1997 GMC JIMMY trailer

If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer. reduce the anlount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains
on steady. see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues t.o flash, when it is safe to do so.
stop the \?el?ic&~. Find a safe place to park your vehiclc.
Turn the key off,
wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine.
If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did
you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making s111-e to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can cleter~nine
if the fuel cap
has been left off
or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap
will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn
the light off,
Did you *just drive through a deep puddle of water’!
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
I1 so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with cpality fuel (see
“Fuel”
in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to
r11n as e,fficiently as designed. You may
notice this
as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle
into gear, mistlring, hesitation on acceleration
or
stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected
by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use.
It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light. turn off.
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic
tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problcnls that may have developed.

Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds\
of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips
on driving.
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4-32 4-3 3 Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving Control
of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss of Control
Driving Guidelines
Driving at Night
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing
(Four-wheel Drive with the
Manual Shift Transfer Case Only)
Recreational Vehicle Towing (Except
Four-wheel Drive with the Manual Shift
Transfer Case)
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
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Recreational Vehicle Towing (Except Four-wheel Drive With
Manual Shift Transfer Case) Loading Your Vehicle
Vehicles with
two-wheel drive or the optional electronic
shift transfer case require special modifications before
they can be towed
in this manner. Please contact your
dealer for the towing information that
is appropriate for
your particular vehicle.
Vehicles
with all-wheel drive (AWD) can not be towed
in this manner.
The Certification/Tire label is found on the driver’s door
edge, above the door latch. The label shows the size
of
your original tires and the inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is
called the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The
GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel, cargo and trailer tongue weight,
if pulling a trailer.
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Towing a Trailer
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 in.jured.
Pull a trailer only
if you have followed all the
steps in this section.
Ask your GR/I dealer for
advice and information about towing a trailer with vour vehicle.
I 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
GM dealer
for important information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
Every vehicle
is ready for some trailer towing. If yours
was built
with trailering options, as many are. it‘s ready
for heavier trailers.
But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many
of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig
will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control
if your trailer will
weigh
2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always
use a sway control
if your trailer will weigh more
than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t nuke starts at
full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can use
DRIVE
(D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) 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. If
you have a manual transmission and you are towing
a trailer, it‘s better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just
drive
in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a
lower gear).
Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
0 the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle
is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And,
it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options.
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Vehicle
2-Wheel Drive,
Auto. Trans.
2- Wheel Drive,
Manual Trans.
4-Wheel Drive
&
All-Wheel Drive. Auto. Trans.
4-Wheel Drive
&
All-Wheel Drive,
Manual Trans.
Axle Ratio Trailer Wt.
3.08 4,500 lbs. (2 04 1 kg)
3.42 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg)
3.42 4,500 Ibs. (2 04
1 kg)
3.08
3.42
3.73
3.42 4,000
lbs.
(1 8 14 kg)
5,000 Ibs. (2 268 kg)
5,000 Ibs.
(2 268 kg)
4,000 lbs.
( 1 8 14 kg)
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and one passenger are
in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo
in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight. You
can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at the address listed
in your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LI H 8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because
it affects the total or gross
weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo you may carry
in it, and the people who will be
riding
in the vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer, you
must add the tongue load to the GVW because your
vehicle
will be carrying that weight, too. See ”Loading
Your Vehicle”
in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
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A B
If you're using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you're using a weight-distributill~
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh I2 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you've loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see
if the weights are
proper.
If they aren't, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some. items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires
Be sure your vehicle's tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You'll find these numbers on the
Cel-tification/Tire
label on the driver's door edge, above
the door latch,
or see "Tire Loading" in the Index. Then
be
SL~ you don't go over the GVW limit for your
vehicle, including the weight
of the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It's important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds. large trucks going
by and rough roads are a
few reasons why you'll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
0 If' YOLI'II be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to LW a
properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and
sway control of the proper size. This equipment is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you're driving.
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Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install
ti trailer hitch'?
If you do. then be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch.
If you don't seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) f~-om your exhaust can get
into your vehicle (see "Carbon Monoxide"
in the
Index).
Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
you should always attach chains between yo11r 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
manufilcturer
or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer's recommendation for attaching safety
chains and
clo not attach them to the blmper. Always
leavejust enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1.000 Ibs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes -- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for
the trailer brakes so you'll be able to install, adjust and
n1aintain them properly.
Your trailer*s
brake system can tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic
brake system only if:
The trailer parts can withstand 3.000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
0 The traileras brake system will use less th;m
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle's
master cylinder-. Otherwise. both braking systems
won't work well.
You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
tluid tap at the port on the master cylinder that sends
fluid to the
ear brakes. But don't use copper tubing for
this. If you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use
steel brake tubing.
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