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DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Do not drive quickly through standing water, especially if the depth is
unknown. Traction or brake capability may be limited and if the ignition
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. Have the fluid checked and, if
water is found, replace the fluid.
VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•Base Curb Weight: Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
• Payload: Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
• GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight): Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): Maximum permissible 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.
• GAWR (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.
• GCW (Gross Combined Weight): The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
• GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): Maximum permissible
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer
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Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
• Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
• To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transmission cooling. (For additional information, refer to the
Driving with a 4–speed automatic transmission section in this
chapter.
• Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
• Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your service maintenance section for
more information.
Trailer towing tips
• Practice turning, stopping and backing up 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.
• Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
• The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
• After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
• To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or N (Neutral) (manual transmissions).
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
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Fuse/RelayLocation Fuse Amp
Rating Power Distribution Box
Description
44 — Not used
45A — Wiper HI/LO
45B — Wiper park/run
46A — Fuel pump
46B — Trailer tow
47A — A/C clutch solenoid
47B — Front washer pump
48A — Fog lamps
48B — Fog lamp relay
51 — Not used
52 — Not used
53 — PCM Diode
54 — PCM
55 — Blower
56 — Starter
* Mini Fuses ** Maxi Fuses
CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly
and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road.
The use of tire sealants is not recommended and may compromise the
integrity of your tires. The use of tire sealants may also affect your tire
pressure monitoring system (if equipped).
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Temporary spare tire information
Your vehicle may have a temporary or conventional spare tire. The
temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller than
a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace this tire
with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
It is not recommended that the vehicle be operated in 4WD modes with
a temporary spare. If 4WD operation is necessary, do not operate above
speeds of 16 km/h (10 mph) or for distances above 80 km (50 miles).WARNING: If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or
do not follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you
to lose control of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or
others.
When driving with the temporary spare tire do not:
• exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) under any circumstances
• load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
• tow a trailer
• use tire chains
• drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle’s reduced
ground clearance
• try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel rim
• use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Conventional spare tire information
If you have the conventional spare tire, you can use it as a spare or a
regular tire. The spare is identical to the other tires on your vehicle,
although the wheel may not match.
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Location of the spare tire and tools
The spare tire and tools for your vehicle are stowed in the following
locations:
ToolLocation
Spare tire Under the vehicle, just forward of
the rear bumper
Jack, jack handle, wheel nut wrench Regular Cab: behind seats and
underneath the jack and tools
cover
SuperCab: stowed in the passenger
side rear cab compartment or
behind the jump seat in a separate
tool bag
Four-door models: stowed behind
the front seats, between jump
seats and underneath jack and
tools cover.
Key, spare tire lock (if equipped) In the glove box
Removing the spare tire 1. Assemble the jack handle to the lug wrench as shown in the illustrations.
When connecting the jack handle, assemble the following:
• one handle extension and one
typical extension. To assemble,
slide parts together. To
disconnect, depress button and
pull apart.
• one wheel nut wrench. Depress
button and slide together.
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2. If equipped, unlock and removethe spare tire carrier lock from
the rear access hole located just
above the rear bumper and
below the tailgate.
3. Insert the straight end of the jack handle into the rear access
hole located just above the rear
bumper and below the tailgate.
Forward motion will stop and
resistance to turning will be felt
when properly engaged. 4. Turn the handle counterclockwise until tire is
lowered to the ground and the cable is slightly slack.
5. Remove the retainer from the spare tire.
Stowing the spare tire 1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing up.
2. Install the retainer through the wheel center and slide the
wheel under the vehicle.
3. Turn the spare handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its
original position underneath the
vehicle. The spare handle
ratchets when the tire is raised
to the stowed position. It will
not allow you to overtighten.
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4. If your vehicle is equipped with P265/75 R15 AT tires, do not stow aflat or inflated full size spare tire in the spare tire carrier. The flat
full size tire should be stowed and tied down in the pickup box bed
until it can be repaired.
5. If removed, install the spare tire carrier lock on the access hole above the bumper.
Tire change procedure WARNING: When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the
transmission alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or
slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or R (Reverse) (manual
transmission).
WARNING: To prevent the vehicle from moving when you
change a tire, be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in
both directions) the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other
side and end of the vehicle) to the tire being changed.
WARNING: If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone
else could be seriously injured.
1. Park on a level surface, activate hazard flashers and place
gearshift lever in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or 1
(First) (manual transmission).
2. Set the parking brake and turn engine OFF.
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3. Block the diagonally oppositewheel.
4. Insert tapered end of the lug wrench behind hub caps and
twist them off.
5. Loosen each wheel lug nut one-half turn counterclockwise
but do not remove them until
the wheel is raised off the
ground.
6. Position the jack according to the following guides and turn
the jack handle clockwise until the tire is a maximum of 25 mm (1
inch) off the ground.
• Front
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