
Seating and safety restraints 108
Seating 108
Safety restraints 120
Air bags 132
Child restraints 140
Driving 150
Starting 150
Brakes 154
Transmission operation 161
Vehicle loading 177
Trailer towing 180
Recreational towing 185
Roadside emergencies 186
Hazard flasher switch 187
Fuses and relays 189
Changing tires 196
Jump starting 202
Wrecker towing 207
Customer assistance 208
The dispute settlement board 211
Utilizing the mediation/arbitration 214
Getting assistance outside the U.S. and Canada 214
Ordering additional owner's literature 215
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 217
Cleaning 218
Cleaning your vehicle 218
Underbody preservation 223
Table of contents
2

Mode control
Each press of the MODE control will
display a different feature as follows:
Fuel range.This displays the
approximate number of kilometers
(miles) left to drive before the fuel
tank is empty. The indicated
distance to empty may be
inaccurate:
²with sustained, drastic changes in
fuel economy (such as trailer
towing), but will eventually recover.
²if the vehicle is started while parked on an incline.
²if less than 27 liters (6 gallons) of fuel is added to the fuel tank.
The fuel range function will flash for 5 seconds when you have
approximately the following distance you can drive before the fuel tank
is empty:
²80 km (50 miles)
²40 km (25 miles)
²16 km (10 miles)
Average fuel economy.The display will indicate the vehicle's average
fuel economy in liters/100 km (or miles/gallon) since last reset.
²To reset the average fuel
economy:
1. Press the MODE control
repeatedly until AVG F/ECON is
displayed (no other display is
resettable).
2. Press the E/M and MODE
controls simultaneously.
Compass display.Refer toElectronic compassin theControls and
featureschapter for more information.
Off.In this mode the display will go blank indicating the system is off.
Driver controls
91

R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R
(Reverse), the vehicle will move
backward. Always come to a
complete stop before shifting into
and out of R (Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N
(Neutral), the vehicle can be started
and is free to roll. Hold the brake
pedal down while in this gear.
(Overdrive)
The normal driving position for the
best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through four.
(Overdrive) can be deactivated
by pressing the transmission control
switch (TCS) on the end of the
gearshift lever.
The transmission control indicator
light (TCIL) (the word OFF) on the
end of the gearshift lever will
illuminate.
Drive± Not shown on the display. Activate by pressing the transmission
control switch (TCS) on the end of the gearshift lever with the gearshift
in the
position. The TCIL (the word OFF) will illuminate on the
gearshift lever. Transmission operates in gears one through three.
(Drive) provides more engine braking than(Overdrive) and is useful
when:
²driving with a heavy load.
²towing a trailer up or down steep hills.
²additional engine downhill braking is desired. If towing a trailer, refer
toDriving while you towin theTrailer towingsection.
To return to
(Overdrive) mode, press the transmission control switch
(TCS). The TCIL (the word OFF) will no longer be illuminated.
OVERDRIVEOFF
OVERDRIVE
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163

system gets wet, your engine may stall. Water may also enter your
engine's air intake and severely damage your engine.
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars).
Once through the water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop
the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by
moving your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Driving through deep water where the transmission vent tube is
submerged may allow water into the transmission and cause
internal transmission damage.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
²Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
²Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
²GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
²GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum permissable total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver's door pillar.
²GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
²GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissable
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer
²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
Driving
177

determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
²Maximum Trailer Weight:Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including occupants and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range:Specified weight range that the trailer must
fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the
originals because they may lower the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the originals do
not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
The Safety Certification Label, found on the driver's door pillar, lists
several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight
to the front of your vehicle, (potentially including weight added to the
cab), the weight added should not exceed the front axle reserve capacity
(FARC). Additional frontal weight may be added to the front axle reserve
capacity provided you limit your payload in other ways (i.e. restrict the
number of occupants or amount of cargo carried).
Always ensure that the weight of occupants, cargo and equipment being
carried is within the weight limitations that have been established for
your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and front and rear gross
axle weight rating limits. Under no circumstance should these limitations
be exceeded.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
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178

Special loading instructions for owners of pickup trucks and
utility-type vehicles
For important information regarding safe operation of this type
of vehicle, see thePreparing to drive your vehiclesection in
this chapter.
Loaded vehicles, with a higher center of gravity, may handle
differently than unloaded vehicles. Extra precautions, such as
slower speeds and increased stopping distance, should be taken when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
Your vehicle has the capability to haul more cargo and people than most
passenger cars. Depending upon the type and placement of the load,
hauling cargo and people may raise the center of gravity of the vehicle.
Calculating the load your vehicle can carry/tow
1. Use the appropriate maximum gross combined weight rating (GCWR)
chart to find the maximum GCWR for your type engine and rear axle
ratio.
2. Weigh your vehicle as you customarily operate the vehicle without
cargo. To obtain correct weights, try taking your vehicle to a shipping
company or an inspection station for trucks.
3. Subtract your loaded vehicle weight from the maximum GCWR on the
following charts. This is the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow
and must fall below the maximum shown under maximum trailer weight
on the chart.
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179

TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with your vehicle may
require the use of a trailer tow
option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads
on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires, and
suspension. For your safety and to
maximize vehicle performance, be
sure to use the proper equipment
while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe towing procedure:
²Stay within your vehicle's load limits. If exceeded, cargo should be
removed from the trailer and/or the vehicle until all weights are within
specified limits.
²Thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing. Refer toPreparing to
towin this chapter.
²Use extra caution when driving while trailer towing. Refer toDriving
while you towin this chapter.
²Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer to the
severe duty schedule in the scheduled maintenance guide.
²Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 800 km
(500 miles).
²Refer to the instructions included with towing accessories for the
proper installation and adjustment specifications.
If your vehicle is equipped with the optional heavy duty trailer tow
wiring, it is pre-wired for trailer towing. An electrical connector is
provided under the instrument panel for installing a customer-supplied
electric brake controller. Another electrical connector is provided at the
hitch. This connector provides power to the trailer for taillamps, stop
and turn lamps, back up lamps, battery charge, electric brakes (when a
customer provided controller is installed) and ground. The kit included
with your vehicle provides you with adaptors to attach the brake
controller and convert the hitch connector for Class I trailer usage.
Driving
180

EngineRear
axle
ratioTire size -
cm (inches)Maximum
GCWR - kg
(lbs.)Trailer weight
range (0 -
maximum) kg
(lbs.)
4x2
4.6L 3.31 40.6 (16) 4 990 (11 000) 0-2 676 (0-5 900)
4.6L 3.31 40.6 (17) 4 990 (11 000) 0-2 676 (0-5 900)
5.4L 3.31 40.6 (16) 5 443 (12 000) 0-3 084 (0-6 800)
5.4L 3.55 40.6 (16) 5 897 (13 000) 0-3 538 (0-7 800)
5.4L 3.55 43.2 (17) 5 897 (13 000) 0-3 538 (0-7 800)
5.4L 3.73 40.6 (16) 6 123 (13 500) 0-3 757 (0-8 300)
5.4L 3.73 43.2 (17) 6 124 (13 500) 0-3 765 (0-8 300)
4x4
4.6L 3.55 40.6 (16) 5 216 (11 500) 0-2 722 (0-6 000)
4.6L 3.55 43.2 (17) 4 990 (11 000) 0-2 495 (5 500)
5.4L 3.31 40.6 (16) 5 443 (12 000) 0-2 903 (0-6 400)
5.4L 3.55 40.6 (16) 5 897 (13 000) 0-3 357 (0-7 400)
5.4L 3.55 43.2 (17) 5 760 (12 500) 0-3 130 (0-6 900)
Maximum frontal area of trailer is 5.6 square meters (60 square feet)
Do not exceed the maximum loads listed on the Safety Compliance
Certification label. For load specification terms found on the label, refer
toVehicle loadingin this chapter. Remember to figure in the tongue
load of your loaded trailer when figuring the total weight.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transmission damage, structural damage, loss of control
and personal injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer, and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer
dealer if you require assistance.
Driving
181