97Driving06
► Do not stop and do not switch off the engine.
On leaving the flooded road, as soon as safety
conditions allow, make several light brake
applications to dry the brake discs and pads.
If in doubt about the state of your vehicle, contact
a dealer or a qualified workshop.
Towing
Driving with a trailer places greater
demands on the towing vehicle and
particular care must be taken.
Do not exceed the maximum towable
weights.
At altitude: reduce the maximum load by 10%
per 1,000 metres of altitude; the lower air
density at high altitudes decreases engine
performance.
New vehicle: do not tow a trailer until the
vehicle has driven at least 620 miles
(1,000 kilometres).
If the outside temperature is high, let the
engine idle for 1 to 2 minutes after the
vehicle comes to a stop, to help it to cool.
Before setting off
Nose weight
► Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heaviest items are as close as possible to the axle
and the nose weight (at the point where it joins
your vehicle) approaches the maximum permitted
without exceeding it.
Tyres
► Check the tyre pressures of the towing vehicle
and of the trailer, observing the recommended
pressures.
Lighting
► Check the electrical signalling on the trailer
and the headlamp beam height of your vehicle.
If a genuine towing device is used, the
rear parking sensors will be deactivated
automatically to avoid the audible signal.
When driving
Cooling
Towing a trailer uphill causes the coolant
temperature to increase. The maximum towable
load depends on the gradient and the exterior
temperature. The fan’s cooling capacity does not
increase with engine speed.
► Reduce speed and lower the engine speed to
limit the amount of heating produced.
► Pay constant attention to the coolant
temperature.
If this warning lamp and the STOP
warning lamp come on, stop the
vehicle and switch off the engine as soon as
possible.
Brakes
Using the engine brake is recommended to limit
the overheating of the brakes. Braking distances
are increased when towing a trailer.
Side wind
Bear in mind that the vehicle will be more
susceptible to wind when towing.
Anti-theft protection
Electronic immobiliser
The keys contain a code, which must be
recognised by the vehicle before starting is
possible.
If the system malfunctions, indicated by the
display of a message, the engine will not start.
Contact a dealer.
Starting/switching off the
engine
The electronic key must be present in the
passenger compartment.
If the electronic key is not detected, a message
is displayed.
