1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM weight

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what
the vehicle trailering capacity
is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in this section. 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.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag
of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
0
0
0
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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. You can ask
a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
1,000 miles
(1 600 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 make starts at
full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
0 and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
1,500 lbs. (680 kg).
But even that can be too heavy.
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.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering infomation or
advice, or you can write
us at:
Customer Assistance Department Chevrolet Motor Division
P.O. Box 7047
Troy, MI 48007-7047
b.Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre 1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 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 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 infomation about your
vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 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
Tire-Loading Information label at the rear edge of the
driver’s door opening or see “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index. Then be sure 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:
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended
for hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to the bumper.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you install a 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) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index).
Dirt
and water can, too.
4-33

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. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, don’t try
to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well or at all.
Even
if your vehicle doesn’t have anti-lock brakes,
don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system if the trailer’s
brake system will use more than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc)
of fluid from your vehicle’s master cylinder. If it does,
both braking systems won’t work well. You could even
lose your brakes.
Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure? If not, the trailer brake
system must not be used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
fluid tap at the upper rear master cylinder port. But
don’t use copper tubing for this. If you do, it will
bend and finally break
off. Use steel brake tubing.
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.
4-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engineoil .................................... 6-12
Additives
6- 15
Checking ................................... 6-12
Used
....................................... 6-16
Adding
..................................... 6-13
Pressure Light
............................... 2-52
What Kind to Use
............................. 6-14
When to Change
.............................. 6-15
Ethanol
........................................ 6-5
Exhaust, Engine
............. 2-9,2-24,4-27,4-33, 7-42
Exterior Lamps
................................. 2-32
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-45
Fabric Protection
............................... 6-46
~ Fifth Gear, Manual Transaxle ..................... 2-18
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 6-8
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-6
Filter, Air
................................ 6-16, 6-60
Finish Damage
................................. 6-50
First Gear, Manual Transaxle ...................... 2- 18
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flash-to-Pass Feature ........................... 2-28
Flat Tire, Changing
............................. 5-23
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-59
Fluid Level Check
.............................. 7-38
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
Folding Rear Seatback
............................ 1-5
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-5
Fourth Gear, Manual Transaxle .................... 2-18
French Language Manual
........................... ii
Front Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement .......... 6-33
...................................
Finishcare .................................... 6-49
FrontTowing
.................................. 5-10
.......................................... Fuel 6-3 Canada ...................................... 6-3
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................. 6-8
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-6
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
Remote Door Release
........................... 6-6
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-54
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-49
GAWR
....................................... 4-29
Gear Positions, Manual Transaxle
.................. 2-18
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........................ 4-29
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-29
....................................... Gage 2-54
Fuel
....................................... 2-54
GloveBox
.................................... 2-37
Guide en Frangais
11
GVWR ....................................... 4-29
.. .................................
Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints ................................. 1-4
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-28
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-22
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-33
Headlamps
.................................... 2-32
OnReminder
................................ 2-33
Heating
........................................ 3-3
High-BeamHeadlamps
.......................... 2-28
9-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Trailer (Continued) MakingTurns
................................ 4-35
Parking on Hills .............................. 4-36
Passing ..................................... 4-35
Safety Chains ................................ 4-34
Tongue Weight ............................... 4-32
Total Weight on Tires .......................... 4-33
Towing ..................................... 4-30
Weight ..................................... 4-32
Automatic ................................... 2-14
Manual ..................................... 2-18
Automatic ................................... 6- 18
Manual ..................................... 6-21
Transportation. Courtesy ...................... 8-68-8
Trip Odometer ................................. 2-44
Trunk ......................................... 2-9
Lock Release ................................ 2-10
Remote Lock Release .......................... 2- 10
TTYUsers ..................................... 8-4
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator ............. 2-27
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever ................... 2-27
Turn Signals While Towing a Trailer ................ 4-36
Underbody Flushing Service ..................... 7-4 1
Underbody Maintenance ......................... 6-5 1
Vehicle TurnSignals
................................. 4-36
Transaxle
Transaxle Fluid
Adding Equipment to the Outside
................. 6-3
Control ...................................... 4-6
Damage Warnings ............................. vii
Loading
.................................... 4-28
Storage ..................................... 6-32
Ventilation System ............................... 3-4
Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-38
Visors. Sun .................................... 2-38
Dimensions ................................. 6-60
Identification Number ......................... 6-53
warning Devices ............................... 5-2
Warning Lights and Gages ........................ 2-45
Washer Fluid. Windshield .............. 2-29.6-27. 7-45
Washing Your Vehicle ........................... 6-48
Weatherstrips .................................. 6-48
Weight of the Trailer ............................ 4-32
Weight of the Trailer Tongue ...................... 4-32
Nut Torque ............................. 5-31. 6-59
Replacement ................................. 6-42
Wrench ................................ 5-24. 5-25
Windows ..................................... 2-25
Power ...................................... 2-25
Windshield Washer ............................. 2-29
Fluid ............................. 2-29.6-27. 7-45
Fluid Level Check ............................ 7-37
Windshield Wiper .............................. 2-28
Fuses ...................................... 6-54
Winter Driving ................................. 4-24
WiperBladeCheck ............................. 7-38
Wiper Blades. Cleaning .......................... 6-48
WreckerTowing ................................. 5-8
Wrench. Wheel ............................ 5-24. 5-25
Wheel
Alignment
.................................. 6-42
9-10