
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Are there some things I should not do when
driving down a hill?
A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore them
a
a
you could lose control and have a serious accident.
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill.
A hill that’s not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across.
You could roll over if you don’t drive straight down.
Never
go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL
(N), or with the clutch pedal depressed
in a manual shift. This is called “free-wheeling.”
Your brakes will have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill.
But
if it happens going downhill, here’s what to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Shift to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL (N) with the
Apply the parking brake.
manual transmission) and, while still braking, restart the engine.
Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down.
If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
4-23

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
0 Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some
of the
slowing down. Shift
to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down
a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope. Coasting
downhill in
NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do
all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
0
0
0
0
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide
or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something
in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
4-36

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Recreational Vehicle Towing
(Four-wheel Drive Oniy)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Set the parking brake firmly.
Place
an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
Firmly attach the vehicle being towed to the tow
vehicle.
Do not tow the vehicle by the rear bumper
bar. Refer to
the hitch manufacturer’s instructions.
Place the transfer case shift lever in NEUTRAL (N).
Recreational vehicle towing is not recommended for
vehicles
with the optional electronic shift transfer case
because the transfer case has
no neutral position.
Shifting the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in
PARK (P), for an automatic transmission,
or if your vehicle is in gear, for a manual
transmission. This is because the transfer case
overrides the transmission.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached to the tow vehicle.
6. Insert the ignition key into the ignition switch and
turn it one notch forward of the LOCK position. This
places the key
in the OFF position, which unlocks
the steering column while preventing battery drain.
Unlocking the steering
column will allow for proper
movement
of the front wheelshires during towing.
4-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 If you haw a11 automatic transmission, you should Vehicle Axle Ratio Max. Trailer Wt.
use DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear)
when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in 2-Wheel Drive,
DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will minimize heat 2.Z Engine 3.73 2,000
lbs. (908 kg)
4.10 2,000 lbs. (908 kg)
buildup and extend the life
of your transpission. If 2-Wheel Drive, 3.08 5,000 lbs.(2 270 kg)
you have a manual transmission and you are towing
“VORTEC” 4300 3.42 6,000 lbs.(2 724 kg)
a trailer, it’s better not to use
FIFTH (5) gear. Just Auto. Trans.
drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a -
lower gear). pi,. 2-Wheel Drive,
“-“‘VORTEC” 4300 3.08 4,000 lbs.( 1 816 kg)
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
Man. Trans. ,I+, : = . -
the weight of the trailer,
0 the weight of the trailer tongue
0 and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be? 4-Wheel Drive,
3.08 4,500
lbs.(2 043
kg)
“VORTEC” 4300 3.42
5,500 lbs.(2 497 kg)
Auto. Trans. 3.73
5,500 lbs.(2
497 kg)
4-Wheel Drive, 3.08 3,500
lbs.( 1 589 kg)
“VORTEC” 4300 3.42
4,000 lbs.( 1 816
kg)
Man. Trans. 3.73
4,500 lbs.(2 043 kg)
It depends
on how you plan to use your rig. For
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
temperature and how Your vehicle is used to Pull a
’ has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
agditional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
The following chart shows how much your trailer can trailer weight. Two-wheel-drive models
with a GVWR
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options. of
4,200 lbs.
(1 907 kg) and four-wheel-drive models
JT”;’ ,-p?? , ,- -&-I:. , * with the ZR2 suspension package are limited to a 2,000
’ , :-qqg$+. r *? *. F:. rr I‘
ty+ : ‘ -.. 4 I lbs. (908 kg) trailer rating.
4-49

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal flasher (included
in
the optional trailering package).
The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps 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 kdh) to reduce the
possibility of engine
and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission, you should use
DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle in DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life of your
transmission. Or, if you have a manual transmission, it’s
better not to use FIFTH
(5), just drive in FOURTH (4)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear).
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil
at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn
your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep
uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK
(P) (or the
manual transmission out of gear and the parking brake
applied) for
a few minutes before turning the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating’’
in the Index.
4-54

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
PARK
(P) yet, or into gear for a manual
transmission. When parking uphill, turn your
wheels away from the curb. When parking downhill,
turn your wheels into the curb.
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. Thenapply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P), or
REVERSE (R) for a manual transmission.
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a
manual transfer case shift lever, be sure the transfer
case is. in a drive gear
-- not in NEUTRAL, (N).
6. Release the regular brakes.
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehiclt: if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly.
You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, ev
‘en
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you have €our-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case shift lever and your transfer case
is
in NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will, be free to
roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So; be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL
(N).
4-55

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 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. Things 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 Wiring Harness
The eight-wire harness is stored under your vehicle
along
the rear frame crossmember. This harness has a
30-amp feed wire with an inline fuse located in the
instrument panel fuse block and no connector. It should
be wired by a qualified electrical technician. The
technician can use
the following color code chart when
connecting the wiring harness to your trailer.
0 DARK BLUE: Use for electric trailer brakes or
0 RED: Use for battery charging; it connects to the
LIGHT GREEN: Back-up lamps.
0 BROWN: Taillamps and parking lamps.
0 YELLOW Left stoplamp and turn signal.
0 DARK GREEN: Right stoplamp and turn signal.
0 WHITE (Heavy Gage): Ground wire.
0 WHITE (Light Gage): Auxiliary stoplamp.
Securely attach the harness to the trailer, then tape or
strap it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure
you leave
it loose enough
so the wiring doesn’t bend or break,
but not so
loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness in its original place. Wrap the harness together
and tie
it neatly so it won’t be damaged.
auxiliary wiring.
starter solenoid.
4-56

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work. The flashers will stop
if you 'step on.
the brake.
,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 use the following steps to
do it safely.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn't be 'covered by
your warranty.
.
DO not try to start your' vehicle by pushing or
pulling
it. This could damage'your vehicle, even if'
you have a manual transmission. And if you have
an automatic transmission, it won't
start thqt way.
b
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don't follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
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.
5-2