Page 307 of 442

DRIVING TIPS
ccxciii
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional load. For this
information, please refer to the scheduled maintenance
information in the “Owner’s Manual Supplement/
Scheduled Maintenance”.
Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after
approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.
Pre towing safety check
Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or
unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has an
abnormal nose −up or nose− down condition, and check for
improper tongue load, overload, worn suspension or other
possible causes.
Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that it
cannot shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal,
state/provincial or local regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
Trailer towing tips
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will handle differently
than when not towing. The three main causes of
vehicle trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed
and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when
towing:
Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all
vehicle −trailer connections. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and connections. Practice
turning, stopping and backing with a trailer in an area away
from traffic until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult and requires practice. Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the
left to move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right
to move the trailer to the right. (This procedure is generally
opposite to that when backing without a trailer.) Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at a time, avoiding sharp or
prolonged turning. Have someone guide you when backing
to reduce the risk of an accident.
Because stopping distance may be increased,
vehicle −to−vehicle distance should be increased when
towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow
at least one vehicle and trailer length between you and the
vehicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as you may skid,
resulting in jackknifing and loss of control. This is especially
true on wet or slippery surfaces.
Page 349 of 442

MAINTENANCE
cccxxxv
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire inflation pressure with a gauge every
two weeks, or at least once a month and adjust as
shown on the tire and loading information label. See
page ccclxix for additional information.
Tire surface
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage or
excessive wear. See page ccclxxxiv for additional
information.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the maintenance
schedule. (For scheduled maintenance information,
please refer to the “Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”.) See page
ccclxxxiii for additional information.DOES YOUR VEHICLE NEEDREPAIRING?
Be on the alert for changes in performance and sounds, and
visual tip −offs that indicate service is needed. Some important
clues are:
Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
Appreciable loss of power
Strange engine noises
A fluid leak under the vehicle (However, water dripping from
the air conditioning after use is normal.)
Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous
carbon monoxide leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked immediately.)
Flat−looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering,
uneven tire wear
Vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight on a level
road
Strange noises related to suspension movement
Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling brake pedal,
pedal almost touches floors, vehicle pulls to one side when
braking
Engine coolant temperature continually higher than normal
Page 376 of 442

SECTION 6 – 3
ccclxii
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Chassis
Specificationsccclxiii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . .
Checking brake fluid ccclxvii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking power steering fluid ccclxviii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking tire inflation pressure ccclxix
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire information ccclxxiii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
.
Types of tires ccclxxxii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . .
Rotating tires ccclxxxiii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. .
Checking and replacing tires ccclxxxiv
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing snow tires and chains ccclxxxvi
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels ccclxxxviii
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum wheel precautions ccclxxxix
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suspension and chassis cccxc
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page 404 of 442
CHASSIS
cccxc
SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension/chassis with lift kits,
spacers, springs, etc. It can cause dangerous handling
characteristics, resulting in loss of control.
Page 411 of 442