1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Recreational Vehicle Towing
You can tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for use
at your destination. Be sure to use the proper towing
equipment designed for recreational towing. Follow the
instructions for the towing equipment.
Towing Your Vehicle from the Front
(With a Dolly)
ml
Follow these steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Put the front wheels on a dolly.
Set the parking brake.
Open the
fuse Dane1 on the driver’s side o f the I I
instrument panel. Remove the fuse labeled
CLS/PCM. This will keep
your battery from draining
while towing.
Turn the ignition key
to OW to unlock the steering
wheel, see “Ignition Positions” in the Index.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing.
Release the parking brake.
When
you are finished towing, make sure you replace
the CLS/PCM fuse in the instrument panel fuse block.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle From the Front
(Without
a Dolly)
You may tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground for unlimited miles if you have
a four-speed
automatic or
a five-speed manual transaxle. Follow
these steps:
L
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Set the parking brake.
Open the fuse panel on
the driver’s side of the
instrument panel. Remove the fuse labeled
CLSPCM. This will keep your battery from draining
while towing.
Turn the ignition key
to OFF to unlock the
steering wheel.
Shift your transaxle to NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the parking brake.
When you
are finished towing, make sure you replace
the CLSRCM fuse in the instrument panel fuse block.
NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not
exceed
65 mph (108 kmh), or your vehicle
could be badly damaged. For vehicles with
a
three-speed transmission, make sure that the
towing speed does not exceed
35 mph (58 km/h)
and that the distance traveled does not exceed
50 miles (83 km).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing a Trailer (Models with
2.4L Engine and 4-Speed
Automatic Transaxle)
A CAUTION:
I
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull
a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well -- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in
this section. Ask your Chevrolet dealer
for advice and information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
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 part, and see your Chevrolet
dealer for important information about towing
a
trailer with your vehicle.
Do not tow a trailer if your vehicle is equipped with a
2.2L (Code 4) engine. You also cannot tow a trailer if
your vehicle is equipped with a manual or a three-speed
automatic transaxle, or is a convertible model.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them
properly. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try
to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
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 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.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving On Grades
NOTICE:
Do not tow on steep, continuous grades exceeding
6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher than normal
engine and transaxle temperatures may result
and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops are very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to
cool.
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 transaxle overheating.
Pay particular attention
to the engine coolant gage. If the
indicator is in the red area, turn off the air conditioning
(if you have this option)
to reduce engine load (see
“Engine Overheating” in the Index).
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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).
Release the regular brakes.

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;
0 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 transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, 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.
Towing A Trailer (Except Models
with 2.4L Engine and 4-Speed
Automatic Transaxle)
Do not tow a trailer with a Cavalier if your vehicle is:
a convertible model.
0 equipped with a 2.2L (Code 4) engine.
equipped with a manual transaxle or a three-speed
automatic transaxle.
4-43
~

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection
you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Chevrolet, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved
in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in
PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N) before setting the parking brake.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter.
Turn off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios.
This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition,
it could save your radio.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key OFF. The steering wheel should be clamped in
a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed
for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s
steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
A vehicle
can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it
is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.