1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE engine

Towing a Tmiler
I
If you don't use the correct
equipment and drive properly,
you can lose control when you pull
a trailer. For example, if the trailer
is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well-or even at all. You and
your passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you
have followed all the steps in this
section.
NOTICE
I I; Pulling a trailer improperly can : __
damage your vehicle and result in' ;'
costly repairs not covered by your
follow the advice in this section.
Your Pontiac can tow a trailer, unless it
is equipped with the
3800 Supercharged
Engine (Code
1). Do not attempt to tow
a trailer
if equipped with the 3800
Supercharged Engine (Code 1). To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle,
you should
read the information in
Weight of the
Trailer that appears later in this section.
But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering
means changes in handling, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it
has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this section.
In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many
of
these are important for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and
tires are forced to work harder against
the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher
speeds and under greater loads, generating
extra heat. What's more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
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Your Driving and the Road
If bu Do Decide to Pulla Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points.
There are many different laws having
to do with trailering. Make sure your
rig will be legal, not only where you
live but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this information can
be
state or provincial police.
trailer will weigh
2,000 pounds (900 kg)
or less. You should always use a sway
control if your trailer will weigh more
than
2,000 pounds (900 kg). You can ask
a hitch dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (804 km) your new vehicle is
driven. Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
Consider using a sway control if your
Then, during the first 500 miles
(804 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t make
starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of
your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be? It
should never weigh more than
1,000
pounds (450 kg) unless you have the
special optional
3,000 pound (1 360 kg)
towing package. But even that can
be
too heavy. It depends on how you plan
to use your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your
vehicle is
used to pull a trailer are all
important. And, it can also depend on
any special equipment that you have
on your vehicle. You can ask your
dealer for our trailering information
or advice, or write us at:
mmm 184
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Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to
D (Drive) and reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more than
1,000 pounds (454 kg), and
you have an automatic transaxle with
Overdrive, it’s best
to drive in D instead
of Overdrive (or, as you need to, a lower
gear). This will minimize heat build-up
and extend the life
of your transaxle.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on
a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1, Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of the chocks.
store the chocks.
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Your Driving and the Road
Maintenance When Tmiler Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more
on
this. Things that are especially
important
in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system, and
brake adjustment. Each
of these is
covered
in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you
start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
... 190
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Here you’ll find out what to do
about
some problems that can occur
on the road .
Part 5
Problems on the Road
........................................... Hazard Warning Flashers 192
Jumpstarting
.................................................... 193
Towing Your Pontiac
197
Engine Overheating 202
If a Tire Goes Flat 208
Changing a Flat Tire 210
Compactspare
................................................... 217
..............................................
...............................................
................................................
...............................................
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .......................... 218
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Problems on the Road
Jump Starting (CONT:)
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren't touching each
other. If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don't want.
* You wouldn't be able to start your
Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
L You could be injured if the
~ Jehicles roll. Set the parking
brake
firmly on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transaxle in P (Park)
or a manual transaxle in N (Neut] . -.
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren't
needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
I I I
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries.
If you leave your radio on, it could
be badly damaged. The repairs
wouldn't be covered by your
warranty.
CAUTlON
An electric fan can start up I I
I even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
Find the positive
(+) and negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
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, Using a match near a battery
- b can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. .Use a flashlight
if you
need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough
water. You don’t need to add water
to the Delco Freedom@ battery installed in every new
GM vehicle.
But if a battery
has filler caps, be
sure the right amount
of fluid is
there. If
it is low, add water to take
care
of that first. If you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Don’t get it
on you. If
you accidentally get it in your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missin.g insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative
(-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or
you’ll get a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts, too. Fans
or other moving engine
running.
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Problems on the Road
Jump Starting (CONI)
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
7. Don’t let the other end touch metal.
Connect it to
the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-)
cable to the good battery’s negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything
until the next step. The other end
of the
negative cable doesn’t go to the dead
battery.
It goes to a heavy unpainted
metal part
on the engine of the vehicle
with the dead battery.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as
good there, but
the chance of sparks
getting back to the battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and
run the engine for a
while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the
dead battery.
If it won’t start after a
few tries, it probably needs service.
m.. 196
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