It is not recommended driving a ve-
hicle loaded at full capacity or to tow
a trailer while a tire is in the run flat
mode.
See the tire pressure monitoring sec-
tion for more information.
Spare Tires (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
NOTE: For vehicles equipped
with TIREFIT instead of a spare
tire, please refer to “TIREFIT KIT”
in “In an emergency” for further
information.
CAUTION!
Because of the reduced ground
clearance, do not take your vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with a compact, full size or limited-
use temporary spare installed.
Damage to the vehicle may result.Spare Tire Matching Original
Equipped Tire And Wheel (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
spare tire and wheel equivalent in
look and function to the original
equipment tire and wheel found on
the front or rear axle of your vehicle.
This spare tire may be used in the tire
rotation for your vehicle. If your ve-
hicle has this option, refer to an au-
thorized tire dealer for the recom-
mended tire rotation pattern.
Compact Spare Tire (for
versions/markets, where
provided)The compact spare is for temporary
emergency use only. You can identify if
your vehicle is equipped with a com-
pact spare by looking at the spare tire
description on the Tire and Loading
Information Placard located on the
driver’s side door opening or on the
sidewall of the tire. Compact spare tire
descriptions begin with the letter “T”
or “S” preceding the size designation.
Example: T145/80D18 103M.
T, S = Temporary Spare Tire
Since this tire has limited tread life,
the original equipment tire should be
repaired (or replaced) and reinstalled
on your vehicle at the first opportu-
nity.
Do not install a wheel cover or at-
tempt to mount a conventional tire on
the compact spare wheel, since the
wheel is designed specifically for the
compact spare tire. Do not install
more than one compact spare tire and
wheel on the vehicle at any given time.
WARNING!
Compact spares are for temporary
emergency use only. With these
spares, do not drive more than
80 km/h. Temporary use spares
have limited tread life. When the
tread is worn to the tread wear in-
dicators, the temporary use spare
tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to
follow the warnings, which apply to
your spare. Failure to do so could
result in spare tire failure and loss
of vehicle control.
228
Clean Air Gasoline
Many gasolines are now being
blended to contribute to cleaner air,
especially in those areas where air
pollution levels are high. These new
blends provide a cleaner burning fuel
and some are referred to as reformu-
lated gasoline.
The manufacturer supports these ef-
forts toward cleaner air. You can help
by using these blends as they become
available.
MMT In Gasoline
MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Man-
ganese Tricarbonyl) is a manganese
containing metallic additive that is
blended into some gasoline to increase
octane. Gasoline blended with MMT
provides no performance advantage
beyond gasoline of the same octane
number without MMT. Gasoline
blended with MMT reduces spark
plug life and reduces emission system
performance in some vehicles. The
manufacturer recommends that gaso-
line without MMT be used in your
vehicle. The MMT content of gasoline
may not be indicated on the gasolinepump; therefore, you should ask your
gasoline retailer whether or not his/
her gasoline contains MMT.
Materials Added To Fuel
All gasoline sold in the United States
is required to contain effective deter-
gent additives. Use of additional de-
tergents or other additives is not
needed under normal conditions and
they would result in additional cost.
Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to the fuel.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
— DIESEL ENGINES
This vehicle must only use pre-
mium diesel fuel that meets the
requirements of EN 590. Biodiesel
blends that meet EN 590 may also
be used.
CAUTION!
The manufacturer requires that
you must fuel this vehicle with Ul-
tra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel
(15 ppm Sulfur maximum) and
prohibits the use of Low Sulfur
Highway Diesel fuel (500 ppm Sul-
fur maximum) to avoid damage to
the emissions control system.
WARNING!
Do not use alcohol or gasoline as a
fuel blending agent. They can be
unstable under certain conditions
and hazardous or explosive when
mixed with diesel fuel.
Diesel fuel is seldom completely free
of water. To prevent fuel system
trouble, have the accumulated water
drained from the fuel/water separator
using the fuel/water separator drain
provided. If you buy good quality fuel
and follow the cold weather advice
above, fuel conditioners should not be
required in your vehicle. If available
238
WARNING!(Continued)
Never add fuel when the engine isrunning. This is in violation of
most state and federal fire regula-
tions and may cause the “Mal-
function Indicator Light” to turn
on.
A fire may result if fuel is pumped into a portable container that is
inside of a vehicle. You could be
burned. Always place fuel con-
tainers on the ground while fill-
ing.
EMERGENCY FUEL
FILLER DOOR RELEASE
If you are unable to open the fuel filler
door, use the fuel filler door emer-
gency release.
1. Open the trunk.
2. Remove the access cover (located
on the left side inner trim panel). 3. Pull the release cable.
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 the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty coverage, follow the re-
quirements and recommendations in
this manual concerning vehicles used
for trailer towing.
COMMON TOWING
DEFINITIONS
The following trailer towing related
definitions will assist you in under-
standing 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.
Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle
Certification Label” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer
plus the weight of all cargo, consum-
ables and equipment (permanent or
temporary) loaded in or on the trailerAccess Cover
Release Cable
240
in its "loaded and ready for opera-
tion" 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.
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 in-
cludes 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.
Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle
Certification Label” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information.WARNING!
It is important that you do not ex-
ceed the maximum front or rear
GAWR. A dangerous driving condi-
tion can result if either rating is
exceeded. You could lose control of
the vehicle and have a collision.
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.
Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum
height multiplied by the maximum
width of the front of a trailer. Trailer Sway Control
The trailer sway control can be a me-
chanical telescoping link that can be
installed between the hitch receiver
and the trailer tongue that typically
provides adjustable friction associ-
ated with the telescoping motion to
dampen any unwanted trailer sway-
ing motions while traveling.
If equipped, the electronic Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) recognizes a
swaying trailer and automatically ap-
plies individual wheel brakes and/or
reduces engine power to attempt to
eliminate the trailer sway.
Weight-Carrying Hitch
A weight-carrying hitch supports the
trailer tongue weight, just as if it were
luggage located at a hitch ball or some
other connecting point of the vehicle.
These kinds of hitches are the most
popular on the market today and they
are commonly used to tow small and
medium sized trailers.
241
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A weight-distributing system works
by applying leverage through spring
(load) bars. They are typically used
for heavier loads to distribute trailer
tongue weight to the tow vehicle's
front axle and the trailer axle(s).
When used in accordance with the
manufacturer's directions, it provides
for a more level ride, offering more
consistent steering and brake control
thereby enhancing towing safety. The
addition of a friction / hydraulic sway
control also dampens sway caused by
traffic and crosswinds and contrib-
utes positively to tow vehicle and
trailer stability. Trailer sway control
and a weight distributing (load equal-
izing) hitch are recommended for
heavier Tongue Weights (TW) and
may be required depending on vehicle
and trailer configuration / loading to
comply with Gross Axle Weight Rat-
ing (GAWR) requirements. Weight
Distribution hitched are recom-
mended for loads in excess 2,268 kg.WARNING!
An improperly adjusted WeightDistributing Hitch system may
reduce handling, stability, brak-
ing performance, and could result
in a collision.
Weight Distributing Systems may not be compatible with Surge
Brake Couplers. Consult with
your hitch and trailer manufac-
turer or a reputable Recreational
Vehicle dealer for additional in-
formation.
BREAKAWAY CABLE
ATTACHMENT
European braking regulations for
braked trailers up to 3,500 kg require
trailers to be fitted with either a sec-
ondary coupling or breakaway cable.
The recommended location for at-
taching the normal trailer's break-
away cable is in the stamped slot lo-
cated on the sidewall of the hitch
receiver. With Attachment Point
For detachable tow bar, pass the
cable through the attachment point
and clip it back onto itself.
For fixed ball tow bar, attach the clip directly to the designated
point. This alternative must be spe-
cifically permitted by the trailer
manufacturer since the clip may
not be sufficiently strong for use in
the way.
Detachable Ball Clip Loop Method
Fixed Ball Clip Loop Method
242
Without Attachment Points
For detachable ball tow bar, youmust follow the recommended
manufacturer or supplier proce-
dure. For fixed ball tow bar, loop the
cable around the neck of the tow
ball. If you fit the cable like this, use
a single loop only.TRAILER TOWING
WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM
TRAILER WEIGHT
RATINGS)
The following chart provides the
maximum trailer weight ratings tow-
able for your given drivetrain.
Engine/Transmission Frontal AreaMax. GTW
(Gross Trailer Wt.) Maximum weight on the
sphere/ball (See Note)
3.6L Automatic 2.04 sq m1 725 kg 86 kg
3.0L Diesel Automatic 2.97 sq m1 996 kg 100 kg
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds
NOTE: The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo,
and it should never exceed the weight referenced on the “Tire and Loading Information” placard. Refer to
“Tire Safety Information” in “Starting and Operating” for further information.
Detachable Ball Neck Loop Method
Fixed Ball Neck Loop Method
243
TRAILER AND TONGUE
WEIGHT
Always load a trailer with 60% to
65% of the weight in the front of the
trailer. This places 5% of the Gross
Trailer Weight (GTW) on the tow
hitch of your vehicle. Loads balanced
over the wheels or heavier in the rear
can cause the trailer to swayseverely
side to side which will cause loss of
control of the vehicle and trailer. Fail-
ure to load trailers heavier in front is
the cause of many trailer collisions.
Never exceed the maximum tongue
weight stamped on your bumper or
trailer hitch. Consider the following items when
computing the weight on the rear axle
of the vehicle:
The tongue weight of the trailer.
The weight of any other type of
cargo or equipment put in or on
your vehicle.
The weight of the driver and all passengers.
NOTE: Remember that every-
thing put into or on the trailer adds
to the load on your vehicle. Also,
additional factory-installed op-
tions or dealer-installed options
must be considered as part of the
total load on your vehicle. Refer to
the “Tire and Loading Informa-
tion” placard for the maximum
combined weight of occupants and
cargo for your vehicle.
TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your
new vehicle drivetrain components
the following guidelines are recom-
mended:
CAUTION!
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 805 km the new vehicle is
driven. The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 805 km that a trailer is towed, do not
drive over 80 km/h and do not
make starts at full throttle. This
helps the engine and other parts
of the vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
244
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an in-
jury collision. Follow these guide-
lines to make your trailer towing as
safe as possible:
Make certain that the load is se-
cured in the trailer and it will not
shift during travel. When traile-
ring 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 a collision.
When hauling cargo or towing a
trailer, do not overload your ve-
hicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor perfor-
mance, or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, sus-
pension, 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 ve-
hicle hitch. Cross the chains under
the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning corners.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
Vehicles with trailers should notbe parked on a grade. When
parking, apply the parking brake
on the tow vehicle. Put the tow
vehicle automatic transmission in
PARK. Always, block or "chock"
the trailer wheels.
GCWR must not be exceeded.
Total weight must be distrib-
uted between the tow vehicle
and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not
exceeded:
1. Max loading as defined on the “Tire and Loading Informa-
tion” placard.
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized. (This re-
quirement may limit the abil-
ity to always achieve the 10%
to 15% range of tongue
weight as a percentage of total
trailer weight.) Towing Requirements – Tires
– Do not attempt to tow a trailer
while using a compact spare tire.
– Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe and satisfactory
operation of your vehicle. Refer to
“Tires – General Information” in
“Starting and Operating” for infor-
mation on tire pressures and for
proper tire inflation procedures.
– Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pressures before
trailer usage.
– Check for signs of tire wear or vis- ible tire damage before towing a
trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Starting and Op-
erating” for information on tread
wear indicators and for the proper
inspection procedure.
– When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Information” in “Start-
ing and Operating” for information
on replacement tires and for the
proper tire replacement proce-
dures. Replacing tires with a higher
245