Trailer Sway ControlThe trailer sway control can be a mechanical
telescoping link that can be installed between the
hitch receiver and the trailer tongue that typically
provides adjustable friction associated with the
telescoping motion to dampen any unwanted
trailer swaying motions while traveling.
If equipped, the electronic Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) recognizes a swaying trailer and auto-
matically applies 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.
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 frontaxle and the trailer axle(s). When used in ac-
cordance 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
contributes positively to tow vehicle and trailer
stability. Trailer sway control and a weight dis-
tributing (load equalizing) hitch are recom-
mended for heavier Tongue Weights (TW) and
may be required depending on vehicle and
trailer configuration/loading to comply with
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) require-
ments.
WARNING!
•An improperly adjusted Weight Distributing
Hitch system may reduce handling, stabil-
ity, braking performance, and could result
in a collision.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Weight Distributing Systems may not be
compatible with Surge Brake Couplers.
Consult with your hitch and trailer manu-
facturer or a reputable Recreational Ve-
hicle dealer for additional information.
Breakaway Cable AttachmentEuropean braking regulations for braked trailers
up to 7,700 lbs (3,500 kg), require trailers to be
fitted with either a secondary coupling or break-
away cable.
The recommended location for attaching the
normal trailer’s breakaway cable is in the
stamped slot located on the sidewall of the hitch
receiver.
214
Engine/Transmission Frontal Area Max. GTW (Gross Trailer Wt.) Max. Tongue Wt. (See Note 1)
2.0L Auto/Man 22 sq ft (2.04 sq m) 2,645 lbs (1,199 kg) 132 lbs (59 kg)
2.4L Auto/Man 22 sq ft (2.04 sq m) 3,307 lbs (1,500 kg) 165 lbs (74 kg)
When towing a trailer the technically permissible laden weight may be exceeded by not more than 10% or 220 lbs (99 kg), whichever is lower pro-
vided that the operating speed is restricted to 62 mph (100 km/h) or less.
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds
Note 1 – The trailer tongue weight must be
considered as part of the combined weight of
occupants and cargo, and should never exceed
the weight referenced on the Tire and Loading
Information placard.
Trailer And Tongue WeightNever exceed the maximum tongue weight
stamped on your 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 everything put into or on the
trailer adds to the load on your vehicle. Also,
additional factory-installed options, or
dealer-installed options, must be consid-
ered as part of the total load on your vehicle.
Refer to the Tire and Loading Information
placard, located on the drivers door pillar,
for the maximum combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo for your vehicle.
Towing RequirementsTo promote proper break-in of your new vehicle
drivetrain components the following guidelines
are recommended:
CAUTION!
•Do not tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is
driven. The engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
•Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km)
that a trailer is towed, do not drive over
50 mph (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.
216
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury acci-
dent. Follow these guidelines to make your
trailer towing as safe as possible:
•Make certain that the load is secured in the
trailer and that it will not shift during travel.
When trailering cargo that is not fully se-
cured, dynamic load shifts can occur that
may be difficult for the driver to control. You
could lose control of your vehicle and have
an accident.
•All trailer hitches should be professionally
installed on your vehicle.
•When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do
not overload your vehicle or trailer. Over-
loading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance, or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspen-
sion, chassis structure, or tires.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Safety chains must always be used be-
tween your vehicle and trailer. Always con-
nect the chains to the frame or hook re-
tainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning corners.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked
on a grade. When parking, apply the park-
ing brake on the tow vehicle. Always, block
or"chock"the trailer wheels.
•GCWR must not be exceeded.
•Total weight must be distributed be-
tween the tow vehicle and the trailer
such that the following four ratings are
not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch
utilized.Towing Requirements — Tires
•Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
•Proper tire inflation pressures are essential
for the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle. Refer to “Tires – General Informa-
tion” in “Starting and Operating” for proper
tire inflation procedures.
•Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
•Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire
damage before towing a trailer. Refer to
“Tires – General Information” in “Starting and
Operating” for the proper inspection
procedure.
•When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – Gen-
eral Information” in “Starting and Operating”
for proper tire replacement procedures. Re-
placing tires with a higher load carrying ca-
pacity will not increase the vehicle’s GVWR
and GAWR limits.
217
Towing TipsBefore setting out on a trip, practice turning,
stopping and backing the trailer in an area away
from heavy traffic.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer
towing, all starts must be in first gear to avoid
excessive clutch slippage.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The DRIVE range can be selected when towing.
However, if frequent shifting or changes in
engine speed occur while in DRIVE, use the
AutoStick shift control to manually select a
lower gear ratio.
NOTE:
Using a lower gear ratio while operating the
vehicle under heavy loading conditions, will
improve performance and extend transmis-
sion life by reducing excessive shifting and
heat buildup. This action will also provide
better engine braking.
If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than
45 minutes of continuous operation, then
change the transmission fluid and filter asspecified for"police, taxi, fleet, or frequent
trailer towing."Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance intervals.
AutoStick
•When using the AutoStick shift control, select
the highest gear that allows for adequate
performance and avoids frequent downshifts.
For example, choose"4"if the desired speed
can be maintained. Choose"3"or"2"if
needed to maintain the desired speed.
•To prevent excess heat generation, avoid
continuous driving at high RPM. Reduce
vehicle speed as necessary to avoid ex-
tended driving at high RPM. Return to a
higher gear or vehicle speed when grade and
road conditions allow.
Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped
•Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
•When using the speed control, if you experi-
ence speed drops greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back
to cruising speed.•Use speed control in flat terrain and with light
loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission
overheating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift the
transmission into NEUTRAL and increase en-
gine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
222
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
•HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS . . . . . . . . ............227
•IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227
•WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . .228
•Torque Specifications.........................228•JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING . . . . . . . . . . .........228•Jack Location..............................229
•Spare Tire Stowage..........................229
•Preparations For Jacking.......................229
•Jacking Instructions..........................230
•Road Tire Installation..........................233
•TIRE SERVICE KIT — IF EQUIPPED . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .235•Tire Service Kit Storage........................235
•Tire Service Kit Components And Operation...........235
•Tire Service Kit Usage Precautions.................236
•Sealing A Tire With Tire Service Kit.................237
•JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .241•Preparations For Jump-Start.....................241
•Jump-Starting Procedure.......................242
•FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE . . . . . . . ..............243
225
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located
on the instrument panel below the climate
controls.
Push the switch to turn on the Hazard
Warning flasher. When the switch is
activated, all directional turn signals
will flash on and off to warn oncoming traffic of
an emergency. Push the switch a second time
to turn off the Hazard Warning flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it
should not be used when the vehicle is in
motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled and
it is creating a safety hazard for other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assis-
tance, the Hazard Warning flashers will con-
tinue to operate even though the ignition is
placed in the OFF position.
NOTE:
With extended use the Hazard Warning
flashers may wear down your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can
reduce the potential for overheating by taking
the appropriate action.
•On the highways — slow down.
•In city traffic — while stopped, place the
transmission in NEUTRAL, but do not in-
crease engine idle speed.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow
down an impending overheat condition:
•If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it
off. The A/C system adds heat to the
engine cooling system and turning the
A/C off can help remove this heat.
•You can also turn the temperature control
to maximum heat, the mode control to
floor and the blower control to high. This
allows the heater core to act as a supple-
ment to the radiator and aids in removing
heat from the engine cooling system.CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could dam-
age your vehicle. If the pointer rises to the
H(red) mark, the instrument cluster will
sound a chime. When safe, pull over and
stop the vehicle with the engine at idle. Turn
off the air conditioning and wait until the
pointer drops back into the normal range. If
the pointer remains on theH(red) mark for
more than a minute, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam com-
ing from under the hood, do not open the
hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
227
WARNING!(Continued)
•Being under a jacked-up vehicle is danger-
ous. The vehicle could slip off the jack and
fall on you. You could be crushed. Never
put any part of your body under a vehicle
that is on a jack. If you need to get under a
raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.
•Never start or run the engine while the
vehicle is on a jack.
•The jack is designed to be used as a tool
for changing tires only. The jack should not
be used to lift the vehicle for service pur-
poses. The vehicle should be jacked on a
firm level surface only. Avoid ice or slippery
areas.
Jack LocationThe jack and jack-handle are stowed under the
load floor in the cargo area.
Spare Tire StowageThe compact spare tire is stowed under the rear
load floor in the cargo area.
Spare Tire Removal
Lift up the load floor cover and remove the hold
down.
Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm level surface,
avoiding ice or slippery areas.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of
the vehicle close to moving traffic, pull far
enough off the road to avoid the danger of
being hit when operating the jack or chang-
ing the wheel.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the gear selector in PARK (automatic
transmission) or REVERSE (manual trans-
mission).
5. Turn OFF the ignition.
6. Block both the front and rear
of the wheel diagonally op-
posite of the jacking posi-
tion. For example, if chang-
ing the right front tire, block
the left rear wheel.
Spare Tire And Jack Stowage
229
NOTE:
Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
while the vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings
to help prevent personal injury or damage to
your vehicle:
•Always park on a firm, level surface as far
from the edge of the roadway as possible
before raising the vehicle.
•Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
•Block the wheel diagonally opposite the
wheel to be raised.
•Set the parking brake firmly and set an
automatic transmission in PARK; a manual
transmission in REVERSE.
•Never start or run the engine with the
vehicle on a jack.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it
is on a jack.
•Do not get under the vehicle when it is on
a jack. If you need to get under a raised
vehicle, take it to a service center where it
can be raised on a lift.
•Only use the jack in the positions indicated
and for lifting this vehicle during a tire
change.
•If working on or near a roadway, be ex-
tremely careful of motor traffic.
•To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated,
are securely stowed, spares must be
stowed with the valve stem facing the
ground.NOTE:
Refer to “Tires — General Information” in
“Starting And Operating” for further infor-
mation about the spare tire, it’s use, and
operation.
1. Remove the scissors jack and lug wrench
from the spare wheel as an assembly. Turn
the jack screw to the left to loosen the lug
wrench and remove the wrench from the
jack assembly.
Jack Warning Label
230