Jeep Compass, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 176 / 322

STARTING AND DRIVING
174
Highway driving
Reduce speed.
Temporarily turn off air conditioning.
WARNING
274) 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 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 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. On the towed vehicle put
the dual clutch automatic transmission to
the P (Park) position. Always, block or
"chock" the trailer wheels. GCWR must
not be exceeded.
275) Total weight must be distributed
between the tow vehicle and the trailer
such that the following four ratings are
not exceeded: 1. GVWR, 2. GTW, 3.
GAWR, 4. Tongue weight rating for the
trailer hitch utilized.
276) Do not connect the trailer brakes
to the hydraulic lines of the car braking
system, overloading on the trailer may
cause failure. You might not have brakes
when you need them and could have an
accident.
277) 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, to avoid the risk of accidents.
278) The ABS with which the car is
equipped will not control the braking
system of the trailer. Particular caution is
therefore required on slippery roads.
IMPORTANT
81) Do not tow a trailer at all during the
first 800 km the new vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle or other parts could be
damaged. Then, during the first 800 km
that a trailer is towed, do not drive over
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.
82) If the trailer weighs more than
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.
DRIVING TIPS
ON-ROAD DRIVING TIPS
As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover.
SAVING FUEL
Below are some suggestions which may
help you save fuel and thus lower the
amount of harmful emissions released
into the atmosphere.
Vehicle maintenance
Checks and operations should be carried
out in accordance with the "Scheduled
Servicing Plan" (see the "Maintenance
and care" section).
Tires
Periodically check the tire pressure at
least every 4 weeks: if the pressure is too
low, fuel consumption will increase due
to greater rolling resistance.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with the trunk overloaded.
The weight of the vehicle and its balance
strongly influence fuel consumption and
stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove roof racks or ski racks from
the roof when no longer needed. These
accessories reduce the aerodynamics of
the vehicle, increasing fuel consumption.