TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or the
GAWR specified on the
certification label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended gross
trailer weight exceeds the limit of the
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury. Note:
There may be electrical items
such as fuses or relays that can affect
trailer towing operation. See Fuses
(page 251).
Weight, not volume designates your
vehicle's load capacity. You cannot
necessarily use all available space
when loading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an additional
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and
suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during, and
after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects the vehicle when
driving:
• Load the heaviest items closest to
the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items in the
center of the left and right side
trailer tires. •
Load the heaviest items above the
trailer axles or just slightly forward
toward the trailer tongue. Do not
allow the final trailer tongue
weight to go above or below
10-15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
• Select a tow bar with the correct
rise or drop. When both the loaded
vehicle and trailer are connected,
the trailer frame should be level,
or slightly angled down toward the
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or payload,
a slight takeoff vibration or shudder
may be present due to the increased
payload weight. Additional
information regarding proper trailer
loading and setting your vehicle up for
towing is located in another chapter
of this manual. See Load Limit (page
219). You can also find the information
in the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide,
available at your authorized dealer.
RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note: Do not exceed the trailer weight
for your vehicle configuration listed in
the chart below.
Note: Be sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area. Do
not exceed 20 feet 2
(1.86 meters 2
).
Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight by
2% per 1000 feet (300 meters)
starting at the 1000 foot (300 meter)
elevation point.
227
Towing
The braking system of the tow
vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
Separate functioning brake
systems are required for safe
control of towed vehicles and
trailers weighing more than 1500
pounds (680 kilograms) when
loaded.
Trailer Lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure all running
lights, brake lights, turn signals and
hazard lights are working. Contact
your authorized dealer or trailer rental
agency for proper instructions and
equipment for hooking up the lamps.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and
backing-up to get the feel of the
vehicle-trailer combination before
starting on a trip. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels clear
curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than 70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500
miles (800 kilometers).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel lug
nuts thoroughly after you have
traveled 50 miles (80 kilometers). •
When stopped in congested or
heavy traffic during hot weather,
place the gearshift in position P to
aid engine and transmission
cooling and to help A/C
performance.
• Turn off the speed control with
heavy loads or in hilly terrain. The
speed control may turn off
automatically when you are towing
on long, steep grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving
down a long or steep hill. Do not
apply the brakes continuously, as
they may overheat and become
less effective.
• If your transmission is equipped
with a grade assist or Tow/Haul
feature, use this feature when
towing. This provides engine
braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping
with a trailer attached. Anticipate
stops and brake gradually.
230
Towing
BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 miles (480
kilometers). During this time, your
vehicle may exhibit some unusual
driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first
1000 miles (1600 kilometers). Vary
your speed frequently and change up
through the gears early. Do not labor
the engine.
Do not tow during the first 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Fuel economy is affected by several
things such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under and how
you maintain your vehicle.
There are some things to keep in mind
that may improve your fuel economy:
•
Accelerate and slow down in a
smooth, moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down
may eliminate the need to stop.
• Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving.
•When running errands, go to
the furthest destination first
and then work your way back
home.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving. •
Drive at reasonable speeds.
(Traveling at 65 mph/105 kph uses
about 15% less fuel than traveling
at 75 mph/121 kph).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and
use only the recommended size.
• Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
There are also some things you may
want to avoid doing because they
reduce your fuel economy:
• Avoid sudden or hard
accelerations.
• Avoid revving the engine before
turning off the car.
• Avoid long idle periods.
• Do not warm up your vehicle on
cold mornings.
• Reduce the use of air conditioning
and heat.
• Avoid using speed control in hilly
terrain.
• Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4
kilometers/liter] is lost for every
400 lbs [180 kilograms] of weight
carried).
• Avoid adding particular
accessories to your vehicle (e.g.
bug deflectors, rollbars/light bars,
running boards, ski racks).
• Avoid driving with the wheels out
of alignment.
235
Driving Hints
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Note:
Driving through deep water
above the recommended levels can
cause vehicle damage.
Note: Once through the water, always
dry the brakes by moving your vehicle
slowly while applying light pressure on
the brake pedal. Wet brakes do not
stop the vehicle as quickly as dry
brakes. If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water that
is higher than the bottom of the wheel
rims (for cars) or the bottom of the
hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction
or brake capability may be limited.
Also, water may enter your engine
’s
air intake and severely damage your
engine or your vehicle may stall. FLOOR MATS
WARNINGS
Always use floor mats that are
designed to fit the foot well of
your vehicle. Only use floor mats that
leave the pedal area unobstructed.
Only use floor mats that are firmly
secured to retention posts so that
they cannot slip out of position and
interfere with the pedals or impair safe
operation of your vehicle in other
ways. Pedals that cannot move freely
can cause loss of vehicle control
and increase the risk of serious
personal injury. Always make sure that the floor
mats are properly attached to
the retention posts in the carpet that
are supplied with your vehicle. Floor
mats must be properly secured to
both retention posts to ensure mats
do not shift out of position.
236
Driving HintsE142667 E142666
Protected components
Fuse amp rating
Fuse or relay
number
Electronic power assist steering
10A 1
19
Run/start lighting
10A 1
20
Run/start transmission control,
Transmission oil pump start/stop
15A
1
21
Air conditioner clutch solenoid
10A 1
22
Blind spot information system, Rear
view camera, Adaptive cruise control,
Heads-up display, Shifter
15A
1
23
Not used
-
24
Anti-lock brake system
10A 2
25
Powertrain control module
10A 2
26
Not used
-
27
Not used
-
28
Not used
-
29
Not used
-
30
Not used
-
31
Electronic fan #1 relay
-
32
Air conditioner clutch relay
-
33
Not used
-
34
Not used
-
35
Not used
-
36
Not used
-
37
Electronic fan #2 relay
-
38
Electronic fan #3 relay
-
39
254
Fuses
What you Should Know About
Fail-Safe Cooling
If the engine coolant supply is
depleted, this feature allows the
vehicle to be driven temporarily before
incremental component damage is
incurred. The
“fail-safe” distance
depends on ambient temperatures,
vehicle load and terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works
If the engine begins to overheat, the
engine coolant temperature gauge
will move to the red (hot) area and: The coolant temperature
warning light will illuminate.
The service engine soon
indicator will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset
over-temperature condition, the
engine will automatically switch to
alternating cylinder operation. Each
disabled cylinder acts as an air pump
and cools the engine.
When this occurs the vehicle will still
operate. However:
• The engine power will be limited.
• The air conditioning system will be
disabled.
Continued operation will increase the
engine temperature and the engine
will completely shut down, causing
steering and braking effort to increase. Once the engine temperature cools,
the engine can be re-started. Take
your vehicle to an authorized dealer
as soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.
When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated WARNINGS
Fail-safe mode is for use during
emergencies only. Operate the
vehicle in fail-safe mode only as long
as necessary to bring the vehicle to
rest in a safe location and seek
immediate repairs. When in fail-safe
mode, the vehicle will have limited
power, will not be able to maintain
high-speed operation, and may
completely shut down without
warning, potentially losing engine
power, power steering assist, and
power brake assist, which may
increase the possibility of a crash
resulting in serious injury. Never remove the coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is
running or hot. You have limited engine power when
in the fail-safe mode, so drive the
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will
not be able to maintain high-speed
operation and the engine will run
rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down
automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely
possible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken
to an authorized dealer.
271
Maintenance
BULB SPECIFICATION
CHART
Replacement bulbs are specified in
the chart below. Headlamp bulbs
must be marked with an authorized
“D.O.T.
” for North America to make
sure they have the proper lamp
performance, light brightness, light
pattern, and safe visibility. The correct
bulbs will not damage the lamp
assembly or void the lamp assembly
warranty and will provide quality bulb
illumination time. Trade name
Function
LED
Headlamp high beam
LED
Headlamp low beam
LED
Side marker lamp - front
LED
Park lamp - front
LED
Turn lamp - front
LED
Tail and brake lamp - high series
LED
Tail and brake lamp - low series
LED
Reverse lamp
LED
Turn lamp - rear - high series
LED
Turn lamp - rear - low series
LED
Side marker lamp - rear
LED
License plate lamp
LED
Trunk lamp
LED
High-mount brake lamp
LED
Side repeater lamp
LED
Glove compartment lamp
LED
Interior lamp
To replace any bulb, see your authorized dealer.
283
Maintenance
All motor vehicles and their
components were engineered and
tested for reliable, regular driving.
Long term storage under various
conditions may lead to component
degradation or failure unless specific
precautions are taken to preserve the
components.
General
•
Store all vehicles in a dry,
ventilated place.
• Protect from sunlight, if possible.
• If vehicles are stored outside, they
require regular maintenance to
protect against rust and damage.
Body
• Wash vehicle thoroughly to
remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud
from exterior surfaces, rear-wheel
housing and underside of front
fenders.
• Periodically wash vehicles stored
in exposed locations.
• Touch-up raw or primed metal to
prevent rust
• Cover chrome and stainless steel
parts with a thick coat of auto wax
to prevent discoloration. Re-wax
as necessary when the vehicle is
washed.
• Lubricate all hood, door and trunk
lid hinges, and latches with a light
grade oil.
• Cover interior trim to prevent
fading.
• Keep all rubber parts free from oil
and solvents. Engine
•
The engine oil and filter should be
changed prior to storage, as used
engine oil contain contaminates
that may cause engine damage.
• Start the engine every 15 days. Run
at fast idle until it reaches normal
operating temperature
• With your foot on the brake, shift
through all the gears while the
engine is running.
Fuel system
• Fill the fuel tank with high-quality
fuel until the first automatic
shutoff of the fuel pump nozzle.
Note: During extended periods of
vehicle storage (30 days or more), fuel
may deteriorate due to oxidation. Add
a quality gas stabilizer product to the
vehicle fuel system whenever actual or
expected storage periods exceed 30
days. Follow the instructions on the
additive label. The vehicle should then
be operated at idle speed to circulate
the additive throughout the fuel
system.
Cooling system
• Protect against freezing
temperatures.
• When removing vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm there are no cooling
system leaks, and fluid is at the
recommended level.
290
Vehicle Care