
TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of your
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label.
Note: See
Recommended
Towing Weights (page 246).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 273).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
237).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
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Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your
vehicle may not have enough braking
power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.
Trailer Lamps WARNING:
Never connect any
trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail
lamp wiring; this may damage the
electrical system resulting in fire. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible for assistance in proper trailer
tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working. Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up
to get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip.
When turning, make wider turns so the
trailer wheels clear curbs and other
obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than
70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) to aid engine
and transmission cooling and to help
A/C performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed
control may turn off automatically
when you are towing on long, steep
grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not apply the
brakes continuously, as they may
overheat and become less effective.
• If your transmission is equipped with a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
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OFF-ROAD DRIVING
WHAT IS OFF-ROAD DRIVING
Off-road driving is driving your vehicle on
unsurfaced roads or trails, made from dirt,
rocks, sand and mud.
Your vehicle has been designed and
equipped to explore those places where
the road cannot take you, whether you
choose a forest trail or the open desert.
OFF-ROAD DRIVING
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: If you continue to drive
your vehicle when the engine is
overheating, the engine could stop
without warning. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle.
Before going off-road, consult with your
local governmental agencies to determine
designated off-road trails and recreation
areas. Also, be sure to understand any
off-road vehicle registration requirements
for the area in which you plan on driving.
Tread Lightly is an educational program
designed to increase public awareness of
land-use regulations and responsibilities
in our nation ’s wilderness areas. The U.S.
Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management is encouraging you to help
preserve our national forest and other
public and private lands by treading lightly.
Before taking your vehicle off-road,
perform a basic vehicle inspection to make
sure the vehicle is in top working condition. Before you venture off road, have a clear
mental picture of the underside of your
vehicle. Learn the location of any low
hanging items and any skid plates that may
be on the vehicle. You can avoid snagging
them on rocks and other obstacles if you
know where they are.
Memorizing some basic dimensions helps
you confidently deal with off-road
obstacles. Get to know your vehicle
’s
height and width, its lowest point, its
wading depth and angles. Familiarize
yourself with your vehicle ’s on-board
technology features.
We recommend driving at least two
vehicles when driving off-road. The buddy
system helps make sure that help is close
at hand should a vehicle become stuck or
damaged.
We recommend taking supplies such as a
first aid kit, supply of water, tow strap and
cell or satellite phone with you any time
you plan an off-road excursion.
BASIC OFF-ROAD DRIVING
TECHNIQUES
Grip the steering wheel with your thumbs
on the outside of the rim. This reduces the
risk of injury due to abrupt steering wheel
motions that occur when negotiating rough
terrain.
Control your throttle, brake and steering
inputs in a smooth manner. Sudden inputs
to the controls can cause a loss of traction
for the vehicle, especially when on sloped
terrain or crossing obstacles such as rocks
or logs.
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Look ahead on your route noting upcoming
obstacles, surface texture or color changes
or any other factors which may indicate a
change in available traction. Adjust the
vehicle speed and route to avoid a loss in
traction. Conditions can change causing
the course to vary day to day. Mark
obstacles with GPS markers to avoid
potential vehicle damage. Where
necessary, get out of your vehicle and
check the terrain.
When driving off-road, if the front or rear
suspension is bottoming-out or excessive
contact with the skid-plates is happening,
reduce the vehicle's speed to avoid
potential damage to your vehicle.
If you are driving in a dusty area, be sure to
leave ample distance between your vehicle
and any other vehicles to allow for
adequate vision.
When driving off-road verify that your
wipers and washers are working properly
and reduce your speed for better visibility.
When driving in desert conditions, we
recommend driving with your headlamps
on to help other drivers easily see you.
When convoying with other vehicles, we
recommend that communication is used,
and the lead vehicle notify other vehicles
of upcoming obstacles.
Keep available ground clearance in mind
and pick a route that minimizes the risk of
catching the underside of the vehicle on
an obstacle.
When negotiating low speed obstacles,
applying light brake pressure in conjunction
with the throttle allows you to negotiate
the obstacle in a more controlled manner.
Driving off-road requires a high amount of
concentration. Even if your local law does
not prohibit drinking alcohol when driving
off-road we do not recommend it.
DRIVING OFF-ROAD
Driving In Snow and Ice WARNING: If you are driving in
slippery conditions that require tire
chains or cables, then it is critical that
you drive cautiously. Keep speeds down,
allow for longer stopping distances and
avoid aggressive steering to reduce the
chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death.
If the rear end of your vehicle slides while
cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of your
vehicle.
Four-wheel drive vehicles have advantages
over two-wheel drive vehicles in snow and
ice but can skid like any other vehicle. If
your vehicle slides when driving on snowy
or icy roads, turn the steering wheel in the
direction of the slide until you regain
control. Avoid sudden applications of
power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Slowly and steadily apply
the accelerator when starting from a full
stop. Avoid sudden braking. WARNING:
Do not become
overconfident in the ability of four-wheel
drive vehicles. Although a four-wheel
drive vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction
situations, it won't stop any faster than
two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive
at a safe speed.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between your vehicle and other vehicles
for stopping.
In emergency stopping situations, do not
pump the brake pedal, apply the brake
firmly.
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Ease off the accelerator as you reach the
other side to diminish the front wave. Apply
the accelerator slowly and as necessary
to climb out of the other side.
Muddy waters can reduce the cooling
system effectiveness by depositing debris
into the radiator.
Take extra care when crossing any type of
water. Do not drive into water unless
necessary. Only drive through designated
and approved areas.
High currents even in shallow water can
wash the dirt out from around your tires or
push your vehicle across slippery rocks or
surfaces.
Never attempt to cross flowing water that
is deeper than your vehicle's ground
clearance. Even low currents can push your
vehicle's body surface area downstream
and out of control.
Do not cross any body of water that is fast
flowing and rising. Wait for the flow rate
to reduce.
Determine exit points that are downstream
of your entry point to allow for drifting.
If there are other vehicles ahead, wait until
they have left the water. Unsettled water
can make a safe passage more
challenging.
Know your vehicle
’s abilities and be able
to recover it if something goes wrong.
Keep the doors fully closed during a water
crossing.
Periodically inspect vehicles used to
traverse water regularly for signs of water
ingestion in all of the vehicle's fluids. If you
find water inside your vehicle fluids, service
your vehicle or see an authorized dealer.
After driving through water and as soon as
it is safe to do so, check the brakes, horn,
lights, and steering wheel to make sure
everything is still in working order. Avoid Getting High-Centered
Always keep available ground clearance
in mind and pick a route that minimizes the
risk of catching the underside of the vehicle
on an obstacle and getting high-centered.
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle
WARNING: Do not spin the wheels
at over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
The vehicle has recovery hooks on the
frame which you can use to pull out the
vehicle from a surface of location when
stuck.
Note: Do not use recovery hooks to
recreationally tow your vehicle. See Towing
the Vehicle on Four Wheels
(page 249).
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,
you may rock it out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts in a steady pattern. Press
the accelerator in each gear.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission could occur.
Note: Do not rock your vehicle for more
than a minute or damage to the
transmission and tires could occur or the
engine may overheat.
If you are unable to free your vehicle, call
roadside assistance. See
Roadside
Assistance (page 260).
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4. You can attempt to start the vehicle
by pressing the brake pedal and
START/STOP, or press START/STOP
without pressing the brake pedal.
5. If the vehicle does not start, repeat steps 1 through 4.
JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE WARNING:
Keep batteries out of
reach of children. Batteries contain
sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin,
eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes when
working near the battery to protect
against possible splashing of acid
solution. In case of acid contact with skin
or eyes, flush immediately with water for
a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt
medical attention. If acid is swallowed,
call a physician immediately. WARNING:
Batteries normally
produce explosive gases which can
cause personal injury. Therefore, do not
allow flames, sparks or lighted
substances to come near the battery.
When working near the battery, always
shield your face and protect your eyes.
Always provide correct ventilation. WARNING:
Use only adequately
sized cables with insulated clamps.
Note: Do not attempt to push-start an
automatic transmission vehicle. This could
cause transmission damage.
Note: Do not disconnect the battery of the
disabled vehicle as this could damage the
vehicle electrical system. To Connect the Booster Cables
WARNING: If the engine is running
while the hood is open, stay clear of
moving engine components. Failure to
follow this warning could result in serious
personal injury or death. WARNING:
Do not connect the
negative jumper cable to any other part
of your vehicle. Use the ground point.
Park the booster vehicle close to the hood
of the disabled vehicle, making sure the
two vehicles do not touch.
1. Connect the positive (+) jumper cable
to the positive (+) terminal of the
discharged battery.
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2
1
3
E142664

Protected Component
Rating
Item
Gear shift actuator.
Not used.
—
34
Heated steering wheel.
15 A
35
Not used.
—
36
Horn.
20 A
37
Blower motor.
40 A
38
Not used.
—
39
Brake on-off switch.
10 A
40
Amplifier.
20 A
41
Driver power seat.
30 A
42
Anti-lock brake system
valves.
40 A
43
Trailer tow module.
40 A
44
Passenger power seat.
30 A
45
Not used.
—
46
Heated seats.
20 A
47
Not used.
—
48
Anti-lock brake system
pump.
60 A
49
Cooling fan.
60 A
50
Moonroof.
30 A
51
USB smart charger.
5 A
52
Not used.
—
53
Not used.
—
54
Not used.
—
55
A/C clutch.
10 A
56
Flood light.
5 A
57
Not used.
—
58
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1.
Apply the parking brake and switch the
ignition off.
2. Switch all electrical equipment off, for
example lights and radio.
3. Wait a minimum of two minutes before
disconnecting the battery.
Note: The engine management system has
a power hold function and remains powered
for a period of time after you switch the
ignition off. This is to allow the system to
store diagnostic and adaptive tables.
Disconnecting the battery without waiting
can cause damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
4. Disconnect the negative battery cable terminal.
5. Disconnect the positive battery cable terminal.
6. Remove the battery securing clamp.
7. Remove the battery.
8. To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Note: Before reconnecting the battery,
make sure the ignition remains switched off.
Note: Make sure to fully tighten the battery
cables.
If you disconnect or replace the vehicle
battery, you must reset the following
features:
• Window bounce-back. See Power
Windows (page 91).
• Clock Settings.
• Pre-set radio stations.
Battery Disposal Make sure that you dispose of
old batteries in an
environmentally friendly way.
Seek advice from your local authority
about recycling old batteries. ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
Vertical Aim Adjustment
The headlamps on your vehicle are
properly aimed at the assembly plant. If
your vehicle has been in an accident, have
the alignment of your headlamps checked
by your authorized dealer.
8 feet (2.4 meters)
A
Center height of lamp to ground
B
25 feet (7.6 meters)
C
Horizontal reference line
D
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately
25 ft (7.6 m) away.
2. Measure the height of the headlamp center from the ground and mark an
8 ft (2.4 m)
horizontal reference line
on the vertical wall or screen at this
height.
Note: To see a clearer light pattern for
adjusting, you may want to block the light
from one headlamp when adjusting the
other.
3. Switch on the low beam headlamps to
illuminate the wall or screen and open
the hood.
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