check engine light SUZUKI XL7 2007 2.G User Guide

3-29 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
Vehicle Information Menu Items
Vehicle Information (2):
Press this button to scroll through the fol-
lowing displays:
OIL LIFE
Press the vehicle information button until
OIL LIFE REMAINING displays. This dis-
play shows an estimate of the oil’s remain-
ing useful life. If you see 99% OIL LIFE
REMAINING on the display, that means
99% of the current oil life remains. The
engine oil life system will alert you to
change your oil on a schedule consistent
with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low, the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
will appear on the display. Refer to
“CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON” under
“DIC Warnings and Messages” in this sec-
tion. You should change your oil as soon
as possible. Refer to “Engine Oil” in
“Checking Things Under the Hood” in the
“Service and Appearance Care” section. In
addition to the engine oil life system moni-
toring the oil life, additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance Sched-
ule in this manual. Refer to “Scheduled
Maintenance” in “Maintenance Schedule”
in the “Maintenance Schedule” section for
more information.
Remember, you must reset the OIL LIFE
yourself after each oil change. It will not
reset itself. Also, be careful not to reset the
OIL LIFE accidentally at any time otherthan when the oil has just been changed. It
cannot be reset accurately until the next oil
change. To reset the engine oil life system,
refer to “Engine Oil Life System” in “Check-
ing Things Under the Hood” in the “Service
and Appearance Care” section.
UNITS
Press the vehicle information button until
UNITS displays. This display allows you to
select between English or Metric units of
measurement. Once in this display, press
the set/reset button to select between
ENGLISH or METRIC units.
FRONT TIRES or REAR TIRES
The pressure for each tire can be viewed in
the DIC. The tire pressure will be shown in
either pounds per square inch (psi) or kilo-
pascals (kPa). Press the vehicle informa-
tion button until the DIC shows FRONT
TIRES PSI (kPa) LF ## (###) RF ## (###).
Press the vehicle information button again
until the DIC displays REAR TIRES PSI
(kPa) LR ## (###) RR ## (###).
If a low or high tire pressure condition is
detected by the system while driving, a
message advising you to check the pres-
sure in a specific tire will appear in the dis-
play. Refer to “Inflation - Tire Pressure” in
“Tires” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section and “DIC Warnings and
Messages” in this section for more infor-
mation.
If the tire pressure display shows dashes
instead of a value, there may be a problemwith your vehicle. If this consistently
occurs, see your dealer for service.
BATTERY
Press the vehicle information button until
BATTERY displays. This display shows the
current battery voltage. If the voltage is
low, the display will show LOW. If the volt-
age is high, the display will show HIGH.
Your vehicle’s charging system regulates
voltage based on the state of the battery.
The battery voltage may fluctuate when
viewing this information on the DIC. This is
normal. Refer to “Battery Warning Light” in
this section for more information.
If there is a problem with the battery charg-
ing system, the DIC will display SERVICE
BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM. Refer to
“SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYS-
TEM” under “DIC Warnings and Mes-
sages” in this section. Also, refer to
“Electric Power Management” in this sec-
tion for more information.
TIRE LOCATIONS
After rotating the tires or after replacing a
tire or sensor, the system must re-learn the
tire positions. To re-learn the tire positions,
refer to “Tire Pressure Monitor System” in
“Tires” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section. Refer to “Tire Inspection
and Rotation” in “Tires” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section and “DIC Warn-
ings and Messages” in this section for
more information.

3-31 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
enabled. If the passenger’s safety belt is
already buckled, this message and chime
will not come on.
BUCKLE SEATBELT
This message reminds you to buckle the
driver’s safety belt.
This message displays and a chime
sounds when the ignition is on, the driver’s
safety belt is unbuckled, and the vehicle is
in motion. You should buckle your safety
belt.
If the driver remains unbuckled when the
ignition is on and the vehicle is in motion,
the reminder will be repeated. If the driver’s
safety belt is already buckled, this mes-
sage and chime will not come on.
This message is an additional reminder to
the Safety Belt Reminder Light in the
instrument panel cluster. Refer to “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in this section.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when service is
required for the vehicle. See your dealer.
Refer to “Engine Oil” in “Checking Things
Under the Hood” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section and “Scheduled
Maintenance” in “Maintenance Schedule”
in the “Maintenance Schedule” section for
more information.
Acknowledging this message will not reset
the OIL LIFE REMAINING display. That
must be done at the OIL LIFE screen
under the vehicle information menu. Referto “OIL LIFE” under “DIC Operation and
Displays” in this section and “Engine Oil
Life System” in “Checking Things Under
the Hood” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section for more information.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
This message displays when the tire pres-
sure in one of the tires needs to be
checked. This message also displays
LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate which
tire needs to be checked. You can receive
more than one tire pressure message at a
time. To read the other messages that may
have been sent at the same time, press the
set/reset button. If a tire pressure message
appears on the DIC, stop as soon as you
can. Have the tire pressures checked and
set to those shown on the Tire Loading
Information label. Refer to “Tires” in the
“Service and Appearance Care” section,
“Loading Your Vehicle” in “Your Driving, the
Road, and Your Vehicle” in the “Driving
Your Vehicle” section, and “Inflation - Tire
Pressure” in “Tires” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section. The DIC dis-
play also shows the tire pressure values for
the front and rear tires by pressing the
vehicle information button. Refer to “DIC
Operation and Displays” in this section. If
the tire pressure is low, the low tire pres-
sure warning light comes on. Refer to “Tire
Pressure Light” in this section.DRIVER DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the driver’s
door is not closed properly. When this
message appears, make sure that the
driver’s door is closed completely.
ENGINE HOT A/C (Air Conditioning)
OFF
This message displays when the engine
coolant becomes hotter than the normal
operating temperature. To avoid added
strain on a hot engine, the air conditioning
compressor is automatically turned off.
When the coolant temperature returns to
normal, the A/C operation automatically
resumes. You can continue to drive your
vehicle.
ENGINE OVERHEATD (Overheated)
IDLE ENGINE
NOTE:
If you drive your vehicle while the engine is
overheating, severe engine damage may
occur. If an overheat warning appears on
the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC,
stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Do
not increase the engine speed above nor-
mal idling speed. Refer to “Engine Over-
heating” in “Checking Things Under the
Hood” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section for more information.
This message displays when the engine
coolant temperature is too hot. Stop and
allow the vehicle to idle until it cools down.

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ENGINE OVERHEATD (Overheated)
STOP ENGINE
NOTE:
If you drive your vehicle while the engine is
overheating, severe engine damage may
occur. If an overheat warning appears on
the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC,
stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Refer
to “Engine Overheating” in “Checking
Things Under the Hood” in the “Service
and Appearance Care” section for more
information.
This message displays along with a contin-
uous chime when the engine has over-
heated. Stop and turn the engine off
immediately to avoid severe engine dam-
age. Refer to “Engine Overheating” in
“Checking Things Under the Hood” in the
“Service and Appearance Care” section.
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the vehicle’s
engine power is reduced. Reduced engine
power can affect the vehicle’s ability to
accelerate. If this message is on, but there
is no reduction in performance, proceed to
your destination. The performance may be
reduced the next time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a reduced
speed while this message is on, but accel-
eration and speed may be reduced. Any-
time this message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for service
as soon as possible.FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when your vehicle
is low on fuel. Refill the fuel tank as soon
as possible. Refer to “Fuel Gage” in this
section and “Filling the Tank” in “Fuel” in
the “Service and Appearance Care” sec-
tion for more information.
HOOD OPEN
This message displays on some vehicles
when the hood is not closed properly.
When this message appears, make sure
that the hood is closed completely. Refer to
“Hood Release” in “Checking Things
Under the Hood” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section.
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE WITH CARE
This message displays when the outside
air temperature is cold enough to create
icy road conditions. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
LIFTGATE OPEN
This message displays when the liftgate is
not closed completely. Make sure that the
liftgate is closed completely. Refer to “Lift-
gate” in “Doors and Locks” in the “Features
and Controls” section.OIL PRSSURE (Pressure) LOW STOP
ENGINE
This message displays when the vehicle’s
engine oil pressure is low. The oil pressure
light also appears on the instrument panel
cluster. Refer to “Oil Pressure Light” in this
section.
Stop the vehicle immediately, as engine
damage can result from driving a vehicle
with low oil pressure. Have the vehicle ser-
viced by your dealer as soon as possible
when this message is displayed.
PASSENGER DOOR FRONT/REAR
OPEN
This message displays when one or more
of the passenger’s doors are not closed
properly. When this message appears,
make sure that all passenger doors are
closed completely.
CAUTION
If you drive your vehicle while the
engine oil pressure is low, severe
engine damage may occur. If a low oil
pressure warning appears on the
Driver Information Center (DIC), stop
the vehicle as soon as possible. Do
not drive the vehicle until the cause
of the low oil pressure is corrected.
Refer to “Engine Oil” in “Checking
Things Under the Hood” in the “Ser-
vice and Appearance Care” section
for more information.

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78J00-03E
REMOTE KEY LEARNING ACTIVE
This message displays while you are
matching a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter to your vehicle. Refer to
“LEARN REMOTE KEY” under “DIC Oper-
ation and Displays” in this section for more
information.
SERVICE A/C (Air Conditioning) SYS-
TEM
This message displays when there is a
problem detected in the air conditioning
system. Have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays when there is a
problem with the airbag system. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer immedi-
ately. Refer to “Airbag Readiness Light” in
this section for more information.
SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
If your vehicle has the All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) system, this message displays
along with the service all-wheel drive light
if a problem occurs with this system. Refer
to “Service All-Wheel Drive Light” in this
section. If this message appears, stop as
soon as possible and turn off the vehicle.
Restart the vehicle and check for the mes-
sage on the DIC display. If the message is
still displayed or appears again when you
begin driving, the AWD system needs ser-
vice. See your dealer.SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYS-
TEM
This message displays when there is a
problem with the generator and battery
charging systems. Driving with this prob-
lem could drain the vehicle’s battery. Turn
off all unnecessary accessories. Stop and
turn off the vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so. Have the electrical system checked
by your dealer immediately.
Connecting a battery charger to your vehi-
cle while the ignition is in any position
other than LOCK may cause this message
to appear. If you need to charge your vehi-
cle, make sure that the key is in LOCK or
out of the ignition during charging.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays and a chime
sounds when the brake fluid level is low.
The brake system warning light also
appears on the instrument panel cluster
when this message appears on the DIC.
Refer to “Brake System Warning Light” in
this section. Have the brake system ser-
viced by your dealer as soon as possible.
SERVICE STABILITY CTRL (Control)
This message displays if there has been a
problem detected with the Electronic Sta-
bility Control (ESC) system. A warning light
also appears on the instrument panel clus-
ter. Refer to “Traction Control System
(TCS) Warning Light” in this section. Refer
to “Electronic Stability Control” in “Your
Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the“Driving Your Vehicle” section for more
information.
If this message turns on while you are driv-
ing, pull off the road as soon as possible
and stop carefully. Try resetting the system
by turning the ignition off and then back on.
If this message still stays on or turns back
on again while you are driving, your vehicle
needs service. Have the ESC system
inspected by your dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM
This message displays when there is a
problem with the theft-deterrent system. A
fault has been detected in the system
which means that the system is disabled
and it is not protecting the vehicle. The
vehicle usually restarts; however, you may
want to take the vehicle to your dealer
before turning off the engine. Refer to
“PASS-Key
® III+ Operation” in “Theft-
Deterrent Systems” in the “Features and
Controls” section for more information.
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM
This message displays if a part on the Tire
Pressure Monitor (TPM) system is not
working properly. If you drive your vehicle
while any of the four sensors are missing
or inoperable, the warning comes on in
about 20 minutes. A sensor would be miss-
ing, for example, if you put different wheels
on your vehicle without transferring the
sensors. If the warning comes on and

4-4 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking
skid.
When you start the engine and begin to
drive away, ABS will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise
while this test is going on, and you may
even notice that the brake pedal moves a
little. This is normal.
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If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light will stay on. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in “Warning Lights,
Gages, and Indicators” in the “Instrument
Panel” section.
1527213
Let us say the road is wet and you are driv-
ing safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out
in front of you. You slam on the brakes and
continue braking. Here is what happens
with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slow-
ing down. If one of the wheels is about to
stop rolling, the computer will separately
work the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is pro-
grammed to make the most of available tire
and road conditions. This can help you
steer around the obstacle while braking
hard.
1527212
As you brake, the computer keeps receiv-
ing updates on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time
you need to get your foot up to the brake
pedal or always decrease stopping dis-
tance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you will not have time to apply
the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock
work for you. You may hear the anti-lock
pump or motor operate, and feel the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.

4-11 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Driving Through Flowing Water
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
 Turn on your low-beam headlamps – not
just your parking lamps – to help make
you more visible to others. Besides slowing down, allow some extra
following distance. And be especially
careful when you pass another vehicle.
Allow yourself more clear room ahead,
and be prepared to have your view
restricted by road spray.
 Have good tires with proper tread depth.
Refer to “Tires” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section.
City Driving
1527452
One of the biggest problems with city
streets is the amount of traffic on them.
You will want to watch out for what the
other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety in
city driving:
 Know the best way to get to where you
are going. Get a city map and plan yourtrip into an unknown part of the city just
as you would for a cross-country trip.
 Try to use the freeways that rim and
crisscross most large cities. You will
save time and energy. Refer to “Freeway
Driving” in this section.
 Treat a green light as a warning signal. A
traffic light is there because the corner is
busy enough to need it. When a light
turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that
have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
Freeway Driving
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Mile for mile, freeways – also called thru-
ways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes,
or superhighways – are the safest of all
roads. But they have their own special
rules.
CAUTION
If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can
come in through the engine’s air
intake and badly damage the engine.
Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of
your vehicle. If you cannot avoid
deep puddles or standing water,
drive through them very slowly.
WARNING
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. If you try to drive
through flowing water, as you might
at a low water crossing, your vehicle
can be carried away. As little as six
inches of flowing water can carry
away a smaller vehicle. If this hap-
pens, you and other vehicle occu-
pants could drown. Do not ignore
police warning signs, and otherwise
be very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.

4-12 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
The most important advice on freeway
driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to
the right. Drive at the same speed most of
the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or
too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic
flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a
passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp
that leads to the freeway. If you have a
clear view of the freeway as you drive
along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you
expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge
into the gap at close to the prevailing
speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors, and glance over your shoul-
der as often as necessary. Try to blend
smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your
speed to the posted limit or to the prevail-
ing rate if it is slower. Stay in the right lane
unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors.
Then use your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance
quickly over your shoulder to make sure
there is not another vehicle in your blind
spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway,
make certain you allow a reasonable fol-
lowing distance. Expect to move slightly
slower at night.When you want to leave the freeway, move
to the proper lane well in advance. If you
miss your exit, do not, under any circum-
stances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply. The exit speed is usually
posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of motion.
After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are
going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long TripMake sure you are ready. Try to be well
rested. If you must start when you are not
fresh – such as after a day’s work – do not
plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you
keep it serviced and maintained, it is ready
to go. If it needs service, have it done
before starting out. Of course, you will find
experienced and able service experts in
dealerships all across North America.
They will be ready and willing to help if you
need it.Here are some things you can check
before a trip:
 Windshield Washer Fluid:
Is the reservoir full? Are all windows
clean inside and outside?
 Wiper Blades:
Are they in good shape?
 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Have you checked all levels?
 Lamps:
Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:
They are vitally important to a safe, trou-
ble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all
inflated to the recommended pressure?
 Weather Forecasts:
What is the weather outlook along your
route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
 Maps:
Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway HypnosisIs there actually such a condition as high-
way hypnosis? Or is it just plain falling
asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hyp-
nosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery, along with
the hum of the tires on the road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you
sleepy. Do not let it happen to you! If it

4-15 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
vehicle has a traction system, you will want
to slow down and adjust your driving to the
road conditions. Under certain conditions,
you may want to turn the traction system
off, such as when driving through deep
snow and loose gravel, to help maintain
vehicle motion at lower speeds. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” and
“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
improves your vehicle’s stability when you
make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even
though you have ABS, you will want to
begin stopping sooner than you would on
dry pavement. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS)” in this section.
 Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
 Watch for slippery spots. The road might
be fine until you hit a spot that is covered
with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice
patches may appear in shaded areas
where the sun cannot reach, such as
around clumps of trees, behind build-
ings, or under bridges. Sometimes the
surface of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead
of you, brake before you are on it. Try not
to brake while you are actually on the
ice, and avoid sudden steering maneu-
vers.If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be in a serious situation. You should
probably stay with your vehicle unless you
know for sure that you are near help and
you can hike through the snow. Here are
some things to do to summon help and
keep yourself and your passengers safe:
 Turn on your hazard flashers.
 Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert
police that you have been stopped by the
snow.
 Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
around you. If you do not have blankets
or extra clothing, make body insulators
from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
floor mats – anything you can wrap
around yourself or tuck under your cloth-
ing to keep warm.
808411
You can run the engine to keep warm, but
be careful.
Run your engine only as long as you must.
This saves fuel. When you run the engine,
make it go a little faster than just idle. That
is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses
less fuel for the heat that you get and it
keeps the battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signal-
ing later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the
window almost all the way to preserve the
heat. Start the engine again and repeat
this only when you feel really uncomfort-
WARNING
Snow can trap exhaust gases under
your vehicle. This can cause deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get
inside. CO could overcome you and
kill you. You cannot see it or smell it,
so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking the
exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure
snow does not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the
side of the vehicle that is away from
the wind. This will help keep CO out.

5-2 SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
78J00-03E
FuelUse of the recommended fuel is an impor-
tant part of the proper maintenance of your
vehicle. To help keep the engine clean and
maintain optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.Gasoline OctaneUse regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the
octane rating is less than 87, you may
notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline SpecificationsAt a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814 in the United
States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an octane-
enhancing additive called methylcyclopen-
tadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
We recommend against the use of gaso-
lines containing MMT. Refer to “Additives”
in this section for additional information.California FuelIf your vehicle is certified to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to
operate on fuels that meet California spec-
ifications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions stan-
dards, your vehicle will operate satisfacto-
rily on fuels meeting federal specifications,
but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp may turn on and your vehicle may fail
a smog-check test. Refer to “Malfunction
Indicator Lamp” in “Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators” in the “Instrument Panel”
section. If this occurs, return to your autho-
rized dealer for diagnosis. If it is deter-
mined that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs may not be cov-
ered by your warranty.
AdditivesTo provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain
additives that will help prevent engine and
fuel system deposits from forming, allow-
ing your emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you should not
have to add anything to your fuel. How-
ever, some gasolines contain only the min-
imum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
regulations. To help keep fuel injectors and
intake valves clean, or if your vehicle expe-
riences problems due to dirty injectors or
valves, look for gasoline that is advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also,
your dealer has additives that will help cor-
rect and prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gas-
olines may be available in your area. We
recommend that you use these gasolines,
if they comply with the specifications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% eth-
anol) and other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in vehicles
that were not designed for those fuels.

5-9 SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
78J00-03E
system to work properly, you must reset
the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil
life has been diminished, it will indicate
that an oil change is necessary. A change
engine oil light and a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message will come on. Refer to
“Change Engine Oil Light” in “Warning
Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in the
“Instrument Panel” section and “DIC Warn-
ings and Messages” in “Driver Information
Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument Panel”
section. Change your oil as soon as possi-
ble within the next 600 miles (1000 km). It
is possible that, if you are driving under the
best conditions, the oil life system may not
indicate that an oil change is necessary for
over a year. However, your engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once a year
and at this time the system must be reset.
Your dealer has trained service people
who will perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to check your
oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you
must change your oil at 3000 miles (5000
km) since your last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system whenever the oil
is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life Sys-
tem
The Engine Oil Life System calculates
when to change your engine oil and filter
based on vehicle use. Anytime your oil ischanged, reset the system so it can calcu-
late when the next oil change is required. If
a situation occurs where you change your
oil prior to a change engine oil light or
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
being turned on, reset the system.
1) Turn the ignition key to RUN with the
engine off.
2) Fully press and release the accelerator
pedal three times within five seconds.
The change engine oil light will flash
while the system is resetting.
3) When the light stops flashing, turn the
key to LOCK.
If the light or message comes back on and
stays on when you start your vehicle, the
engine oil life system has not reset.
Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that may be unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Do not let used
oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or
a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
dispose of clothing or rags containing used
engine oil. See the manufacturer’s warn-
ings about the use and disposal of oil prod-
ucts.
Used oil can be a threat to the environ-
ment. If you change your own oil, be sure
to drain all the oil from the filter before dis-
posal. Never dispose of oil by putting it inthe trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water.
Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used oil. If you have a prob-
lem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station, or a
local recycling center for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/FilterThe engine air cleaner/filter is located in
the engine compartment on the passen-
ger’s side of the vehicle. Refer to “Engine
Compartment Overview” in this section for
more information on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the Mainte-
nance II intervals and replace it at the first
oil change after each 50000 mile (83000
km) interval. Refer to “Scheduled Mainte-
nance” in “Maintenance Schedule” in the
“Maintenance Schedule” section for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the filter at each engine
oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter remove the
filter from the vehicle and lightly shake the
filter to release loose dust and dirt. If the fil-
ter remains caked with dirt, a new filter is
required.