Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. \
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left.
To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will
flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
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 and reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
4-28
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 shift to
5. Release the regular brakes.
“P” (Park).
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 of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Thin.gs that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, 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.
Trailer Light Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
4-29
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road
about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the steps below to do
it safely.
I NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your
vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it won’t work,
and it could damage your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Vehicle:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
5-3
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If
they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic 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.
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.
Dead Battery (+)
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
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
5-5
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully inflated when your vehicle was new,
it can lose air after a time. Check the inflation pressure regularly. It should
be
60 psi (420 Wa). After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your spare tire is correctly
inflated. The compact spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits
for distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km). The compact spare is made to go
up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can finish your trip and have your
full-size tire repaired or replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best to
replace your spare with a full-size tire
as soon as you can. Your spare will
last longer and be in good shape
in case you need it again.
I NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on the rails.
That can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other parts
of
your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on some other vehicle. And don’t mix your compact spare or wheel with other wheels or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your spare and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using them will
damage your vehicle and destroy the chains too. Don’t use tire
chains on your compact spare.
5-32
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service & Appearance Care
...
Section
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle . This part
begins with service and fuel information. and then it shows how to check
important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also technical information
about your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Service ................................................... 6-2
Fuel
..................................................... 6-3
Checking Things Under the Hood
.............................. 6-7
Hood Release
........................................... 6-7
Engineoil
.............................................. 6-9
Enginecover
.......................................... 6-15
Air Cleaner
............................................ 6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid ............................. 6-20
RearAxle
............................................. 6-24
All-WheelDrive
........................................ 6-24
Transfercase
.......................................... 6-24
FrontAxle
............................................. 6-25
Engine Coolant
....................................... 6-26
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................. 6-31
Brake Master Cylinder
................................... 6-32
Replacing Brake System Parts
.................... ........ 6-35
Battery
.................................................. 6-35
Vehiclestorage
......................................... 6-35
FluidLeakCheck
.......................................... 6-36
Bulb Replacement
......................................... 6-36
Other Maintenance Items
.................................... 6-41
Tires
.................................................... 6-47
Appearancecare
.......................................... 6-54
Vehicle Identification Number
................................ 6-63
Service Parts Identification Label
..................... .... 6-65
Capacities and Specification Charts
................ . . 6-68
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........... 6-72
Power Steering Fluid .................................. 6-30
Loading Your Vehicle
.... .............................. 6-44
6-1
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard
to find. Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use
even one tankful, your emission controls won’t work well or
at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust system can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a
hinged door on the left
side of your vehicle.
.. .
.. .
6-5
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from painted surfaces as
soon as possible. See “Cleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle” in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until you hear a clicking
noise.
I NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right type. Your \
dealer
can get one for you.
If you get the wrong type, it may not fit or
have proper venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first
pull the handle inside
the vehicle
on the
right side
of the
steering column.
Then go to the front
of
the vehicle and release
the secondary hood
release.
6-7