81Driving06
– Jolting and knocking noise during hill starts.
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 heating up.
In all cases, pay 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
Braking distances are increased when towing a
trailer. To avoid overheating the brakes, the use of
engine braking is recommended.
Side wind
Bear in mind that the vehicle will be more
susceptible to wind when towing.
Anti-theft protection
Electronic immobiliser
The keys include an electronic engine immobiliser
system, with a code that must be recognised in
order for starting to be 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.
For versions equipped with Proximity Keyless
Entry and Start, the electronic key is also
detected in the boot.
If it is not detected, a message is displayed.
Move the electronic key so that the engine can
be started or switched off.
If there is still a problem, refer to the "Key not
detected - Back-up starting or Back-up switch-
off" section.
