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TRAILER HITCH CLASSIFICATION
The following chart provides the industry standard for the maximum trailer weight a given trailer hitch class can tow and should be used to assist you in
selecting the correct trailer hitch for your intended towing condition.
TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS)
Trailer towing is not permissible with the 2.9L engine.
Trailer Hitch Classification Definitions
ClassMax. Trailer Hitch Industry Standards
Class I - Light Duty 2,000 lb (907 kg)
Class II - Medium Duty 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)
Class III - Heavy Duty 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Class IV - Extra Heavy Duty 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Refer to the “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)” chart for the Maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) towable for your given
drivetrain.
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on your vehicle.
Engine/TransmissionMaximum GTWMaximum Trailer TW (See Note)
2.0L Engine 3,000 lb (1360 kg) 300 lb (136 kg)
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds.
NOTE:
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.
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TRAILER AND TONGUE WEIGHT
Never exceed the maximum tongue weight
stamped on your fascia/bumper or trailer hitch.
Weight Distribution
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 considered as part of the total
load on your vehicle. Refer to the “Tire And Loading
Information” placard for the maximum combined
weight of occupants and cargo for your vehicle.
TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle
drivetrain components, the following guidelines
are recommended:
WARNING!
Always load a trailer with 60% of the weight in
the front of the trailer. This places 10% of the
GTW on the tow hitch of your vehicle. Loads bal -
anced over the wheels or heavier in the rear
can cause the trailer to sway severely side to
side which will cause loss of control of the vehi -
cle and trailer. Failure to load trailers heavier in
front is the cause of many trailer collisions.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to a collision. 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
secured, dynamic load shifts can occur that
may be difficult for the driver to control. You
could lose control of your vehicle and have a
collision.
When hauling cargo, or towing a trailer, do
not overload your vehicle or trailer.
Overloading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance, or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspension,
chassis structure, or tires.
Safety chains must always be used between
your vehicle and trailer. Always connect the
chains to the frame or hook retainers 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 parking
brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle
transmission in PARK. Always block or
"chock" the trailer wheels.
GCWR must not be exceeded.
Total weight must be distributed between
the tow vehicle and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not exceeded:
• GVWR
• GTW
• GAWR
• Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch
utilized.
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.
WARNING!
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130
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h)
when towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle.
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.
Replacing tires with a higher load carrying
capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limits.
For proper tire inflation procedures
Ú
page 216.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle with
that of the trailer. This could cause inadequate
braking and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer with
electronically actuated brakes. When towing a
trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge
actuated brake system, an electronic brake
controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lb (453 kg) and required for trailers
in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg).
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights
And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the
trailer size, stoplights and turn signals on the
trailer are required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.
NOTE:
Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer
connector. Refer to the following illustrations.
NOTE:
Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the
vehicle before launching a boat (or any other
device plugged into vehicle’s electrical
connect) into water.
Be sure to reconnect once clear from water
area.
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.
CAUTION!
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. It can
overload your brake system and cause it to
fail. You might not have brakes when you
need them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for
additional space between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lb (453 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do
this could lead to accelerated brake lining wear,
higher brake pedal effort, and longer stopping
distances.
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Four-Pin Connector
Seven-Pin Connector
TOWING TIPS
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning,
stopping, and backing up the trailer in an area
located away from heavy traffic.
Automatic Transmission
Select the DRIVE range when towing. The
transmission controls include a drive strategy to
avoid frequent shifting when towing. However, if
frequent shifting does occur while in DRIVE, you
can use the AutoStick shift control to manually
select a lower gear.
NOTE:
Using a lower gear while operating the vehicle
under heavy loading conditions will improve
performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup. This
action will also provide better engine braking.
Cruise Control — If Equipped
Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
When using the Cruise Control, if you
experience speed drops greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back to
cruising speed.
Use Cruise Control in flat terrain and with light
loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
INSTALLING THE RECEIVER
To properly install the receiver, see the following
directions:
1. Retrieve the receiver from the luggage compartment.
2. Push the receiver into the trailer hitch, and secure by inserting the locking pin into the
trailer hitch.
3. Insert the safety split ring into the hole on the locking pin.
NOTE:
Ensure that the locking pin is removed from the
trailer hitch before installing the receiver.
Trailer Hitch And Receiver
1 — Ground
2 — Park
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Right Stop/Turn
1 — Backup Lamps
2 — Running Lamps
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Ground
5 — Battery
6 — Right Stop/Turn
7 — Electric Brakes
1 – Receiver
2 – Locking Pin
3 – Safety Split Ring
A – Trailer Hitch
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132
CONNECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
To connect the trailer’s electrical system, see the
following directions:
1. Remove the socket protective cover.
2. Completely insert the plug into the socket.Electrical Tow Connector
REMOVING THE RECEIVER
When the receiver is no longer needed,
disconnect the electrical connections and
remove it from its position using the following
directions:
1. Remove the safety split ring from the locking pin.
2. Pull the locking pin out of the trailer hitch.
3. Remove the receiver from the trailer hitch.
SUGGESTIONS FOR
DRIVING
SAVING FUEL
The following suggestions may help you save fuel
and lower the amount of harmful emissions
released into the atmosphere.
Vehicle Maintenance
Checks and operations should be carried out in
accordance with the Maintenance Plan
Ú
page 191.
Tires
Check the tire pressures at least once every four
weeks: if the pressure is too low, consumption
levels increase as resistance to rolling is higher.
NOTE:
Tire pressure that is too high can cause prema -
ture tire wear, reduced control, etc. Unnecessary Loads
Do not travel with an overloaded liftgate. The
weight of the vehicle and its arrangement greatly
affect fuel consumption and stability.
Electric Devices
Use electrical systems only for the amount of
time needed. The rear window defroster,
additional headlights, windshield wipers and
heater blower fan require a considerable amount
of energy; increasing the current uptake
increases fuel consumption (by up to +25% when
city driving).
Climate Control System
Using the climate control system will increase
consumption: use standard ventilation when the
temperature outside permits.
Devices For Aerodynamic Control
The use of non-certified devices for aerodynamic
control may adversely affect air drag and
consumption levels.
DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm up the engine at low or high revs
when the vehicle is stationary; this causes the
engine to warm up more slowly, thereby
increasing fuel consumption and emissions. It is
therefore advisable to drive off immediately,
slowly, avoiding high speeds: by doing this the
engine will warm up more quickly.
Pin
NumberFunction
1 Lights ground (Lights GND)
2 Position light, side marker
lights, and license plate light
3 Left turn signal and stop light
4 Right turn signal and stop light
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138
NOTE:
If the vehicle’s speed exceeds 6 mph (10 km/h),
but remains below 37 mph (60 km/h) and the
accelerator pedal is released, as soon as the
vehicle gets close to the set speed the HDC
system will automatically brake to keep the
vehicle at the set speed.
The driver can cancel HDC system intervention at
any time by pressing the accelerator pedal.
System Deactivation
The HDC system will be deactivated, but remain
available, if any of the following conditions are
met:
The vehicle is traveling on a downhill slope
with a gradient less than 8%, on a level
surface, or on an uphill grade.
PARK (P) mode is engaged.
Disabling The System
The system is disabled if any of the following
conditions are met:
The HDC switch is pressed.
Cruise Control/Adaptive Cruise Control is
activated.
A vehicle speed of 37 mph (60 km/h) is
exceeded.
System deactivation is shown by the icon on
the display turning off.
HILL START ASSIST (HSA) SYSTEM
HSA is an integral part of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system that facilitates starting on
slopes, activating automatically in the following
cases:
Uphill: the vehicle is stationary on a road with
a gradient higher than 5%, the engine is
running, the brake is pressed, and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N) or a gear other
than REVERSE (R) is engaged.
Downhill: the vehicle is stationary on a road
with a gradient higher than 5%, the engine is
running, the brake is pressed, and the
transmission is in REVERSE.
When starting to move forward from a complete
stop, the ESC system control unit maintains the
braking pressure on the wheels until the engine
torque necessary for starting is reached, or in any
case for a maximum of two seconds, allowing
your right foot to be moved easily from the brake
pedal to the accelerator.
The system will automatically deactivate after
two seconds without starting, gradually releasing
the braking pressure. During this release stage, it
is possible to hear a typical mechanical brake
release noise, indicating the imminent
movement of the vehicle.
PANIC BRAKE ASSIST (PBA) SYSTEM
The PBA system is designed to improve the
vehicle’s braking capacity during emergency
braking.
The system detects emergency braking by
monitoring the speed and force with which the
brake pedal is pressed, and consequently applies
the optimal brake pressure. This can reduce the
braking distance; the PBA system therefore
complements the ABS.
Maximum assistance from the PBA system is
obtained by pressing the brake pedal very
quickly. In addition, the brake pedal should be
pressed continuously during braking, avoiding
intermittent presses, to get the most out of the
system. Do not reduce pressure on the brake
pedal until braking is no longer necessary.
WARNING!
HDC is only intended to assist the driver in
controlling vehicle speed when descending
hills. The driver must remain attentive to the
driving conditions and is responsible for main -
taining a safe vehicle speed.
WARNING!
There may be situations where the Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will not activate and slight rolling
may occur, such as on minor hills or with a
loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer. HSA is
not a substitute for active driving involvement.
It is always the driver’s responsibility to be
attentive to distance to other vehicles, people,
and objects, and most importantly brake oper -
ation to ensure safe operation of the vehicle
under all road conditions. Your complete
attention is always required while driving to
maintain safe control of your vehicle. Failure to
follow these warnings can result in a collision
or serious personal injury.
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140
The system warns the driver about the presence
of other vehicles in the detection area by illumi-
nating the warning light located within the door
mirror on the side in which the other vehicle was
detected. If equipped, an audible chime will also
be heard to alert the driver (if option is selected
within the radio system).
BSM Indicator Light
When the engine is started, the warning light
illuminates briefly to signal the driver that the
system is active.
Sensors
The sensors are activated when any forward gear
is engaged at a speed higher than approximately
6 mph (10 km/h). The sensors are temporarily deactivated when
the vehicle is stationary or the vehicle is in PARK.
The detection area of the system covers approxi -
mately one lane on both sides of the vehicle,
which is around 9 ft (3 m).
This area begins from the door mirror and
extends for approximately 19 ft (6 m) towards the
rear part of the vehicle. When the sensors are active, the system
monitors the detection areas on both sides of the
vehicle and warns the driver about the possible
presence of vehicles in these areas.
While driving, the system monitors the detection
zone in three different situations:
when you are being overtaken by a vehicle;
when you are overtaking a vehicle;
when a vehicle approaches from the side;
to check whether it is necessary to send a signal
to the driver on both sides.
NOTE:
The system does not alert the driver of the
presence of fixed objects (e.g. safety barriers,
poles, walls, etc.). However, in some circum -
stances, the system may activate in the
presence of these objects. This is normal and
does not indicate a system malfunction.
The system does not alert the driver about the
presence of vehicles coming from the opposite
direction, in the adjacent lanes.
If a trailer is hitched to the car, the system
automatically deactivates.
NOTE:
For the system to operate properly, the rear
fascia/bumper area where the radar sensors
are located must stay free from snow, ice and
dirt gathered from the road surface.
Do not cover the rear fascia/bumper area
where the radar sensors are located with any
object (e.g. adhesives, bike rack, etc.).
If you wish to install a rear tow eye after
purchasing the vehicle, you will need to
deactivate the system via the radio system. To
access the function, select the following items
in sequence on the main menu:
a. “Driver Assistance”
b. “Blind Spot Alert”
Rear View
The system detects vehicles coming from the rear
part of your vehicle on both sides and entering
the rear detection area with a difference in speed
of less than 25 mph (40 km/h) in relation to your
vehicle.
Overtaking Vehicles
If another vehicle is overtaken slowly, with a
difference in speed of less than approximately
15 mph (25 km/h) and the vehicle stays in the
blind spot for approximately 1.5 seconds, the
warning light on the door mirror of the
corresponding side illuminates.
If the difference in speed between the two
vehicles is greater than approximately 15 mph
(25 km/h), the warning light does not illuminate.
WARNING!
The Blind Spot Monitoring system is only an
aid to help detect objects in the blind spot
zones. The BSM system is not designed to
detect pedestrians, bicyclists, or animals. Even
if your vehicle is equipped with the BSM
system, always check your vehicle’s mirrors,
glance over your shoulder, and use your turn
signal before changing lanes. Failure to do so
can result in serious injury or death.
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If the system detects the presence of a vehicle in
the rear side blind spots of the car, it applies a
torque on the steering wheel (if it has been set
through the “Settings” menu of the radio system),
in order to warn the driver of the need to keep the
car inside the lane and thus avoid collisions with
other vehicles.
The application of torque and vibration is
however only available with car speed between
37 mph (60 km/h) and 110 mph (180 km/h).
The application of torque, as well as of the
vibration, is suppressed/inhibited if:
The torque given by the driver of the steering
wheel is high
Lateral acceleration is high
The trailer is connected to the correct control
module
At least one hand is not detected on the
steering wheel for longer than a specific time
The turn signal is turned off
NOTE:
The steering wheel torque is not applied if the
system is unable to detect a lane and if the turn
signal for the appropriate side has not been
switched on.
The steering wheel detects the presence of the
driver’s hands by a capacitive sensor installed in
the steering wheel and by the applied torque
measured on the steering column.System Availability
Aggressive driving of the car, or driving on the
median lines, will prevent the correct operation of
the system.
In case of intervention of the stability and braking
systems (FCW, ESC, ABS) they will prevent the
system from operating.
Lane change will disable the system for a certain
period of time.
The road must also comply with some specific
characteristics, such as:
Maximum/minimum lane width.
Clearly identified and defined double yellow
lines and, for a limited period of time, a lane
with a single demarcation line.
NOTE:
In some cases, for a limited period of time, the
system may be activated by a lane with a single
median line.
In cases of good road surface conditions, the
system could correctly recognize other types of
valid lane markings (e.g. road edges, sidewalks,
etc.).
Hand Presence On The Steering Wheel Detection
The system is able to detect the presence of the
driver’s hands on the steering wheel.
When the system does not detect the presence of
hands on the steering wheel for 0 to 6 seconds,
the following screen will be displayed on the
instrument cluster display. No acoustic warning
will be emitted in this case.
Hand Presence On The Steering Wheel Not
Detected Display (Up To 6 Seconds)
When the system does not detect the presence of
hands on the steering wheel from 6 to 15 sec-
onds, the following screen will be displayed on
the instrument cluster display. A short acoustic
signal will sound if hands are not detected on the
steering wheel for 6 to 12 seconds. A continuous
signal will sound if hands are not detected on the
steering wheel for 12 to 15 seconds.
Hand Presence On The Steering Wheel Not Detected Display (6 To 15 Seconds)
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