Towinga Trailer
L
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,
follow the advice in this section,
and see your Oldsmobile dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. 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.
If You Do Decide To Pull A 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.
Consider using a sway control if your
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.
151
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Drunken Driving .............................. 132
Electric Outside Mirror Control
...... 87
Electrical Equipment.
Adding
............................. 60. 117. 219
Electronic Level Control
............ 94. 206
Emergencies. Braking in
.................. 138
Emergencies on the Road
................ 157
Emergencies. Steering in
.................. 139
Emergency Starting
.......................... 158
Emergency Towing ........................... 162
Engine Coolant
................ 197, 224, 227
Engine Coolant Heater
....................... 61
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gage
............................................... 103
Engine Exhaust
............ 57. 68, 150, 154
Engine Identification
........................ 218
Engine Oil
......................................... 190
Additives
........................................ 193
Checking
& Adding ............... 190. 191
Disposing of Used Oil
................... 194
Energy Conserving
......................... 193
Pressure Gage
................................ 102
Pressure Indicator
......................... 101
Warning
.......................................... 193
When to Change
............................ 193
Engine Overheating
......................... 165
Engine Specifications
....................... 226
Engine. Starting
.................................. 58
Ethanol in Gasoline .......................... 183
Exhaust
Dangerous Gas
Parking with the Engine
in
............................. 57.
68. 150. 154
Running
................................... 67. 68
Expectant Mothers. Use
of Safety
Belts
................................................. 30
Expressway Driving
......................... 145
Extender. Safety Belt
......................... 41
Exterior Appearance
Fabric Cleaning
Fan Warnings
............ 159. 160. 167. 187
Filling the Fuel Tank ................ 185. 272
Filter Air Cleaner
............................ 194. 226
Oil
.......................................... 193. 226
Finish Care
....................................... 216
Flat Tire
............................................ 172
Flooded Engine
................................... 59
Fluid (see
Appearance
Care )
(see Appearance Care )
Flashers. Hazard Warning ............... 158
Flow-Through Ventilation
............... 116
Brake
...................................... 200. 227
Capacities
....................................... 224
Power Steering
.............. 199. 225. 227
Transaxle
....................... 195. 224. 227
Windshield Washer
................ 200. 227 Fluids
& Lubricants ......................... 227
Fog Lights
............................................ 76
Freeway Driving
............................... 145
Fuel
................................................... 183
Alcohol in Fuel
.............................. 183
Capacity
......................................... 185
Exhaust Warnings ..... 57. 68. 150. 154
Filling
Your Tank .......................... 185
Fuels with Alcohol
......................... 183
Gage
............................................... 100
In Foreign Countries ..................... 184
Low. Warning
................................ 101
Methanol in Fuel
........................... 183
Requirements ................................. 183
Fuse Panel and Usage .............. 220. 221
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ................. 219
Anti-Lock Brakes Fuse
.................. 222
Injector Fuse
.................................. 223
Gages Coolant Temperature
.................... 103
Fuel
................................................ 100
Oil Pressure ................................... 102
Oil Pressure Indicator
................... 101
Tachometer
...................................... 99
Voltmeter
....................................... 103
Garage Door Opener Compartment
.. 80
Gasoline
............................................ 183
Gasoline Tank, Filling Your
............ 185
Gas Station Information .................. 272 265
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