06 During your trip
Emergency towing
06
265 Towing eyelet
Location of the towing eyelet
Removing the front/rear covers
Attaching the towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located under the floor
of the trunk. This eyelet must be screwed
into the positions provided on the right
sides of either the front or rear bumper (see
illustration).
There are two different types of covers over
the openings for the towing eyelet and they
have to be opened differently.
•If the cover has a notch, insert a coin,
etc., into the notch and pry open the
edge of the cover. Open the cover com-
pletely and remove it.
•If the cover has a mark along one edge
or in a corner, press the mark while pry-
ing out the opposite side/corner using a
coin, etc. Open the cover and remove it.
Screw the towing eyelet in place, first by hand
and then using the tire iron until it is securely in
place.
After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet
should be removed and returned to its storage
location.
Press the cover for the attachment point back
into position.
NOTE
On certain models equipped with a trailer
hitch, the towing eyelet cannot be screwed
into the hole in the rear bumper. The towing
rope should be attached to the trailer hitch
instead. For this reason, the detachable
section of the trailer hitch should be safely
stowed in the vehicle at all times.
CAUTION
If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be used
to pull the vehicle up onto the flat bed.
WARNING
•Remember that the power brakes and
power steering will not function when
engine is not running. The braking and
steering systems will function but con-
siderably higher pressure will be
required on the brake pedal and greater
steering effort must be exerted.
•The towing eyelets must not be used for
pulling the vehicle out of a ditch or for
any similar purpose involving severe
strain. Do not use the towing eyelets to
pull the vehicle up onto a flat bed tow
truck.
Precautions when the vehicle is being
towed
•Attach jumper cables (see page 116) to
provide current for releasing the electric
parking brake and to move the gear selec-
tor from the P position to N.
•Be sure that the steering wheel lock is
released (see page 94).
•While the vehicle is being towed, set the
ignition in mode II if the battery is not
07 Wheels and tires
Changing a wheel
07
290* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Removing a wheel
Location of jack and tools
Spare wheelThe following instructions only apply if you
have purchased an accessory temporary
spare wheel for your vehicle. If there is no
temporary spare wheel in your vehicle, please
see 284 for instructions on using the tire seal-
ing system.
The accessory temporary spare wheel is pro-
vided in a bag that must be strapped in place
in the trunk while the vehicle is being driven.
Complete instructions are provided in an infor-
mation booklet found inside the bag.
The spare wheel is only intended for temporary
use. Replace it with a normal wheel as soon as
possible. The car's handling may be altered bythe use of the spare wheel. The correct tire
pressure for the spare wheel is stated in the tire
pressure table on page 275.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the
“Temporary Spare” tire other than as a tem-
porary replacement for a punctured tire. It
must be replaced as soon as possible by a
standard tire. Road holding and handling
may be affected with the “Temporary
Spare” in use.
CAUTION
The vehicle must never be driven with more
than one temporary spare wheel.
Taking out the spare wheel1. Release the bag's retaining straps.
2. Lift the bag out of the vehicle and remove
the spare wheel from the bag.
3. Fold up the floor hatch in the trunk.
4. Remove the jack* and tools* from the foam
block and change the wheels (see the
instructions in the following section
"Changing a wheel").5. After changing wheels, return the jack and
tools to the foam block and close the floor
hatch.
6. If possible, place the wheel with the punc-
tured tire in the bag.
7. If there is a wheel in the bag, strap the bag
securely in place in the trunk.
WARNING
•If there is a wheel in the bag, the bag
must be securely restrained using its
straps and the load anchoring eyelets in
the trunk. Carefully follow the instruc-
tions in the booklet found in the spare
tire bag.
•If the wheel with the punctured tire is too
big to fit in the bag, it should be securely
restrained in the trunk using suitable
straps, a net for anchoring cargo, etc.
•The instruction booklet should always
be kept in the vehicle.
Changing a wheel1. Apply the parking brake and put the gear
selector in P.
2. Take out the jack*, lug wrench*, the towing
eyelet and the wheel cover removal tool*
stowed under the floor of the trunk.
