Your new vehicle was designed to be used primarily
to carry passengers and luggage.
Towing atrailer will place additional loads on your
vehicle’s engine, drive train, steering, braking and
other systems. The towing of atrailer will exagger-
ate other conditions such as sway caused by cross-
winds, rough road surfaces or passing trucks.
Your driving style and speed must be adjusted ac-
cording to the circumstances. Before towing a
trailer, see an approved dealer or qualified work-
shop for an explanation about the proper use of tow-
ing equipment.
OPERATING PRECAUTIONS
• Avoid towing
atrailer during the running-in pe-
riod.
• Before driving, make sure that the lighting sys-
tem of the trailer works properly.
• Observe the legal maximum speeds for trailer
operation.
• Avoid abrupt starts, accelerations and stops.
• Avoid sharp turns and lane changes.
• Always drive your vehicle at
amoderate speed.
• Follow the trailer manufacturer’s instructions.
• Choose proper coupling devices (trailer hitch,
safety chain, roof carrier, etc.) for your vehicle
and trailer. These devices are available from an
approved dealer or qualified workshop where
you can also obtain more detailed information
about trailer towing. •
Never allow the total trailer load (trailer weight
plus its cargo weight) to exceed the maximum
set for the vehicle and the coupling device. See
an approved dealer or qualified workshop for
more information.
• The trailer must be loaded so that heavy goods
are placed over the axle. The maximum allowable
vertical load on the trailer hitch must not be ex-
ceeded.
• Have your vehicle serviced more often than at
the intervals specified in
aseparate maintenance
booklet.
• Trailer towing requires more fuel than under nor-
mal circumstances because of
aconsiderable
increase in traction power and resistance.
While towing atrailer, check the engine coolant
temperature indicator to prevent the vehicle from
overheating.
TYRE PRESSURE
When towing atrailer, inflate the vehicle tyres to the
maximum recommended COLD tyre pressure (for
full loading) indicated on the tyre placard.
Do not tow atrailer when the vehicle is installed with
at emporary spare tyre or acompact spare tyre.
SAFETY CHAINS
Always use asuitable chain between the vehicle
and trailer. The chain should be crossed and should
be attached to the hitch, not to the vehicle bumper
or axle. Be sure to leave enough slack in the chain
to permit turning corners. TRAILER BRAKES
Ensure that trailer brakes are installed as required
by local regulations. Also check that all other trailer
equipment conforms to local regulations.
Always block the wheels on both the vehicle and
trailer when parking. Apply the hand brake on the
trailer where fitted. Parking on
asteep slope is not
recommended.
If parking on asteep slope is unavoidable, place the
shift lever in the P(Park) position (Automatic trans-
mission model), or in an appropriate position
(Manual transmission model), and turn the front
wheels towards the kerb.
TRAILER DETECTION (where fitted)
When towing atrailer with agenuine RENAULT tow
bar electrical kit and the turn signal switch is used,
the electrical system of the vehicle will detect the
additional electrical load of the trailer lighting. As a
result, the direction indicator tone will be different.
TRAILER TOWING
5-48
Starting and driving
When leaving your vehicle unoccupied:
• Always take the key with you
-even when leav-
ing the vehicle in your own garage.
• Close all windows completely and lock all doors.
• Always park your vehicle where it can be seen.
Park in
awell lit area during the night.
• If the security system is equipped, use it
-even
for ashort period.
• Never leave children or pets in the vehicle unat-
tended.
• Never leave valuables inside the vehicle. Always
take valuables with you.
• Never leave the vehicle documents in the ve-
hicle.
• Never leave articles on
aroof rail. Remove them
from the rack and keep and lock them inside the
vehicle.
• Never leave the spare key in the vehicle. WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off while
driving, the power assist for the steering will not
work. The steering will be much harder to oper-
ate.
The power assisted steering is designed to use a
hydraulic pump driven by the engine, to assist steer-
ing.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you will
still have control of the vehicle. However, greater
steering effort is needed, especially in sharp turns
and at low speeds. The brake system has two separate hydraulic cir-
cuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still have
braking ability at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the ve-
hicle by depressing the footbrake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the footbrake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle. The stopping distance
will be longer.
If the engine is not running or is turned off while driv-
ing, the power assisted brakes will not function.
Braking will be harder. WARNING
Do not coast with the engine stopped.
Using brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the footbrake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brake linings/pads faster, and increase fuel con-
sumption.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the brakes
from overheating, reduce speed and downshift to a
lower gear before going down aslope or long grade.
Overheated brakes may reduce braking perfor-
mance and could result in loss of vehicle control.
VEHICLE SECURITY
POWER STEERING SYSTEM BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-49
While driving on
aslippery surface, be careful when
braking, accelerating or downshifting. Abrupt brak-
ing or acceleration could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through wa-
ter, the brakes may get wet. As aresult, your brak-
ing distance will be longer and the vehicle may pull
to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at asafe speed
while lightly depressing the footbrake pedal to heat
up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to nor-
mal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds until
the brakes function correctly.
Parking brake running-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened or
whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drums/
rotors are replaced, in order to assure the best brak-
ing performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle service
manual and can be performed by an approved dealer
or qualified workshop.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is
asophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent accidents
resulting from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain vehicle control during braking on slippery surfaces. Remember
that stopping distances on slippery surfaces will
be longer than on normal surfaces even with ABS.
Stopping distances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you are using
tyre chains. Always maintain
asafe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately, the driver
is responsible for safety.
Tyre type and condition may also affect braking
effectiveness.
• When replacing tyres, install the specified size
of tyres on all four wheels.
• When installing
aspare tyre, make sure that it
is the proper size and type as specified on the
tyre placard. (See “Vehicle identification” in
the “9. Technical information” section.)
• For detailed information, see “Tyres and
wheels” in the “9. Technical information” sec-
tion.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls the
brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard brak-
ing or when braking on slippery surfaces. The sys-
tem detects the rotation speed at each wheel and
varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel
from locking and sliding. By preventing each wheel
from locking, the system helps the driver maintain
steering control and helps to minimise swerving and
spinning on slippery surfaces. Using system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. Depress
the brake pedal with firm steady pressure, but do
not pump the brakes. The ABS will operate to pre-
vent the wheels from locking up. Steer the vehicle to
avoid obstacles. WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may re-
sult in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and acomputer. The
computer has abuilt-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at alow speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a“clunk”
noise and/or feel apulsation in the brake pedal. This
is normal and does not indicate amalfunction. If the
computer senses amalfunction, it switches the ABS
off and illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance. If the ABS
warning light illuminates during the self-test or while
driving, have the vehicle checked by an approved
dealer or qualified workshop.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 5to10km/h (3
to 6M PH). The speed varies according to road con-
ditions.
5-50 Starting and driving
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels are
close to locking up, the actuator rapidly applies and
releases hydraulic pressure. This action is similar to
pumping the brakes very quickly. You may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear anoise from
under the bonnet or feel avibration from the actua-
tor when it is operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. However, the
pulsation may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while driving.
When the differential lock (where fitted) is engaged,
the ABS warning light illuminates. This indicates that
the anti-lock function is not fully operating. (See
“Rear differential locking system (where fitted)” ear-
lier in this section for the rear differential lock func-
tion.) WARNING
• Whatever the condition, drive with caution.
Accelerate and decelerate with great care. If
accelerating or decelerating too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more traction.
• Allow more stopping distance in cold weather
driving. Braking should be started sooner than
on dry pavement.
• Keep at
agreater distance from the vehicle in
front of you on slippery roads.
• Wet ice (0°C, 32°F and freezing rain), very cold
snow and ice can be slick and very difficult to
drive on. The vehicle will have
alot less trac-
tion or grip under these conditions. Try to
avoid driving on wet ice until the road is salted
or sanded.
• Watch for slippery spots (glaring ice). These
may appear on an otherwise clear road in
shaded areas. If
apatch of ice is seen ahead,
brake before reaching it. Try not to brake while
actually on the ice, and avoid any sudden
steering manoeuvres.
• Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.
• Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gas under
your vehicle. Keep snow clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around your vehicle. BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may freeze
and damage the battery. To maintain maximum effi-
ciency, the battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see “Battery” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-freeze,
drain the cooling system, including the engine block.
Refill before operating the vehicle. For details, see
“Engine cooling system” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
TYRE EQUIPMENT
1. If you have snow tyres installed on the front/rear
wheels of your vehicle, they should be of the
same size, loading range, construction and type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as the rear/front tyres.
2. If the vehicle is to be operated in severe winter conditions, snow tyres should be installed on all
four wheels.
3. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tyres may be used. However, some countries, prov-
inces and states prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before installing stud-
ded tyres.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded snow
tyres, on wet or dry surfaces, may be poorer
than that of non-studded snow tyres.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-51
1. Remove the speed restriction sticker from the
compressor*, then place it in alocation where
the driver can see it while driving.
*: The compressor shape may differ depending
on the model.
CAUTION
Do not put the speed restriction label on the
steering wheel pad, the speedometer or the
warning light locations.
2. Take the hose➀and the power plug
➁out of
the air compressor. Remove the cap of the bottle holder from the air compressor.
3. Remove the cap of the tyre sealant bottle. NOTE
Leave the bottle seal intact. Screwing the
bottle onto the bottle holder will pierce the
seal of the bottle.
4. Screw the bottle clockwise onto the bottle holder of the air compressor.
5. Remove the cap of the tyre valve on the flat tyre.
6. Remove the protective cap of the hose and screw the air tube j
Ao fthe compressor securely onto
the tyre valve. Make sure that the air compressor
switch is in the “OFF” (0) position and the pres-
sure release valve j
Bi ssecurely closed, then
insert its power plug into the power outlet in the
vehicle. SCE0867Z
SCE0868 SCE0870Z
6-8 In case of emergency
If the pressure drops again,
the tyre cannot be
repaired with this tyre puncture repair kit. Con-
tact an approved dealer or qualified workshop.
When the tyre pressure is the specified
pressure:
The temporary repair is completed.
See an approved dealer or qualified workshop for
the repair/replacement as soon as possible.
After repairing tyre
See an approved dealer or qualified workshop for
tyre repair or replacement and for anew tyre seal-
ant bottle and hose, as soon as possible.
CAUTION
• Before driving, ensure tyre is adjusted to rec-
ommended inflation pressure as indicated on
vehicle placard. Monitor tyre pressure until
sealed tyre is replaced.
• Do not drive the vehicle at speeds faster than
50 MPH (80 km/h), and the damaged tyre
must be replaced as quickly as possible
(within
amaximum driving distance of 200 km
(120 miles)). You must not continue to drive if
heavy vibrations, unsteady steering behaviour
or noises should occur while driving.
• Immediately after using Emergency Tyre Seal-
ant to repair
aminor tyre puncture, take your
vehicle to an approved dealer or qualified
workshop to inspect, and repair or replace
the tyre. The Emergency Tyre Sealant cannot
permanently seal apunctured tyre. Continu- ing operation of the vehicle without
aperma-
nent tyre repair can lead to acrash.
• If you used Emergency Tyre Sealant to repair
am
inor tyre puncture, your approved dealer
or qualified workshop will also need to re-
place the TPMS sensor in addition to repair-
ing or replacing the tyre.
• RENAULT recommends using only RENAULT
Genuine Emergency Tyre Sealant provided
with your vehicle. Other tyre sealants may
damage the valve stem seal which can cause
the tyre to lose air pressure. WARNING
• Incorrect jump starting can lead to
abattery
explosion. The battery explosion may result in
severe injury or death. It may also result in
damage to the vehicle. Be sure to follow the
instructions in this section.
• Explosive hydrogen gas is always present in
the vicinity of the battery. Keep all sparks and
flames away from the battery.
• Always wear suitable eye protection and re-
move rings, bracelets, and any other jewellery
whenever working on or near
abattery.
• Never lean over the battery while jump start-
ing.
• Never allow battery fluid to come into contact
with eyes, skin, clothes or the vehicle’s
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is
acorrosive
sulphuric acid which can cause severe burns.
If the fluid comes into contact with anything,
immediately flush the contacted area with
plenty of water.
• Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
• The booster battery must be rated at 12 volts.
Use of an incorrectly rated battery will dam-
age your vehicle.
• Never attempt to jump start
afrozen battery.
It could explode and cause serious injury.
JUMP STARTING
6-10 In case of emergency
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
jA,
position the two vehicles j
Aa ndjBt obring the
batteries into close proximity to each other.
CAUTION
• Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
• If the battery of vehicle
jBe quipped with
the Remote Control Key system is dis- charged, the steering wheel will lock and
cannot be turned with the ignition switch
in the OFF position. Supply power using
jumper cables before pushing the ignition
switch to any position other than the OFF
position and disengaging the steering lock.
2. Apply the parking brake. 3.
Automatic transmission (AT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P(Park) position.
Manual transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N(Neutral) position.
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical systems (headlights, heater, air conditioner, etc.).
5. Place the ignition switch in the OFFposition.
6. Remove the vent caps, where fitted, on the bat- tery.
7. Cover the battery with afirmly wrung out moist
cloth to reduce the hazard of an explosion.
8. Connect the jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated ( ➀,
➁ ,
➂ ,
➃ ).
CAUTION
• Always connect positive
j+t opositive
j +a nd negative j-t obody ground, NOT
to the battery’s negative j
-.
• Be sure that the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine compart-
ment.
• Be sure that the jumper cable’s clamps do
not contact any other metal.
9. Start the engine of the booster vehicle j
Aa nd let
it run for afew minutes.
10. Depress the accelerator pedal of the booster vehicle j
At orace the engine at about 2,000
rpm. NCE477
M9T 2.3DCI engine models
In case of emergency6-11
4.
Automatic transmission model:
Move the shift lever to the P(Park) position.
Manual transmission model:
Move the shift lever to the N(Neutral) position.
DO NOT STOP THE ENGINE.
5. Open all the windows.
6. Turn off the air conditioner. Move the tempera- ture control to maximum hot and the fan control
to high speed.
7. Get out from the vehicle.
8. Visually inspect and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the radiator before opening the
bonnet. Wait until no steam or coolant can be
seen before proceeding.
9. Open the engine bonnet.
10. Visually inspect if the cooling fan is running.
11. Visually inspect the radiator and radiator hoses for leakage. If the cooling fan is not running or
the coolant is leaking, stop the engine.
12. After the engine cools down, check the coolant level in the reservoir with the engine running.
Do not open the radiator or coolant reservoir
cap.
13. Add coolant to the reservoir if necessary.
Have your vehicle inspected/repaired at an
approved dealer or qualified workshop. When towing your vehicle, local regulations for tow-
ing must be followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. To assure proper tow-
ing and to prevent accidental damage to your ve-
hicle, RENAULT recommends that you have profes-
sional road assistance personnel tow your vehicle. It
is advisable to have the professional road assistant
carefully read the following precautions.
TOWING PRECAUTIONS
• Be sure that the transmission, steering system
and powertrain are in working condition before
towing. If any units are damaged, the vehicle
must be towed using
adolly or flatbed tow truck.
(Two- Wheel Drive (2WD) model)
• RENAULT recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving wheels off the ground.
(Two- Wheel Drive (2WD) model)
• To tow
avehicle with automatic transmission,
and appropriate vehicle dolly MUSTbe placed
under the towed vehicles drive wheels. Always
follow the dolly manufacturer’s recommenda-
tions when using their product.
• Always attach safety chains before towing.
• Never tow Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) model with
any of the wheels on the ground as this may
cause serious and expensive damage to the driv-
etrain. TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
RENAULT
Towing Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
Front wheels on the ground:
1. Place the ignition switch in the “ON” position and
turn all accessories off. NCE482
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-13