Page 270 of 448

4-54
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.
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.
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.
Page 271 of 448

4-55 Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have
extra wiring and a heavy
-duty turn signal flasher
(included in the optional trailering package).
The 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 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) 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. Or, if you have a manual transmission,
it's better not to use FIFTH (5) gear, just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
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) (or the
manual transmission out of gear and the parking brake
applied) for a few minutes before turning the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see ªEngine
Overheatingº in the Index.
Page 274 of 448

4-58 Trailer Wiring Harness
The light-duty trailer wiring is a six-wire harness
assembly. The optional heavy
-duty trailer wiring is an
eight
-wire harness assembly. The harnesses are stored
under the vehicle, along the passenger
-side frame
crossmember on two
-door vehicles or on the driver's
side corner frame rear crossmember on four
-door
vehicles. The heavy
-duty trailer wiring is fused in the
engine compartment fuse block. See ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index. Both harnesses have no
connector and should be wired by a qualified
electrical technician. The technician can use the
following color code chart when connecting the
wiring harness to your trailer.Dark Blue: Use for electric trailer brakes or auxiliary
wiring (eight
-wire harness only).
Red: Use for battery charging; it connects to the
starter solenoid (eight
-wire harness only).
Light Green: Back
-up lamps.
Brown: Taillamps and parking lamps.
Yellow: Left stoplamp and turn signal.
Dark Green: Right stoplamp and turn signal.
White: Ground wire.
Light Blue: Auxiliary stoplamp.
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 doesn't bend or break,
but not so loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness in its original place. Wrap the harness together
and tie it neatly so it won't be damaged.
Page 276 of 448
5-2
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
Press the button located
on 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, press the button until the first
click and release.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.
Page 346 of 448
6-39 One-Piece Front Turn Signal
Lamp Assembly
1. Remove the headlamp assembly as shown under
ªOne
-Piece Composite Headlamp Systemº earlier
in this section.
2. Twist the bulb socket to
remove it from the
headlamp assembly.3. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from
the socket.
4. Push the new bulb into the socket until it snaps
into place.
5. Put the bulb socket into the lamp assembly and turn
it clockwise until it is tight.
6. Put the headlamp assembly back into the vehicle.
Install the two retaining clips.
7. Install the two retaining clips.
Page 347 of 448
6-40 Two-Piece Front Turn Signal
Lamp Assembly
1. Remove the headlamp assembly as shown under
ªTwo
-Piece Composite Headlamp Systemº earlier
in this section.
2. Locate the locking tabs
on the assembly.
Squeeze the tabs
together and push that
end of the assembly out
while holding the tabs.
The assembly will
swing out.
3. Unplug the electrical connector.
4. Turn the harness bulb socket counterclockwise to
remove it.
5. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from the socket.
6. Push the new bulb into the socket until it snaps into place.
7. Reinstall the harness bulb socket with the new bulb
into the headlamp assembly and turn it clockwise
until it is tight.
8. To reinstall the assembly, snap the outboard end of
the lamp assembly back into the vehicle. Then swing
the assembly in and snap it into place.
9. Install the two retaining clips.
Page 372 of 448
6-65
Fuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
3 Cruise Control Module and
Switch, Body Control Module,
Heated Seats
4 Gages, Body Control Module,
Instrument Panel Cluster
5 Parking Lamps, Power Window
Switch, Body Control Module,
Ashtray Lamp
6 Steering Wheel Radio Controls
7 Headlamps Switch, Body Control
Module, Headlamp Relay
8 Courtesy Lamps, Battery
Run
-Down Protection
9 HVAC Control Head (Manual)
10 Turn Signal
11 Cluster, Engine Control Module
12 Interior LightsFuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
13 Auxiliary Power
14 Power Locks Motor
15 4WD Switch, Engine Controls
(VCM, PCM, Transmission)
16 Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
17 Front Wiper
18 Steering Wheel Radio Controls
19 Radio, Battery
20 Amplifier
21 HVAC (Manual),
HVAC I (Automatic),
HVAC Sensors (Automatic)
22 Anti
-Lock Brakes
23 Rear Wiper
24 Radio, Ignition
Page 374 of 448
6-67
Name Usage
TRL TRN Trailer Left Turn
TRR TRN Trailer Right Turn
TRL B/U Trailer Back Up Lamps
VEH B/U Vehicle Back Up Lamps
RT TURN Right Turn Signal Front
LT TURN Left Turn Signal Front
HDLP W/W Not UsedName Usage
LT TRN Left Turn Signal Rear
RT TRN Right Turn Signal Rear
RR PRK Right Rear Parking Lamps
TRL PRK Trailer Park Lamps
LTHDLP Left Headlamp
RTHDLP Right Headlamp
FRPRK Front Parking Lamps
INT BAT I/P Fuse Block Feed
ENG I Engine Sensors/Solenoids, MAF,
CAM, PURGE, VENT
ECM B Engine Control Module, Fuel
Pump Module, Oil Pressure
ABS Anti
-Lock Brake System
ECM I Engine Control Module Injectors
A/C Air Conditioning
W/W PMP Not Used
HORN Horn
BTSI Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control System
B/U LP Back Up Lamps
IGN B Column Feed, IGN 2, 3, 4
RAP Retained Accessory Power