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Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............5-2
Defensive Driving...........................................5-2
Drunk Driving.................................................5-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................5-3
Braking.........................................................5-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................5-4
Braking in Emergencies...................................5-5
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)......................5-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................5-7
Steering......................................................5-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................5-11
Passing.......................................................5-12
Loss of Control.............................................5-12
Driving at Night............................................5-13Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................5-14
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................5-15
Highway Hypnosis........................................5-15
Hill and Mountain Roads................................5-16
Winter Driving..............................................5-17
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................5-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................5-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................5-20
Towing..........................................................5-25
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................5-25
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................5-25
Towing a Trailer...........................................5-28
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
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Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. Turn off any traction or stability
system. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning
the wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to be
towed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 5-25.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Vehicle Certification label.
{WARNING:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of the vehicle.
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4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity for your vehicle.
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to
tow a trailer.
Item Description Total
AMaximum Vehicle
Capacity Weight for
Example 1=453 kg
(1,000 lbs)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 68 kg
(150 lbs)×2=136 kg (300 lbs)
CAvailable Occupant
and Cargo Weight=317 kg (700 lbs)
Example 1
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If things like suitcases, tools, packages, or
anything else are put inside the vehicle, they will
go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will
keep going.
{WARNING:
Things you put inside the vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
•Put things in the cargo area of the
vehicle. In the cargo area, put them as
far forward as you can. Try to spread the
weight evenly.
•Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some
of them are above the tops of the seats.
•Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in the vehicle.
•When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
•Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the ground. Consult your dealer/
retailer or a professional towing service if the disabled
vehicle must be towed. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 8-7.
To tow the vehicle behind another vehicle for
recreational purposes, such as behind a motorhome,
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing the vehicle
behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as dinghy towing and dolly towing.
Dinghy towing is towing the vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground. Dolly towing is towing the vehicle with
two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly.
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Here are some important things to consider before
recreational vehicle towing:
•What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
•How far will the vehicle be towed? Some vehicles
have restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
•Does the vehicle have the proper towing
equipment? See your dealer/retailer or trailering
professional for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
•Is the vehicle ready to be towed? Just as preparing
the vehicle for a long trip, make sure the vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a
Long Trip on page 5-15.
Dinghy Towing
When dinghy towing, the vehicle should be run at the
beginning of each day and at each RV fuel stop for about
five minutes. This will ensure proper lubrication of
transmission components.
To dinghy tow the vehicle from the front with all four
wheels on the ground:
1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it to the
towing vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF.
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3. Set the parking brake.
4. To prevent the battery from draining while the
vehicle is being towed, remove the following
fuse from the instrument panel fuse block:
(IGN SENSOR). SeeInstrument Panel Fuse Block
on page 6-83for more information.
5. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
6. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
7. Release the parking brake.
Remember to reinstall the IGN SENSOR fuse once the
destination has been reached.
Notice:If 105 km/h (65 mph) is exceeded while
towing the vehicle, it could be damaged. Never
exceed 105 km/h (65 mph) while towing the vehicle.
Notice:Towing the vehicle from the rear could
damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Never have the vehicle towed
from the rear.
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Dolly Towing
Tow the vehicle with the two rear wheels on the ground
and the front wheels on a dolly:
To tow the vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
a dolly:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the gear shift lever in P (Park).
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Remove the key from the ignition.6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly.
7. Release the parking brake.
Notice:Towing the vehicle from the rear could
damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Never have the vehicle towed
from the rear.
Towing a Trailer
The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow a
trailer.
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2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and push the
secondary hood release handle toward the driver
side of the vehicle.3. Lift the hood.
4. After the hood is slightly lifted, it will continue to
open to the full position. Before closing the hood,
be sure all the filler caps are on properly. Lower the
hood until the lifting force of the strut is reduced,
then release the hood to latch fully. Check to make
sure the hood is closed and repeat the process
if necessary.
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