5-17
Dri
ving y
our v
ehicle
5
Power brakes
Your vehicle has power-assisted
brakes that adjust automatically
through normal usage.
If the power cell module is not run-
ning or is turned off while driving, the
power assist for the brakes will not
work. You can still stop your vehicle
by applying greater force to the brake
pedal than typical. The stopping dis-
tance, however, will be longer than
with power brakes.
When the power cell module is not
running, the reserve brake power is
partially depleted each time the
brake pedal is applied. Do not pump
the brake pedal when the power
assist has been interrupted.
Pump the brake pedal only when
necessary to maintain steering con-
trol on slippery surfaces.
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Take the following precautions:
•
Do not drive with your foot
resting on the brake pedal.
This will create abnormal high
brake temperatures, exces-
sive brake lining and pad
wear, and increased stopping
distances.
•
When descending a long or
steep hill, use the regenera-
tive braking mode by shifting
to L (Low) gear and avoid con-
tinuous application of the
brakes. Applying the brakes
continuously will cause the
brakes to overheat and could
result in a temporary loss of
braking performance.
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•
Wet brakes may impair the
vehicle’s ability to safely slow
down; the vehicle may also
pull to one side when the
brakes are applied. Applying
the brakes lightly will indicate
whether they have been
affected in this way. Always
test your brakes in this fash-
ion after driving through deep
water. To dry the brakes, light-
ly tap the brake pedal to heat
up the brakes while maintain-
ing a safe forward speed until
brake performance returns to
normal. Avoid driving at high
speeds until the brakes func-
tion correctly.
WARNING
