Driving with a Trailer
A -CAUTION:
I
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull
a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.)
To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting
on your trip.
0 Keep the rear-most windows closed.
0 If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
RECIRC because it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.)
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 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
and sudden turns.
ProCarManuals.com
Fuse
CTSY
ELC
Usage
Automatic Door Lock Module,
Dome Lamps, Courtesy Lamps,
Power Door Lock Switches, Glove
Box Lamp, Power Mirrors, Remote
Lock Control Receiver
Electronic Level Control,
Air Inflator, Underhood Lamp
Fuse
HORN
STOP HAZ
F PUMP
RDO
1 /AUX
TAIL ECM
TURN B/U
Usage
Horns, Horn Relay, Safety Belt
Buzzer, Lamps On Reminder,
Key in the Ignition Warning
Hazards, Rear Stoplamps, Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS), Center
High-Mounted Stoplamp
Fuel Pump, Rear Engine Fan Relay
Radio, Cigarette Lighter, Accessory
Power Outlet, Trailer Harness,
Heater-A/C Control
Headlamp and Instrument Panel
Dimmer Switch (to LPS
fuse),
Power Sliding Door Controller
Powertrain Control Module
Automatic Door Locks Module,
Back-up Lamps, Power Sliding
Door Alarm Module,
Fog Lamp
Relay, Power Sliding Door
Controller, Remote Lock Control
Receiver, Brake-Transaxle Shift
Interlock (BTSI), Front/Rear
Turn Lamps
6-54
ProCarManuals.com
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-48
Built-in Child Restraint
........................ 6-45
Fabric
...................................... 6-43
Glass ....................................... 6-46
Inside
of Your Oldsmobile ...................... 6-43
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-45
Leather
..................................... 6-45
Outside
of Your Oldsmobile .................... 6-46
Stains
...................................... 6-44
Tires
....................................... 6-48
Vinyl
....................................... 6-45
Wheels
..................................... 6-48
Special Problems
............................. 6-44
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-46
Climate Control System
........................... 3- 1
Clock, Setting the ................................ 3-9
Comfort Controls ................................ 3- 1
Compact Disc Care ............................. 3-24
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3- I6
Compact Disc Player Errors ....................... 3- I8
Compact Overhead Console ...................... 2-57
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-32
Compass Calibration ............................ 2-56
Compass, Electronic
............................ 2-55
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-5
ConvenienceNet
............................... 2-61
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-53
Coinholder
.................................... 2-59 Coolant
....................................... 6-18
Adding
..................................... 6-21
Checking
................................... 6-20
Heater, Engine
............................... 2-26
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Whattouse
................................. 6-19
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-5
Cruise Control ................................. 2-44
Cupholders
............................... 2-58, 2-61
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users ......... 8-3
Customer Assistance Information ................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-1
Customizing Your Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-6
Damage,
Finish ............................... 6-48
Defects, Reporting Safety
......................... 8-7
Defensive Driving ............................... 4-1
Defogger, Rear Window .......................... 3-9
Defrosting
..................................... 3-8
Delco
LOC II@ ................................. 3-19
Dimensions, Vehicle ............................ 6-60
Dome Lamps .................................. 2-50
Defogging ..................................... 3-8
Door
Front
........................................ 2-3
Locks ....................................... 2-4
Power Sliding
................................ 2-13
Resetting
the Power Sliding ..................... 2-17
Sliding ..................................... 2-12
ProCarManuals.com
FogLamps .................................... 2-49
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-3
Four-Way Manual Seat
........................... 1 - I
FrontDoor ..................................... 2-3
Front Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
........... 6-30
FrontTowing
................................... 5-9
Front Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement
.......... 6-30
Fuel
.......................................... 6-2
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-83
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-3
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-53
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-76
Engine Oil Pressure
........................... 2-80
Fuel
....................................... 2-83
Speedometer
................................. 2-71
Tachometer
.................................. 2-71
Voltmeter
................................... 2-74
Garage Door Opener
............................ 2-54
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-27
GloveBox
.................................... 2-57
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-27
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-27
GAWR
....................................... 4-27
GVWR
....................................... 4-27 Halogen
Bulbs
................................ 6-29
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-4
Headlamps
.................................... 2-48
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-29
HighLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-40
OnReminder
................................ 2-48
Wiring
..................................... 6-52
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-3
Heating
........................................ 3-3
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-40
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-21
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-33
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Prop
........................................ 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-6
Horn ......................................... 2-38
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-17
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2-23
Illuminated Entry
.......................... 2- 1 1. 2-50
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-36
Inflator. Air
................................... 2-66
Injector Fuse
................................... 6-57
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-52
ProCarManuals.com
LockDelay ..................................... 2-9
Locking Storage Bin
............................ 2-59
Automatic Door
............................... 2-6
Cylinders
................................... 7-35
Door
........................................ 2-4
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-35
Liftgate
..................................... 2-21
Power Door
.................................. 2-5
Sliding Door Security .......................... 2- 18
Steering Column Lock Check
................... 7-37
Low Coolant Warning Light
...................... 2-77
LowFuelLight
................................ 2-84
LowOilLight
................................. 2-81
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-39
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-35
Luggagecarrier
................................ 2-62
Locks
......................................... 2-4
. Sliding Door ................................. 2-13
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-60
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-4 1
Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7- 1
How the Section is Organized .................... 7-2
Long Trip/Highway Definition
................... 7-5
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
..................... 7-5
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-34
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-38
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-39 Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-3
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals
........................ 7-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment
................ 7-1
Maintenance. Underbody ......................... 6-49
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-37
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-77
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1-2
Matching Transmitters to Your Vehicle
.............. 2-10
Mirrors
....................................... 2-52
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-53
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2-52
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-52
Visorvanity
................................. 2-65
Mode Buttons. Climate Control System
.............. 3-2
MountainRoads
................................ 4-21
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-39
Net. Convenience .............................. 2-61
Neutral
....................................... 2-28
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2-22
Nightvision
................................... 4-14
odometer
.................................... 2-71
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-72
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-10
Oil. Engine
..................................... 6-9
9-7
ProCarManuals.com
Opener. GarageDoor ............................ 2-54
Overhead Console
.............................. 2-53
Overheating Engine
............................. 5- 12
Overriding Lock Delay
........................... 2-6
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-34
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8- 10
Paint Spotting. Chemical ........................ 6-49
Park
......................................... 2-27
Shifting Into
................................. 2-32
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-35
AtNight
.................................... 2-21
Brake
...................................... 2-31
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-37
Lots
....................................... 2-22
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-35
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-36
Passenger Position
.............................. 1-3 1
Passing ....................................... 4-11
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-38
Power Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-66
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Option Fuses
................................ 6-52
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-52
Seat
......................................... 1-3
Sliding Door Warning Light ..................... 2-8 1
Parking Steering
..................................... 4-8
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-22
Windows
................................... 2-37
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-30
Problems on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner .................... 8-9
Radiator
..................................... 5-19
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-22
Radio Reception
................................ 3-23
Radios
........................................ 3-9
Reading Lamps
........................... 2-50. 2-51
Rear AirVents
.................................... 3-7
Climate Control
............................... 3-6
Rain. Driving
In
................................ 4-15
Fan
......................................... 3-7
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-31
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-31
Towing
..................................... 5-11
Window Defogger
............................. 3-9
Windshield Washer
........................... 2-43
RearAirVents
.................................. 3-7
Rear Climate Control
............................. 3-6
Rear Compartment Lamps
........................ 2-51
Rear Fan. Master Control
.......................... 3-7
Rear Fan. Rear Control
........................... 3-8
Rearview Mirror. Inside Daymight
................. 2-52
9-8
ProCarManuals.com
underbody Flushing Service ..................... 7-37
Used Replacement Wheel
........................ 6-41
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-49
Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-5
Damagewarnings .............................. iv
Dimensions 6-60
Identification Number 6-51
Loading 4-27
Storage
..................................... 6-28
..................................
.........................
....................................
. Ventilation System ............................... 3-4
Ventilation System, Rear Fan
....................... 3-4
Visor Vanity
Mirrors ............................ 2-65 VentilationTips ................................. 3-5
Visors, Sun
2-65
Voltmeter ..................................... 2-74
....................................
ProCarManuals.com