1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 br’aking 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 as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch- and platform (and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, 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 lamps 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
.l
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good dea
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
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.
nrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
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 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission you should use
THIRD
(3) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in THIRD
(3)
when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and
extend the life of your transmission.
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) for a
few minutes before turning the engine off. If you do
get the overheat warning, see “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
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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
1 how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the regular brakes.
1
I A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle 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, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive 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).
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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:
0 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. 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 qoickly.
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
A seven-wire harness is stored under the rear of your
vehicle, between the frame rails. An electrical connector
will need to be added at the trailer end
of the harness, by
a qualified electrical technician. For additional trailer
wiring and towing information, please consult your
dealer. 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 won’t bind or break
when turning with the trailer, but not
so loose that it
drags on the ground. Store’ the harness in its original
position. Wrap the harness together and tie it neatly
so it
won’t be damaged.
If you tow a trailer, your Center
High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) may not be
properly visible from behind.
You should select a trailer
with a CHMSL on
it or, if one is not available, have one
installed. See your GM dealer about how to connect
your vehicle’s wiring to a trailer CHMSL.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Winches Power Take-Off (PTO)
If you wish to use a power winch on your vehicle, only
use it when your vehicle is stationary or anchored.
NOTICE:
Using a power winch with the transmission in
gear may damage the transmission. When
operating
a power winch, always leave the
transmission in NEUTRAL
(N).
Use the regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block
the wheels to keep your vehicle from rolling.
NOTICE:
If’ you have a PTO that will exceed 35 hp installed
on your vehicle,
it could damage the transfer case
or transmission. When having
a PTO installed
on your vehicle, make sure that
it will not exceed
35 hp.
Before using a PTO, refer to the manufacturer’s or
installer’s instructions.
NOTICE:
Using a PTO while operating in one place before
the vehicle has reached normal operating
temperature can damage the transfer case or
transmission. If you will be using the PTO while
operating in one place, drive and warm up the
vehicle before using the PTO.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To engage a PTO:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (N).
3. Hold the clutch pedal down and engage the PTO.
NOTICE:
Using a PTO for more than four hours without
driving your vehicle can damage the transfer case
or transmission. If using a PTO for more than
four hours without driving your vehicle, drive
your vehicle for a while
to allow the transfer case
and transmission to
cool.
If you are going to drive the vehicle, shift the
transmission into the,gear
you want. Then shift the
transfer case into the range
you want (if you have
four-wheel drive), apply the regular brakes and
release the parking brake.
4. Release the clutch (and the regular brakes) as you
normally would. When you release the clutch, the
PTO will start.
Using a Transfer Case Mounted PTO
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N).
3. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (N).
4. Engage the PTO.
If you are going to drive the vehicle, shift the
transfer case into the range
you want. Then apply the
regular brakes and release the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission to THIRD (3) to start the PTO.
6. Release the regular brakes to drive the vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Step-Bumper Pad
If your vehicle has a rear step bumper, it may
be equipped with a rear step pad at the center
of the bumper.
If you will
be using the
bumper
to tow a trailer,
you must remove the
center cutout circle
to
install the trailer ball.
You must also remove
both outer cutouts to attach
the trailer safety chains.
To remove the pad, lift the
edge of the pad from the
rear of the bumper and
swing it forward. When
the pad releases from
the bumper holes, lift
the pad
off.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 5 Problems On The Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that
can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
But they won’t flash if you’re braking.
Press the button at
the top
of the steering column all
the way down
to make your
front and rear turn signal
lamps flash
on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, push the button until the first
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police
know YOU have a problem. Your front and When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
rear turn signal lamps
will flash on and off. signals won’t work.
click and release.