Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88 km/h (55 mph) when towing a trailer.
Speed control may shut off if you are towing on long, steep grades.
When towing a trailer:
²Use a lower gear when towing up or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
Exceeding the GCWR rating may cause internal transmission
damage and void your warranty coverage.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance guide
for more information.
Towing behind another vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle behind another vehicle, such as an RV.
Your vehicle cannot be flat-towed with all wheels on the ground.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up in an area before starting on
a trip to get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other
obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be 10% of the loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather, place
the gearshift in P (Park) and increase idle speed. This aids engine
cooling and air conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Driving
126
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper and
²Do not allow waves to break higher than 15 cm (six inches) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting driveability, emissions, reliability and
causing internal transmission damage.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime the axle has been submerged in
water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected or repair required.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer into the
water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the trailer is removed
from the water.
LUGGAGE RACK (IF EQUIPPED)
The rear crossbar can be adjusted to fit the item being carried. The front
crossbar does not move.
To adjust the luggage rack, push the
adjustment lever forward (toward
the front of the vehicle), then slide
the crossbar forward and lock the
adjusting levers by pushing them
down (toward the back of the
vehicle). Pull the crossbar rearward
to ensure that it is locked in place.
Load luggage at the front crossbar and adjust the rear crossbar as
necessary.
²Do not exceed 90.7 kg (200 lb) of luggage if the weight is placed
directly on the crossbars.
²Do not exceed 68 kg (150 lb) if the weight is resting directly on the
roof.
Use adjustable tie down loops to secure the load.
Driving
127
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollover/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Use of fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Flat terrain driving improves fuel economy over hilly roads.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of Km/L (MPG) expected on
the vehicle, depending upon the driver's method of operation and
conditions.
Maintenance and care
177
Carpet floor mats
Cleaners, waxes and polishes
Flat splash guards
Front end covers (full and mini)
Hood deflectors
Locking gas cap
Lubricants and oils
Molded splash guards
Molded vinyl floor mats
Rallye bars
Rear air deflectors
Rear decklid spoilers
Side window air deflectors
Spare tire lock
Step bumpers
Step/sill plates
Tailgate covers
Tailgate lock
Tailgate protector
Tonneau covers
Touch-up paint
Universal floor mats
For maximum vehicle performance, keep the following information in
mind when adding accessories or equipment to your vehicle:
²When adding accessories, equipment, passengers and luggage to your
vehicle, do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of
the front or rear axle (GVWR or GAWR as indicated on the Safety
compliance certification label). Consult your dealer for specific weight
information.
²The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Canadian Radio
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulate the use of mobile
communications systems - such as two-way radios, telephones and
Customer assistance
209
Engine oil
checking and adding ..............152
dipstick ....................................150
specifications ...................150,152
Exhaust fumes ..........................103
Fail safe cooling ........................157
Floor mats ...................................64
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles ..10,114
control trac .............................115
description ..............................115
driving off road .......................117
electronic shift ............19,116,117
indicator light ...........................10
Fuel
choosing the right fuel ...........172
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................177
detergent in fuel .....................173
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...........................170,173
quality ......................................172
running out of fuel .................173
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................170
Fuses ...................................129,130
Garage door opener ....................56
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ..............174,175,176,177
Gauges .........................................11
battery voltage gauge ...............14
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................12
engine oil pressure gauge ........14
fuel gauge ..................................12
odometer ...................................13
speedometer .............................12
tachometer ................................13
trip odometer ............................13
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................121
Hazard flashers .........................128Head
restraints .......74,77,78,79,80,81,82
Headlamps
aiming ......................................184
bulb specifications ..................184
high beam ..............................9,54
Heating ........................................38
heating and air
conditioning system ............38,40
Hood ..........................................149
Ignition .......................................196
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................179
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................188
Keyless entry system
locking and unlocking doors ....73
programming entry code .........72
Keys
positions of the ignition ...........48
Lamps
autolamp system .......................18
daytime running light ...............17
fog lamps ...................................17
headlamps .................................17
headlamps, flash to pass ..........55
instrument panel, dimming .....18
interior lamps .........................184
replacing
bulbs ............179,180,181,182,183
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................48
Liftgate ........................................64
Lights, warning and indicator ......6
air bag ..........................................7
air suspension .........................110
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............8
anti-theft .....................................9
brake ............................................8
charging system ..........................9
door ajar ....................................10
engine oil pressure .....................9
Index
213