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Driving and Operating 243
The Tire and Loading
Information label also
shows the size of the
original equipment tires (3)
and the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures (4).
For more information on
tires and inflation see Tires
0364 and
Tire Pressure 0372.
There is also important
loading information on the
vehicle Certification/Tire
label. It may show the
Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and
rear axle. See
“Certification/Tire Label”
later in this section.
“Steps for Determining
Correct Load Limit– 1.
Locate the statement
"The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs." on
your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure
equals the available
amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lb
passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and
luggage load capacity is
650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x
150) = 650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight
may not safely exceed
the available cargo and
luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be
towing a trailer, load
from your trailer will be
transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine
how this reduces the
available cargo and
luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing 0318
for important information
on towing a trailer, towing
safety rules and
trailering tips.
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Driving and Operating 245
and seating positions. The
combined weight of the
driver, passengers, and
cargo should never exceed
the vehicle's capacity
weight.
Certification/Tire Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific
Certification/Tire label is
attached to the center
pillar (B-pillar).
The label may show the
size of the vehicle's original
tires and the inflationpressures needed to obtain
the gross weight capacity
of the vehicle. The label
shows the gross weight
capacity of the vehicle. This
is called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label
may also show the
maximum weights for the
front and rear axles, called
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out
the actual loads on the
front and rear axles, weigh
the vehicle at a weigh
station. Your dealer can
help with this. Be sure to
spread the load equally on
both sides of the
centerline.
Caution
Overloading the vehicle may
cause damage. Repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not
overload the vehicle.
{Warning
Things inside the vehicle
can strike and injure
people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of the vehicle. In
the cargo area, put
them as far forward as
possible. Try to spread
the weight evenly.
.Never stack heavier
things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so
that some of them are
above the tops of the
seats.
(Continued)
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Driving and Operating 261
Car Wash Mode (Engine On–
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in
N (Neutral) with the engine on
and the vehicle unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it
does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is
now ready for the
car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to
P (Park) upon re-entry.Caution
A transmission hot message
may display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition
can damage the vehicle.
Stop and idle the engine to
cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This
message clears when the
transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is
needed for passing, press the
accelerator pedal down.
To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. From the center position, move the shift lever back.
.If the vehicle is in
P (Park), press the shift
lock release button while
pulling the shift
lever back.
.D will illuminate in red.
.After releasing the shift
lever, it will return to the
center position.
To shift out of D (Drive): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the
center position.
Downshifting the transmission
in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding. See
“Skidding” under Loss of
Control 0233.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding
the vehicle in one place on a
hill using only the
accelerator pedal may
damage the transmission.
The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. If the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires.
(Continued)
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Driving and Operating 315
If equipped, the following
driver assistance features
should be turned off when
towing a trailer:
.Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC)
.Super Cruise Control
.Park Assist
.Automatic Parking
Assist (APA)
.Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following
driver assistance features
should be turned to alert or
off when towing a trailer:
.Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
.Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
.Front Pedestrian
Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change
Alert (LCA), the LCA detection
zones that extend back from
the side of the vehicle do not
move further back when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when
towing a trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA), use
caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend
out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further
back when a trailer is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or
death from carbon monoxide
(CO), when towing a trailer:
.Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most
window open.
.Fully open the air outlets
on or under the
instrument panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See“Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust 0256.
Towing a trailer requires
experience. The combination
of the vehicle and trailer is
longer and not as responsive
as the vehicle itself. Become
familiar to the handling and
braking by driving on a level
road surface before driving on
public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires,
and the brakes must be all be
rated to carry the intended
cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the
combination to operate in an
unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all
trailer hitch parts and
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316 Driving and Operating
attachments, safety chains,
electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. See Towing
Equipment0322. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then
manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check that
the trailer brakes work. During
the trip, occasionally check
that the cargo and trailer are
secure and that the lamps and
any trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability
Control System
When towing, the stability
control system might be
heard. The system reacts to
vehicle movement caused by
the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is
normal when towing heavier
trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far
behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving without a trailer. This can help
to avoid heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is
needed when towing a trailer.
The combination of the vehicle
and trailer will not accelerate
as quickly and is much longer
than the vehicle alone. It is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane.
Pass on level roadways. Avoid
passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand.
To move the trailer to the left,
move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right,
move that hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Turn more slowly and make
wider arcs when towing a
trailer to prevent damage to
your vehicle. Making very
sharp turns could cause the
trailer to contact the vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal
when towing, so the trailer will
not go over soft shoulders,
over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in
advance. Do not steer or brake
suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a
lower gear before starting
down a long or steep downhill
grade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes
may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
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322 Driving and Operating
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Always use the correct hitch
equipment for your vehicle.
Crosswinds, large trucks going
by, and rough roads can affect
the trailer and the hitch.
Proper hitch equipment for
your vehicle helps maintain
control of the vehicle-trailer
combination. Many trailers can
be towed using a
weight-carrying hitch which
has a coupler latched to the
hitch ball, or a tow eye latched
to a pintle hook. Other trailers
may require a
weight-distributing hitch that
uses spring bars to distribute
the trailer tongue weight
between your vehicle and
trailer axles. See“Maximum
Trailer Tongue Weight” under
Trailer Towing 0318 for
weight limits with various hitch
types. Never attach rental hitches or
other bumper-type hitches.
Only use frame-mounted
hitches that do not attach to
the bumper.
Hitch Cover
To remove hitch cover,
if equipped:
1. Remove the two fasteners on the lower tabs.
2. Pull the lower edge of the cover to about a 45 degree
angle.
3. Pull the cover downward to disengage the upper
attachments. To reinstall the hitch cover:
1. Hold cover at a 45 degree angle to the vehicle and
push the upper tabs into
the slots in the bumper.
2. Push the bottom of the cover forward until the
lower tabs line up with the
lower slots.
3. Snap the hitch cover into place by pushing the upper
corners forward.
4. Reinstall the two fasteners on the lower tabs.
Consider using mechanical
sway controls with any trailer.
Ask a trailering professional
about sway controls or refer
to the trailer manufacturer's
recommendations and
instructions.
Tires
.Do not tow a trailer while
using a compact spare tire
on the vehicle.
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Driving and Operating 323
.Tires must be properly
inflated to support loads
while towing a trailer. See
Tires0364 for instructions
on proper tire inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between
the vehicle and the trailer, and
attach the chains to the holes
on the trailer hitch platform.
Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the
hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under
the tongue of the trailer to
help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the
hitch. Always leave just
enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never
allow safety chains to drag on
the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 450 kg
(1,000 lb) must be equipped
with brake systems and with brakes for each axle. Trailer
braking equipment conforming
to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent,
is recommended.
State or local regulations may
require trailers to have their
own braking system if the
loaded weight of the trailer
exceeds certain minimums
that can vary from state to
state. Read and follow the
instructions for the trailer
brakes so they are installed,
adjusted, and maintained
properly. Never attempt to tap
into your vehicle's hydraulic
brake system. If you do, both
the vehicle anti-lock brakes
and the trailer brakes may not
function, which could result in
a crash.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Basic Trailer Wiring
The trailer wiring harness is
located at the rear of the
vehicle and is tied to the
vehicle's frame. The harness
connector can be plugged into
a trailer connector available
through your dealer.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps
are working at the beginning
of each trip, and periodically
on longer trips.
Turn Signals When
Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the
trailer turn signals will
illuminate to indicate the
vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument cluster will
illuminate even if the trailer is
not properly connected or the
bulbs are burned out.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) have a Trailer Sway
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324 Driving and Operating
Control (TSC) feature. Trailer
sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer
while towing. If the vehicle is
towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is
increasing, the vehicle brakes
are selectively applied at each
wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway.
If equipped with the
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake
system, StabiliTrak/ESC may
also apply the trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak/ESC warning light
will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed
by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator.If trailer sway continues,
StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce
engine torque to help slow the
vehicle. TSC will not function if
StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off.
See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control
0
267.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a
crash and in serious injury or
death, even if the vehicle is
equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot
from the accelerator. Then
pull over to check the trailer
and vehicle to help correct
possible causes, including an
improperly or overloaded
trailer, unrestrained cargo,
improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
or trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment0322 for trailer
ratings and hitch setup
recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ
from vehicle tires. Trailer tires
are designed with stiff
sidewalls to help prevent sway
and to support heavy loads.
These features can make it
difficult to determine if the
trailer tire pressures are low
only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip
when the tires are cool. Low
trailer tire pressure is a
leading cause of trailer tire
blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over
time. The trailer tire sidewall
will show the week and year
the tire was manufactured.
Many trailer tire