
2. Partially peel back the cover inside
the trunk, then pull the emergency
release lever.
VEHICLE LOADING
Certification Label
As required by National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration regulations, your
vehicle has a certification label affixed to
the driver's side door or pillar.
This label contains the month and year
of manufacture, Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) front and rear, and
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A
Month-Day-Hour (MDH) number is
included on this label and indicates the
Month, Day and Hour of manufacture.
The bar code that appears on the
bottom of the label is your VIN.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
The GVWR is the total permissible
weight of your vehicle including driver,
passengers, vehicle, options and cargo.
The label also specifies maximum
capacities of front and rear axle
systems (GAWR). Total load must be
limited so GVWR and front and rear
GAWR are not exceeded.
Payload
The payload of a vehicle is defined as
the allowable load weight a truck can
carry, including the weight of the driver,
all passengers, options and cargo.
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
load on the front and rear axles. The
load must be distributed in the cargo
area so that the GAWR of each axle is
not exceeded.
Each axle GAWR is determined by the
components in the system with the
lowest load carrying capacity (axle,
springs, tires or wheels). Heavier axles
or suspension components sometimes
specified by purchasers for increased
durability does not necessarily increase
the vehicle's GVWR.
Tire Size
The tire size on the Vehicle Certification
Label represents the actual tire size on
your vehicle. Replacement tires must be
equal to the load capacity of this tire
size.
Rim Size
This is the rim size that is appropriate
for the tire size listed.
Inflation Pressure
This is the cold tire inflation pressure for
your vehicle for all loading conditions up
to full GAWR.
08100100-121-002Trunk Interior
1 — Plastic Fasteners
2 — Cover
08100100-122-001Fuel Door Emergency Release
3 — Emergency Release Lever
175

Curb Weight
The curb weight of a vehicle is defined
as the total weight of the vehicle with all
fluids, including vehicle fuel, at full
capacity conditions, and with no
occupants or cargo loaded into the
vehicle. The front and rear curb weight
values are determined by weighing your
vehicle on a commercial scale before
any occupants or cargo are added.
Loading
The actual total weight and the weight
of the front and rear of your vehicle at
the ground can best be determined by
weighing it when it is loaded and ready
for operation.
The entire vehicle should first be
weighed on a commercial scale to
insure that the GVWR has not been
exceeded. The weight on the front and
rear of the vehicle should then be
determined separately to be sure that
the load is properly distributed over the
front and rear axle. Weighing the vehicle
may show that the GAWR of either the
front or rear axles has been exceeded
but the total load is within the specified
GVWR. If so, weight must be shifted
from front to rear or rear to front as
appropriate until the specified weight
limitations are met. Store the heavier
items down low and be sure that the
weight is distributed equally. Stow all
loose items securely before driving.Improper weight distributions can have
an adverse effect on the way your
vehicle steers and handles and the way
the brakes operate.
Caution!
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the GVWR or the maximum front and rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, or it can change the way your
vehicle handles. This could cause you to
lose control. Also overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
TOWING TRAILERS
Trailer Towing
Your car is not designed for towing.
Recreational Towing
An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all four wheels.
Caution!
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to
the drivetrain will result. If this vehicle
requires towing, make sure the drive
wheels are OFF the ground.
Ensure that the Parking Brake is
released, and remains released, while
being towed.
Towing this vehicle in violation of the
above requirements can cause severe
transmission damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
176
STARTING AND OPERATING

Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) Setup Menu.....78
EVIC Display ..............78
Emergency flap opening ........174
Emergency Key ..............19
Emergency, In Case Of .........207
Hazard Warning Flasher ......183
Jacking ..........202,203,237
Jump Starting ............217
Overheating .............219
Towing ............. .220,221
Emission control system .........75
Engine .................. .266
Exhaust Gas Caution ........173
Fails To Start .............218
Flooded, Starting ..........218
Jump Starting ............217
Overheating .............219
Starting ..............21,218
Engine compartment ..........230
Engine coolant (level check) ......231
Engine oil (level check) .........231
Environment protection systems ....75
Essential information ............3
Ethanol .................. .172
Event Data Recorder ..........145
Exhaust Gas Caution ..........173
Exterior Lights ...............38Flash-To-Pass...............40
Flashers Hazard Warning ...........183
Turn Signal ...............41
Flooded Engine Starting ........218
Fluid And Lubricants ..........274
Fluid Capacities .............273
Fog Lights ..................41
Follow Me Home .............41
Front lights (light bulbs) .........186
Front Wipers Wiper Operation ...........42
Fuel Additives ...............173
Clean Air ...............172
Ethanol ............... .172
Materials Added ...........173
Methanol ...............172
Fuel Consumption Display ........88
Fuel Economy Monitor ..........87
Fuel filler cap ...............174
Fuel filler door ...............173
Fuse block (engine compartment) . .196
Fuse block (interior) ...........200
Fuses (interior) ..............194
Fuses (underhood) ............195
Gasoline, Clean Air...........172
Gasoline, Reformulated ........172Gear selector positions
.........153
GVWR .................. .175
Hazard Warning Flasher........183
Hazardous driving ............177
Head Restraints ............34,35
Headlight ..................38
Headlights Adjusting The Headlight
Abroad..................42
High Beam ...............40
Passing .................40
Heavy-duty use of the vehicle (scheduled servicing) ........224
HomeLink (Garage Door Opener) ........59
Hood Release ...............69
How to use this manual ..........3
Identification Data............263
Inside Rearview Mirror ..........36
Instrument Cluster Display DID Menu Items . . . .79,80,82,83,84
EVIC Menu Items . . .79,80,82,83,84
Interior Lights ................63
Interiors ................. .259
Internal Equipment ............61
Jack Location..............202
Jack Operation ........202,203,237
Jump Starting ...............217

Replacing exterior light bulbs.....186
Replacing fuses .............194
Replacing interior light bulbs .....193
Reporting Safety Defects .......282
Restraint, Head ..............34
Restraints, Child .............128
Safety Defects, Reporting .......282
Safety Information, Tire .........237
safety systems ..............111
Saving fuel and protection of the environment ..............177
Scheduled servicing ...........223
Seat Belt Energy Management Feature . . .128
Lap/Shoulder Belts ......123,125
Pregnant Women ..........124
Seat Belt Extender .........126
Seat Belt Pretensioner .......127
Seat Belt Reminder .........127
Seat Belt Reminder ...........127
Seat Belts ................ .123
Child Restraint ............128
Extender ...............126
Front Seat ..............123
Pregnant Women ..........124
Pretensioners ............127
Rear Seat ...............123
Seats .....................33 Adjustment
...............33
Heated .................33
Seatback Release ..........33
Tilting ..................33
Seats and fabric parts (cleaning) . . .259
Security Alarm Security Alarm ...........24,25
SENTRY KEY Key Programming ..........24
Service Assistance ...........280
Service Contract .............281
Service Manuals .............283
Shift Lever Override ...........155
Shift position indication .........153
Shoulder Belts ...........123,125
Signals, Turn ................41
Snow chains ...............249
Snow Tires ............... .247
Spare Tire ...........202,247,248
Starting ............... .21,218
Engine
Fails To Start ........218
Starting And Operating .......21,218
Starting Procedures .........21,218
Starting the engine ...........148
Steering ................. .270
Column Lock .............35
Tilt Column ...............35
Wheel, Tilt ...............35 Storage
...................61
Storing the vehicle ............252
Sun Visor ..................62
Supplemental Restraint System - AirBag ............. .132,136
Suspensions ...............269
Symbols ....................3
Tilt Steering Column ...........35
Tire And Loading Information Placard ................ .240
Tire chains ................ .179
Tire Markings ...............237
Tire Rotation ...............249
Tire Safety Information .........237
Tire Service Kit ..............207
Tires...............243,247,251 Aging (Life Of Tires) .........245
Air Pressure .............243
Changing .........202,203,237
Compact Spare ...........247
Flat Changing ............207
General Information ......243,247
High Speed .............244
Inflation Pressures .........243
Jacking ..........202,203,237
Life Of Tires .............245
Load Capacity ............240
Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) ............... .113