WARNING
•
Whatever the condition, drive with caution.
Accelerate and decelerate with great care. If
accelerating or decelerating too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more traction.
•
Allow more stopping distance in cold weather
driving. Braking should be started sooner than
on dry roads.
•
Keep at a greater distance from the vehicle in
front of you on slippery roads.
•
Wet ice (0°C, 32°F and freezing rain), very cold
snow and ice can be slick and very difficult to
drive on. The vehicle will have a lot less trac-
tion or grip under these conditions. Try to
avoid driving on wet ice until the road is salted
or sanded.
•
Watch for slippery spots (black ice). These
may appear on an otherwise clear road in
shaded areas. If a patch of ice is seen ahead,
brake before reaching it. Try not to brake while
actually on the ice, and avoid any sudden
steering manoeuvres.
•
Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.
•
Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gas under
your vehicle. Keep snow clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around your vehicle.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may freeze
and damage the battery. To maintain maximum effi-
ciency, the battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see “Battery” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-freeze,
drain the cooling system, including the engine block.
Refill before operating the vehicle. For details, see
“Changing engine coolant” in the “8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section.
TYRE EQUIPMENT
1. If you have snow tyres installed on the front/rear
wheels of your vehicle, they should be of the
same size, loading range, construction and type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as the rear/front tyres.
2. If the vehicle is to be operated in severe winter
conditions, snow tyres should be installed on all
four wheels.
3. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tyres
may be used. However, some countries, prov-
inces and states prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before installing stud-
ded tyres.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded snow
tyres, on wet or dry surfaces, may be poorer
than that of non-studded snow tyres.
4. Snow chains may be used if desired. Make sure
they are the proper size for the tyres on your
vehicle and are installed according to the chain
manufacturer’s instructions. (See “Snow chains”
in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion.)
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be car-
ried in the vehicle during the winter:
•
A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove ice
and snow from the windows.
•
A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack
to give it firm support.
•
A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
PARKING BRAKE
When parking in the area where the outside tem-
perature is below 0°C (32°F), do not apply the park-
ing brake as it may freeze and stick in the applied
state. For safe parking:
•
Place the shift lever in the “P” (Park) position.
•
Securely block the wheels.
CORROSION PROTECTION
Chemicals used for road surface deicing are ex-
tremely corrosive and will accelerate corrosion and
the deterioration of underbody components such as
the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake
cables, floor pan and fenders.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-38 Starting and driving
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