warning light SUZUKI XL7 2007 2.G Owner's Guide

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78J00-03E
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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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

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78J00-03E
stays on, there may be a problem with the
TPM. See your dealer.
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
This message displays when the Traction
Control System (TCS) is not functioning
properly. A warning light also appears on
the instrument panel cluster. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS) Warning
Light” in this section and “Traction Control
System (TCS)” in “Your Driving, the Road,
and Your Vehicle” in the “Driving Your Vehi-
cle” section for more information. Have the
TCS serviced by your dealer as soon as
possible.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message displays when a non-emis-
sions related malfunction occurs. Have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer as soon as
possible.
STABILITY CTRL (Control) NOT READY
This message may display and a warning
light on the instrument panel cluster may
be on after first driving the vehicle and
exceeding 30 mph (48 km/h) for 30 sec-
onds. Refer to “Traction Control System
(TCS) Warning Light” in this section. The
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system
is not functional until the light has turned
off. Refer to “Electronic Stability Control” in
“Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle”
in the “Driving Your Vehicle” section for
more information.STABILITY CTRL (Control) OFF
This message displays any time the Elec-
tronic Stability Control (ESC) system turns
off. When this message has been dis-
played, ESC is no longer available to assist
you with directional control of the vehicle.
Adjust your driving accordingly. Refer to
“Electronic Stability Control” in “Your Driv-
ing, the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the
“Driving Your Vehicle” section.
This message displays only while the igni-
tion is in RUN.
Any of the following conditions may cause
the ESC system to turn off:
 The ESC system is turned off by press-
ing and holding the traction control but-
ton. Refer to “Electronic Stability Control”
in “Your Driving, the Road, and Your
Vehicle” in the “Driving Your Vehicle”
section for more information.
 The battery is low.
 There is an ESC system failure. See
your dealer for service.
STARTING DISABLD (Disabled) SER-
VICE THRTTLE (Throttle)
This message displays if the starting of the
engine is disabled due to the electronic
throttle control system. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer immediately.
This message only appears while the igni-
tion is in RUN, and will not disappear until
the problem is resolved.
This message cannot be acknowledged.THEFT ATTEMPTED
This message displays if the content theft-
deterrent system has detected a break-in
attempt while you were away from your
vehicle. Refer to “Content Theft-Deterrent”
in “Theft-Deterrent Systems” in the “Fea-
tures and Controls” section for more infor-
mation.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
This message displays when the Tire Pres-
sure Monitor (TPM) system is re-learning
the tire positions. Refer to “Tire Pressure
Monitor System” in “Tires” in the “Service
and Appearance Care” section. The tire
positions must be re-learned after rotating
the tires or after replacing a tire or sensor.
Refer to “Tire Inspection and Rotation” and
“Inflation - Tire Pressure” in “Tires” in the
“Service and Appearance Care” section for
more information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the Traction
Control System (TCS) turns off. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” in “Your
Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the
“Driving Your Vehicle” section for more
information.
This message only displays while the igni-
tion is in RUN and disappears after 10 sec-
onds, unless it is acknowledged or an
urgent warning appears.
Any of the following conditions may cause
the TCS to turn off:

4-3 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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There is something else about drinking
and driving that many people do not know.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a
person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spi-
nal cord, or heart. This means that when
anyone who has been drinking – driver or
passenger – is in a crash, that person’s
chance of being killed or permanently dis-
abled is higher than if the person had not
been drinking.Control of a VehicleYou have three systems that make your
vehicle go where you want it to go. They
are the brakes, the steering, and the accel-
erator. All three systems have to do their
work at the places where the tires meet the
road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on
snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those
control systems than the tires and roadcan provide. That means you can lose con-
trol of your vehicle.
Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
BrakingRefer to “Brake System Warning Light” in
“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in
the “Instrument Panel” section.
Braking action involves perception time
and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That is perception time. Then
you have to bring up your foot and do it.
That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-
fourths of a second. But that is only an
average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all
play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and frus-
tration. But even in three-fourths of a sec-
ond, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/
h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a
lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances
vary greatly with the surface of the road,whether it is pavement or gravel; the con-
dition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount
of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some peo-
ple drive in spurts – heavy acceleration fol-
lowed by heavy braking – rather than
keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. The brakes will wear
out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you
will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while
you are driving, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. If you do, the pedal may
get harder to push down. If the engine
stops, you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you brake.
Once the power assist is used up, it may
take longer to stop and the brake pedal will
be harder to push.
Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very dan-
gerous. Your reflexes, perceptions,
attentiveness, and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of
alcohol. You can have a serious – or
even fatal – collision if you drive after
drinking. Please do not drink and
drive or ride with a driver who has
been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or
if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.

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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.
807057
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.

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Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the
same time. In many emergencies, steering
can help you more than even the very best
braking.Traction Control System (TCS)Your vehicle has a traction control system
that limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The sys-
tem operates only if it senses that one or
both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this hap-
pens, the system reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
1545635
This light will come on when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal. This light may also come
on after extended heavy braking indicating
the brakes have become too hot to limit
wheel spin.
The traction control system automatically
comes on whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery
road conditions, you should always leavethe system on. But you can turn the trac-
tion control system off if you ever need to.
You should turn the system off if your vehi-
cle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required.
Refer to “Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out” in this section.
78J001
The traction control system can be turned
off by pressing the traction control button,
located on the floor console to the left of
the shift lever.
The traction control system can be acti-
vated again by pressing the traction control
button.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button, the traction control
off light will appear on the instrument panel
cluster. The system will not turn off until
there is no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin. You can turn the system back
on at any time by pressing the button
again. If the light does not come on, you
may not have traction control and your
vehicle should be serviced by a dealer.
Adding non-SUZUKI accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. Refer to“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section for more information.
Electronic Stability ControlThe Electronic Stability Control (ESC) sys-
tem is an advanced computer controlled
system that helps the driver maintain direc-
tional control of the vehicle in difficult driv-
ing conditions. This is accomplished by
selectively applying any one of the vehi-
cle’s brakes and reducing engine power.
The ESC system comes on automatically
whenever you start your vehicle.
The SERVICE STABILITY CTRL message
may be displayed in the DIC after first driv-
ing the vehicle and exceeding 30 mph 48
(km/h) for 30 seconds. The ESC system is
off until the message has turned off. This
could take up to 15 minutes. Refer to “DIC
Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-
mation Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument
Panel” section for more information.
The SERVICE STABILITY CTRL message
will stay on if there is a problem with the
system. When this message is on, the sys-
tem is not operational. Adjust your driving
accordingly. ESC can be turned off using
the traction control button. To disable ESC,
press and hold the traction control button
for five seconds. ESC can be activated
again by pressing the traction control but-
ton.

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All-Wheel Drive (AWD) SystemIf your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD),
the AWD system operates automatically
without any action required by the driver. If
the front drive wheels begin to slip, the rear
wheels will automatically begin to drive the
vehicle as required. Torque is also applied
to the rear wheels during launches. There
may be a slight engagement noise during
hard use but this is normal.
1710820
This light and the SERVICE ALL WHEEL
DRIVE message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will come on and stay on to
indicate that there may be a problem with
the drive system and service is required.
Refer to “Service All-Wheel Drive Light” in
“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in
the “Instrument Panel” section and “DIC
Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-
mation Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument
Panel” section for more information.
1710823
This light will come on along with the ALL
WHEEL DRIVE OFF message when the
rear drive system is overheating. This light
will turn off when the rear drive system
cools down. If this light stays on, it must be
reset. To reset the light, turn the ignition off
and then back again. If the light stays on,
see your dealer for service.
Refer to “All Wheel Drive Off” under “DIC
Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-
mation Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument
Panel” section for more information.SteeringPower Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the power steering sys-
tem is not functioning, you can steer, but it
will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reason-
able speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:Experienced driver or beginner, each of us
is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of the
tires against the road surface makes it pos-
sible for the vehicle to change its path
when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you have
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both
control systems – steering and accelera-
tion – have to do their work where the tires
meet the road. Adding the sudden acceler-
ation can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” and
“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal,
steer the vehicle the way you want it to go,
and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less

4-9 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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acceleration skid, too much throttle causes
the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing
your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system
helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If
your traction system is off, then an acceler-
ation skid is also best handled by easing
your foot off the accelerator pedal. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” and
“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If
you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you will want to slow
down and adjust your driving to these con-
ditions. It is important to slow down on slip-
pery surfaces because stopping distance
will be longer and vehicle control more lim-
ited.
While driving on a surface with reduced
traction, try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a
lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize
the surface is slippery until your vehicle is
skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues– such as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a mirrored sur-
face – and slow down when you have any
doubt.
If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), remember: It helps avoid only the
braking skid. If you do not have ABS, then
in a braking skid, where the wheels are no
longer rolling, release enough pressure on
the brakes to get the wheels rolling again.
This restores steering control. Push the
brake pedal down steadily when you have
to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels
are rolling, you will have steering control.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at NightNight driving is more dangerous than day
driving. One reason is that some drivers
are likely to be impaired – by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
 Drive defensively.
 Do not drink and drive.
 Adjust the inside rearview mirror to
reduce glare from headlamps behind
you.
 Since you cannot see as well, you may
need to slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles. Slow down, especially on higher speed
roads. Your vehicle’s headlamps can
light up only much road ahead.
 In remote areas, watch for animals.
 If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the
daytime. But as we get older these differ-
ences increase. A 50-year-old driver may
require at least twice much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect
your night vision. For example, if you
spend the day in bright sunshine you are
wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if
you are driving, do not wear sunglasses at
night. They may cut down on glare from
headlamps, but they also make a lot of
things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching headlamps. It can take a sec-
ond or two, or even several seconds, for
your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare, as from a
driver who does not lower the high beams,
or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps,
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly
into the approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all the glass on
your vehicle clean – inside and out. Glare
at night is made much worse by dirt on the
glass. Even the inside of the glass can

4-10 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass
makes lights dazzle and flash more than
clean glass would, making the pupils of
your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far
less of a roadway when you are in a turn or
curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it
is easier to pick out dimly lighted objects.
Just as the headlamps should be checked
regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers
suffer from night blindness – the inability to
see in dim light – and are not even aware
of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
1527470
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trou-
ble. On a wet road, you cannot stop, accel-
erate, or turn as well because your tire-to-
road traction is not as good as on dryroads. And, if your tires do not have much
tread left, you will get even less traction. It
is always wise to go slower and be cau-
tious if rain starts to fall while you are driv-
ing. The surface may get wet suddenly
when your reflexes are tuned for driving on
dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
Even if your windshield wiper blades are in
good shape, a heavy rain can make it
harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings, the edge of the road,
and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiper and
washer system in good shape and keep
your windshield washer fluid reservoir filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield
wiper inserts when they show signs of
streaking or missing areas on the wind-
shield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.
Driving too fast through large water pud-
dles or even going through some carwashes can cause problems, too. The
water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow
down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much
water can build up under your tires that
they can actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it
can if your tires do not have much tread or
if the pressure in one or more is low. It can
happen if a lot of water is standing on the
road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles, or other vehicles, and
raindrops dimple the water’s surface, there
could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher
speeds. There just is not a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is
to slow down when it is raining.
WARNING
Wet brakes can cause accidents.
They may not work as well in a quick
stop and may cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle. After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car wash, apply
the brake pedal lightly until the
brakes work normally.

4-11 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
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
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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.