All-Wheel
Drive
(AWD)
System
If 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. There may be a slight
engagement noise during hard use but this is normal.
During heavy AWD applications, the engine torque may
be reduced
to
protect AWD system components. If
the vehicle is exposed
to
extended heavy AWD usage,
the AWD system will shut itself
off
to
protect the
system from overheating. When the system cools down,
the AWD system will activate itself again automatically;
this cool-down can take up
to
20
minutes depending
on outside temperature and vehicle use. See
All-Wheel
Drive Disable Warning Message on page
3-46.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering
Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s
important
to
take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver
lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s 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 possible for the vehicle
to
change its path when
you turn the front wheels.
If
there’s no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction.
If
you’ve ever tried
to
steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll
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’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-
steering
and braking
-
have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Unless
you
have four-wheel anti-lock brakes,
adding the hard braking can demand
too
much of those
places.
You
can lose control.
4-1
2
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