WARNING!
Dr
iving through standing water limits
your vehicle’s traction capabilities. Do
not exceed 8 km/h when driving through standing
water.
Driving through standing water limits your
vehicle’s braking capabilities, which increases
stopping distances. Therefore, after driving
through standing water, drive slowly and lightly
press on the brake pedal several times to dry the
brakes.
Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out , and leave you
stranded.
Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you. TRAILER TOWING
In this section you will find safety tips and information
on limits to the type of towing you can reasonably do
with your vehicle. Before towing a trailer, carefully
review this information to tow your load as efficiently
and safely as possible.
To maintain warranty coverage, follow the require-
ments and recommendations in this manual concerning
vehicles used for trailer towing.
COMMON TOWING DEFINITIONS
The following trailer towing related definitions will
assist you in understanding the following information:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle. This includes driver, passengers, cargo, and
tongue weight. The total load must be limited so that
you do not exceed the GVWR.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of
all cargo, consumables and equipment (permanent or
temporary) loaded in or on the trailer in its "loaded and
ready for operation" condition. The recommended way
to measure GTW is to put your fully loaded trailer on
a vehicle scale. The entire weight of the trailer must be
supported by the scale.
225
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS
AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)
The GCWR is the total permissible weight of your
vehicle and trailer when weighed in combination.
NOTE:The GCWR rating includes a 68 kg allowance
for the presence of a driver.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum capacity of the front and
rear axles. Distribute the load over the front and rear
axles evenly. Make sure that you do not exceed either
front or rear GAWR.
WARNING!
It is important that you do not exceed
t
he maximum front or rear GAWR. A
dangerous driving condition can result if either
rating is exceeded. You could lose control of the
vehicle and have an accident .
Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward force exerted on
the hitch ball by the trailer. In most cases, it should not
be less than 7% or more than 10% of the trailer load.
Tongue weight must not exceed the lesser of either the
hitch certification rating, or the trailer tongue chassis
rating. It should never be less than 4% of the trailer load, and not less than 25 kg. You must consider tongue
load as part of the load on your vehicle and its’ GAWR.
WARNING!
An improperly adjusted hitch system
m
ay reduce handling, stability and brak-
ing performance and could result in an accident .
Consult with your hitch and trailer manufacturer
or a reputable trailer/dealer for additional infor-
mation.
Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height multiplied by
the maximum width of the front of a trailer.
Trailer Sway Control
Refer to “TSC (Trailer Sway Control)” under “Knowing
Your Vehicle/Electronic Brake Control System” for
further information.
BREAKAWAY CABLE ATTACHMENT
European braking regulations for braked trailers up to
3,500 kg require trailers to be fitted with either a
secondary coupling or breakaway cable.
The recommended location for attaching the normal
trailer's breakaway cable is in the stamped slot located
on the sidewall of the hitch receiver.
226
KNOWING YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSA
GES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury
ac
cident . Follow these guidelines to
make your trailer towing as safe as possible:
Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer
and that it will not shift during travel.When trailering
cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts can
occur that may be difficult for the driver to control.
You could lose control of your vehicle and have an
accident .
All trailer hitches should be professionally
installed on your vehicle.
When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor performance, or
damage to brakes, axle, engine, transmission,
steering, suspension, chassis structure, or tires.
Safety chains must always be used between
your vehicle and trailer. Always connect the
chains to the frame or hook retainers of the
vehicle hitch. Cross the chains under the trailer
tongue and allow enough slack for turning cor-
ners.
(Continued)(Continued)
Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on
a grade. When parking, apply the parking brake
on the tow vehicle. Always, block or "chock" the
trailer wheels.
GCWR must not be exceeded.
Total weight must be distributed between the
tow vehicle and the trailer such that the following
four ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch uti- lized.
Towing Requirements – Tires
– Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact spare tire.
– Proper tire inflation pressures are essential for the safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer
to “Tires – General Information” in “Technical Speci-
fications” for proper tire inflation procedures.
– Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pres- sures before trailer usage.
230
KNOWING YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSA
GES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
– Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damagebefore towing a trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Technical Specifications” for the
proper tire inspection procedures.
– When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Information” in “Technical Specifications” for proper
tire replacement procedures. Replacing tires with a
higher load carrying capacity will not increase the
vehicle's GVWR and GAWR limits.
Towing Requirements – Trailer Brakes
– Do notinterconnect the hydraulic brake system or
vacuum system of your vehicle with that of the
trailer. This could cause inadequate braking and pos-
sible personal injury.
– When towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge actuated brake system, an electronic brake
controller is not required.
– Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 450 kg and required for trailers in excess of 750 kg.
If the trailer weighs more than 450 kg
loaded, it should have its own brakes, and
they should be of adequate capacity. Fail-
ure to do this could lead to accelerated brake
lining wear, higher brake pedal effort , and longer
stopping distances.
WARNING!
Do
not connect trailer brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. It can
overload your brake system and cause it to fail.
You might not have brakes when you need them
and could have an accident .
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for ad-
ditional space between your vehicle and the ve-
hicle in front of you. Failure to do so could result
in an accident .
Towing Requirements – Trailer Lights And
Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer
size, stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are
required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a seven-pin or a
thirteen-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.
231
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS
AND
MESSA
GES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
The TPMS has been optimized for the
original equipment tires and wheels.
TPMS pressures and warning have been
established for the tire size equipped on your
vehicle. Undesirable system operation or sensor
damage may result when using replacement
equipment that is not of the same size, type,
and/or style.Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor
damage. Do not use aftermarket tire sealants or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result . (Re-
fer to “Tire Inflation Pressures” under “Tires —
General Information” and to “Tire Pressure Moni-
tor System (TPMS)” in “Knowing Your Vehicle” for
further information).
10. Seat Belt Reminder Light When the ignition switch is first turned to
ON/RUN, this light will turn on for four to eight
seconds as a bulb check. During the bulb check,
if the driver's seat belt is unbuckled, a chime will sound.
After the bulb check or when driving, if the driver seat
belt remains unbuckled, the Seat Belt Warning Light
will flash or remain on continuously. Refer to “Occu-
pant Restraints” in “Safety” for further information. 11. Brake Warning Light
This light monitors various brake functions,
including brake fluid level and parking brake
application. If the brake light turns on it may
indicate that the parking brake is applied, that
the brake fluid level is low, or that there is a problem
with the anti-lock brake system reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has been
disengaged, and the fluid level is at the full mark on the
master cylinder reservoir, it indicates a possible brake
hydraulic system malfunction or that a problem with
the Brake Booster has been detected by the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS) / Electronic Stability Program
(ESP) system. In this case, the light will remain on until
the condition has been corrected. If the problem is
related to the brake booster, the ABS pump will run
when applying the brake and a brake pedal pulsation
may be felt during each stop.
The dual brake system provides a reserve braking
capacity in the event of a failure to a portion of the
hydraulic system. A leak in either half of the dual brake
system is indicated by the Brake Warning Light, which
will turn on when the brake fluid level in the master
cylinder has dropped below a specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is corrected.
242
KNOWING YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSA
GES
IN AN
EMERGENC
Y
SERVICING AND
CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
NOTE:The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level condi-
tions. The vehicle should have service performed, and
the brake fluid level checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is neces-
sary.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light
on
is dangerous. Part of the brake sys-
tem may have failed. It will take longer to stop
the vehicle. You could have a collision. Have the
vehicle checked immediately.
Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), are also equipped with Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD). In the event of an EBD failure, the
Brake Warning Light will turn on along with the ABS
Light. Immediate repair to the ABS system is required.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be checked
by turning the ignition switch from the OFF position to
the ON/RUN position. The light should illuminate for
approximately two seconds. The light should then turn
off unless the parking brake is applied or a brake fault
is detected. If the light does not illuminate, have the
light inspected by an authorized dealer. The light also will turn on when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switch in the ON/RUN posi-
tion.
NOTE: This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake
application.
12. Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS). The light will turn on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON/RUN
position and may stay on for as long as four
seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving, it
indicates that the Anti-Lock portion of the brake sys-
tem is not functioning and that service is required.
However, the conventional brake system will continue
to operate normally if the Brake System Warning Light
is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be
serviced as soon as possible to restore the benefit of
Anti-Lock brakes. Furthermore, the ABS light should
be checked frequently to assure that it is operating
properly. If the light does not turn on, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer. (Refer to “Electronic
Brake Control System” in “Knowing Your Vehicle” for
further information).
243KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS
AND
MESSA
GES
IN AN
EMERGENC Y
SERVICING
AND
CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
WARNING!
T
ake care to avoid the radiator cool-
ing fan whenever the hood is raised. It
can start anytime the ignition switch is ON.You
can be injured by moving fan blades.
Remove any metal jewelry such as watch
bands or bracelets that might make an inadver-
tent electrical contact . You could be seriously
injured.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn
your skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas
which is flammable and explosive. Keep open
flames or sparks away from the battery.
1. Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmis- sion into PARK and the manual transmission into
gear and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary elec- trical accessories.
3. Remove the protective cover over the remote posi- tive (+)battery post. To remove the cover, press
the locking tab and pull upward on the cover.
4. If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, park the vehicle within the jumper cables reach, set
the parking brake and make sure the ignition is OFF.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each
ot
her as this could establish a ground
connection and personal injury could result .
JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURE
WARNING!
Failure to follow this procedure could
resul
t in personal injury or property
damage due to battery explosion.Failure to follow these procedures could
result in damage to the charging system
of the booster vehicle or the discharged
vehicle.
1. Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to
the remote positive (+)post of the discharged
vehicle.
2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)
jumper cable to the positive (+)post of the booster
battery.
3. Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to
the negative (-)post of the booster battery.
246
KNOWING YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENC
Y
SERVICING AND
C
ARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the
si
de of the vehicle close to moving traf-
fic . Pull far enough off the road to avoid the
danger of being hit when operating the jack or
changing the wheel.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever in PARK (automatic transmis- sion) or in GEAR (manual transmission) .
5. Turn OFF the ignition.
Block both the front and rear of the
wheel diagonally opposite of the
jacking position. For example, if
changing the right front tire, block
the left rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being jacked. Spare Tire Removal
NOTE:
On seven-passenger models, fold the third-
row passenger seats flat. This will provide more space
when accessing the jacking tools and when operating
the winch mechanism.
1. Remove the jack-handle components 1, 2 and 3 from storage and assemble them. (fig. 151)
(fig. 151) Lowering/Raising Spare Tire
249
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS
AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
C ARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSCONTENTS