mSnow Tires...........................313
mTire Rotation..........................313
mTire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........314
NBasic TPMS Without EVIC Ð If Equipped....317
NBasic TPMS With EVIC Ð If Equipped......319
NPremium TPMS ± If Equipped............320
NTire Pressure Monitoring Low Pressure
Warnings...........................321
NService Tire System Soon................322
NGeneral Information...................324
mFuel Requirements......................325
N3.8L Gasoline Engines..................325
N4.0L Gasoline Engines..................325NReformulated Gasoline.................326
NGasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............326
NMMT In Gasoline.....................327
NMaterials Added To Fuel................327
NFuel System Cautions..................327
NCarbon Monoxide Warnings..............328
mAdding Fuel..........................329
NFuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............329
NLoose Fuel Filler Cap Message............330
mVehicle Loading........................331
NVehicle Certification Label...............331
NGross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).......332
NGross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).........332
STARTING AND OPERATING 273
5

WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of ªPº or
ªNº if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle
could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the engine is
idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on
the brake pedal.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE Ð IF EQUIPPED
This feature provides full time, on-demand, All Wheel
Drive (AWD). The system is automatic with no driver
inputs or additional driving skills required. Under nor-
mal driving conditions, the front wheels provide most of
the traction. If the front wheels begin to lose traction,power is shifted automatically to the rear wheels. The
greater the front wheel traction loss, the greater the
power transfer to the rear wheels.
Additionally, on dry pavement under heavy throttle
input (where one may have no wheel spin), torque will be
sent to the rear in a preemptive effort to improve vehicle
launch and performance characteristics.
CAUTION!
All wheels must have the same size and type tires.
Unequal tire sizes must not be used. Unequal tire
size may cause failure of the power transfer unit.
284 STARTING AND OPERATING

Anti-Lock Brake System
The Anti-Lock Brake System provides increased vehicle
stability and brake performance under most braking
conditions. The system automatically ªpumpsº the
brakes during severe braking conditions to prevent
wheel lock-up.
WARNING!
Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish their
effectiveness and may lead to an accident. Pumping
makes the stopping distance longer. Just press firmly
on your brake pedal when you need to slow down or
stop.
WARNING!
²Anti-lock system (ABS) cannot prevent the natural
laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency beyond
that afforded by the condition of the vehicle
brakes and tires or the traction afforded.
²The ABS cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver
can prevent accidents.
²The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user's safety
or the safety of others.
288 STARTING AND OPERATING