234 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle. Contact
your dealer or trailering dealer for
assistance with preparing the vehicle
to tow a trailer. Read the entire
section before towing a trailer.
To tow a disabled vehicle, seeTowing
the Vehicle 0319. To tow the vehicle
behind another vehicle such as a
motor home, see Recreational Vehicle
Towing 0320.
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips
{Warning
You can lose control when towing a
trailer if the correct equipment is
not used or the vehicle is not driven
properly. For example, if the trailer
is too heavy or the trailer brakes are
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
inadequate for the load, the vehicle
may not stop as expected. You and
others could be seriously injured.
The vehicle may also be damaged,
and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed. Ask
your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Trailering is different than just driving
the vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, acceleration,
braking, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used
properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer. When towing a trailer:
.
Become familiar with and follow
all state and local laws that apply
to trailer towing. These
requirements vary from state to
state.
. State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. Even if
not required, you should install
extended side view mirrors if your
visibility is limited or restricted
while towing.
. Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) of vehicle
use to prevent damage to the
engine, axle, or other parts.
. It is recommended to perform the
first oil change before heavy
towing.
. During the first 800 km (500 mi)
of trailer towing, do not drive over
80 km/h (50 mph) and do not
make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
If the transmission downshifts too
often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode See
Manual Mode 0188.
DRIVING AND OPERATING 235
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be turned
off when towing a trailer:
.Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
. Super Cruise Control
. Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
. Park Assist
. Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
. Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be turned
to alert or off when towing a trailer:
. Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
. Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer. If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that extend
out from the back of the vehicle do
not move further back when a trailer
is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death
from carbon monoxide (CO), when
towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air. See
“Climate Control Systems” in
the Index.
For more information about carbon
monoxide, see Engine Exhaust
0 183. Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as responsive
as the vehicle itself. Get used to the
handling and braking of the
combination by driving on a level road
surface before driving on public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and the
brakes must be all be rated to carry
the intended cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the combination
to operate in an unexpected or unsafe
manner. Before driving, inspect all
trailer hitch parts and attachments,
safety chains, electrical connectors,
lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing
Equipment 0241. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the
trailer brake controller to check the
trailer brakes work. During the trip,
occasionally check that the cargo and
trailer are secure and that the lamps
and any trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused by
236 DRIVING AND OPERATING
the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can help
to avoid heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination will
not accelerate as quickly and is much
longer so it is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane. Pass on
level roadways. Avoid passing on hills
if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move
that hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects. Always
signal turns well in advance. Do not
steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes may
overheat and result in reduced braking
efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions. When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating. To
avoid this, let the engine run,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off.
If the overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0264.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer
on a level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the
wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
DRIVING AND OPERATING 237
2. Have someone place chocksunder the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake
pedal to allow the chocks to
absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal. .Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more often
when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0332. It is
especially important to check the
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system
before and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 264.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, dimensions of
the front of the trailer, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to tow a
trailer.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the combined
weight of the vehicle, vehicle contents,
trailer, and trailer contents must be
below all of the maximum weight
ratings for the vehicle, including:
238 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.GCWR: Gross Combined Weight
Rating
. GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating
. Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
. Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight
Rating
The only way to be sure the weight is
not exceeding any of these ratings is
to weigh the tow vehicle and trailer
combination, fully loaded for the trip,
getting individual weights for each of
these items.
{Warning
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed if the trailer is too
heavy or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load. The vehicle
may be damaged, and the repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Only tow a trailer if all the steps in
this section have been followed. Ask
your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer.
Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR)
GCWR is the total allowable weight of
the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any fuel, passengers,
cargo, equipment, and accessories. Do
not exceed the GCWR for your vehicle.
The GCWR for the vehicle is on the
Tow Rating Chart following.
To check that the weight of the
vehicle and trailer are within the
GCWR for the vehicle, follow these
steps:
. Start with the “curb weight”fro the
Trailering Information Label
. Add the weight of the trailer
loaded with cargo and ready for
the trip
. Add the weight of all passengers
. Add the weight of all cargo in the
vehicle
. Add the weight of hitch hardware
such as a draw bar, ball, load
equalizer bars, or sway bars
. Add the weight of any accessories
or aftermarket equipment added
to the vehicle The resulting weight cannot exceed
the GCWR value shown on the
Trailering Information Label.
The gross combined weight can also
be confirmed by weighing the truck
and trailer on a public scale. The truck
and trailer should be loaded for the
trip with passengers and cargo.
DRIVING AND OPERATING 245
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/ESC warning
light will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from the
accelerator. If trailer sway continues,
StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle. TSC
will not function if StabiliTrak/ESC is
turned off. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0193.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death, even
if the vehicle is equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway, reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing
your foot from the accelerator. Then
pull over to check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
causes, including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
trailer tires. SeeTowing Equipment
0 241 for trailer ratings and hitch
setup recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are designed
with stiff sidewalls to help prevent
sway and to support heavy loads.
These features can make it difficult to
determine if the trailer tire pressures
are low only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire pressures
before each trip when the tires are
cool. Low trailer tire pressure is a
leading cause of trailer tire blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time. The
trailer tire sidewall will show the week
and year the tire was manufactured.
Many trailer tire manufacturers
recommend replacing tires more than
six years old. Overloading is another leading cause
of trailer tire blow-outs. Never load
your trailer with more weight than the
tires are designed to support. The load
rating is located on the trailer tire
sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default trailer
tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).
246 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0115.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle systems.
This could affect vehicle operation
and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored
in the vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see Servicing
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 071 and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 071.
VEHICLE CARE 247
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 259
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 259
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 268 All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 270
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 271
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 272
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 273
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 274
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 277
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 299
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316