Your Driving and the Road
I Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount
of experience. Before setting out for the
open road, you’ll want to get to know
your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of handling and braking with the added
weight
of the trailer. And always keep in
mind that the vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly
so
.responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror
adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be
sure that the load is secure, and that the
lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
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
railer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
ierky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in
3dvance.
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.
. . . 144
ProCarManuals.com
Index
Adding
Brake Fluid ................. 192
Electrical Equipment
..... 107. 2 11
Engine Coolant
.......... 159. 189
Engine Oil
.................. 18 1
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid ........ 187
Power Steering Fluid
..... 190. 216
Transaxle Fluid
Automatic ........... 185. 215
Manual
.............. 187. 215
Windshield Washer Fluid
...... 191
Air Bag Readiness Light .......... 22
Air Bag (Supplemental Restraint
System - SRS) ................. 21
Air Cleaner .................... 183
Air Conditioner
................ 103
Alcohol. Driving Under the
Influence of .................. 120
Alcohol
in Gasoline ......... 17 1. 172
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning ...... 208
Antenna. Fixed
Mast ............ 118
Antifreeze
..................... 188
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
... 123
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light ................. 99
Appearance Care and Materials
.... 204
Ashtray and Lighter
.............. 86
Audio Systems
................. 106
AM/FM Stereo Radio ......... 108
AM/FM Stereo Radio
with
Cassette Player ............. 109
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Cassette Player and Graphic
Equalizer
.................. 11 1
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Compact Disc Player ........ 11 3
Care of Audio Systems
........ 11 7
Delco LOC II@
.............. 115
Radio Reception. For the Best
. . 117
Setting the Clock
............. 107
Automatic Door Locks ............ 48
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
(see “Safety Belts”)
Automatic Transaxle
Adding Fluid ............ 185. 215
Checking Fluid
.............. 184
Shifting
..................... 59
Starting Your Engine
........... 56
Battery .................. 148. 194
Jump Starting
........... 148. 194
Rundown Protection
........... 80
Voltmeter
.................... 97
BBB Auto Line
................ 245
Blizzard. If You’re Caught In a
.... 137
Block Heater. Engine
......... 58. 182
Blowout. Tire
.................. 16 1
Brakes
....................... 123
Adjustment ................. 193
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
. 123
Brake Pedal Travel
........... 193
Fluid
...................... 191
Master Cylinder ............. 191
Parking
..................... 66
Rear Drums
................. 192
Replacement
................ 193
Warning Light
................ 98
Wear Indicators
.............. 192
Brakes. Anti-Lock .............. 123
Brake System Warning Light
....... 98
Anti-Lock Brake System
....... 99
Standard Brakes
.............. 99
Brakenramaxle Shift Interlock
..... 69
Warning Light
................ 99
Braking
....................... 123
Braking in Emergencies
.......... 125
,‘Break-in", New Vehicle
Braking Technique .............. 123
Normal Driving ............... 54
When Towing a Trailer ........ 141
Buckling Up (see “Safety Belts”)
Bulb Replacement
Fog Lights .............. 196. 217
Headlight
............... 195. 217
Taillight
................ 196. 217
Capacities & Specifications ...... 215
Carbon Monoxide
in Exhaust . . 70. 138
Cassette Tape Player (see “Audio
Center Passenger Position ......... 27
Chains. Safety
................. 143
Chains. Tire
................... 203
Systems”) C
263 ...
ProCarManuals.com
Index
Replacement Bulbs ............. 2 17
Replacement Fuses .............. 2 13
Replacement Parts
.............. 220
Replacement. Windshield Wiper
... 196
Replacing Safety Belts
............ 42
Replacing Tires
................ 20
Replacing Wheels
.............. 202
Restraint. Head
.................. 10
Restraints. Child
................. 33
Roadside Assistance Program ..... 248
Rocking Your Vehicle
........... 168
Rotation. Tire
.................. 200
Safety Belts ................... 12
Adults
...................... 17
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
... 18
Center Rear Lap Belt
.......... 27
Checking
.................... 42
Children
................. 32. 40
Child Restraints
.............. 33
Child Restraints-How to Install
. 33
Child Restraints. Where to Put
... 33
Cleaning
................... 207
Driver Position
............... 17
Extender
.................... 42
How to Wear ................. 17
Passenger Belts
............... 26
Pregnancy. Use During
......... 25
Questions
& Answers ....... 15. 20
Rear Safety Belts
............. 26
Replacement
................. 42
Roads. Hill and Mountain ........ 145
Right Front. Adult Passenger .... 26
Smaller Children and Babies
.... 32
Top Strap
.................... 33
Torn
........................ 43
Twisted ..................... 21
Vehicles First Sold
in Canada .... 17
Warning Light
................ 16
Why You Should Wear Safety
Belts ...................... 13
Safety Defects. Reporting
........ 247
Scheduled Maintenance Services
... 226
Seat Adjustment
.................. 8
Seat Belts (see “Safety Belts ”) ..... 12
Seat Controls
.................... 8
Easy-Entry .................. 11
Head Restraint ............... 10
Manual 4-Way Adjustable Seat
... 8
Manual Front Seat .............. 8
Manual Lumbar Support ......... 9
Manual Reclining Seatback
...... 9
Power Seat Controls
............ 9
Reclining Seatback
............. 9
Seatback Latches ............. 11
Seat. Split Fold-Down Rear ..... 11
Service Parts Identification Label . . 2 11
Service Publications
............. 250
Service Publications Order Form
... 255
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Pontiac ....................... 25
Setting the Clock
............... 107
Setting the Trip Odometer
......... 92
Service Engine Soon Light ....... 100
Service Station Information ... Last Page
Sheet Metal Damage ............ 209
Shift Light .................. 65. 99
Shifting Into PARK
(P) ........... 67
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
......... 69
Shifting the Transaxle
Automatic Transaxle ........... 59
Manual Transaxle
............. 64
Signaling Turns
................. 73
Skidding ...................... 128
Snowstorm. If You’re Caught
in a . . 137
Sound Equipment. Adding
.... 107. 211
Sound Systems (see “Audio
Systems”) ................... 106
Spare Tire. Compact
............. 167
Specifications
& Capacities ....... 215
Speed Control (see “Cruise
Control”) ..................... 74
Speedometer and Odometer
........ 92
Trip Odometer
................ 92
Stains. Removing
............... 206
Starting Your Engine
............. 56
Automatic Transaxle ........... 56
Manual Transaxle
............. 56
2.3L Quad 4 Engine
........... 56
3.1L V6 Engine ............... 57
is Dead (see “Jump Starting”) .... 148
In Emergencies .............. 126
Off-Road Recovery
.......... 127
Tips
....................... 125
Steering Wheel. Tilt .............. 71
Starting Your Pontiac if the Battery
Steering
ProCarManuals.com