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4-35 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
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
and the total weight on your vehicle's tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg).
These are total maximum weights including the load.
But even that can be too heavy.
The maximum trailer weight for your vehicle can be
determined from the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight
(GCVW). The GCVW = curb weight + passenger's
weight + cargo weight + trailer weight. The GCVW
should never be more than 7,200 lbs. (3 273 kg).
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.
Page 278 of 426

4-40 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 long uphill grades, reduce speed to 45 to 50 mph
(70 to 90 km/h) and avoid prolonged use of
SECOND (2) gear and engine speeds above 3800 rpm.
Climbing grades steeper than four percent at
temperatures above 90 F (32 C) with a loaded vehicle
and trailer is not recommended. The cooling system may
temporarily overheat. See ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.
Parking on Hills
CAUTION:
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. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift
into PARK (P).
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK (P) firmly and apply your parking brakes.
5. Release the regular brakes.
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4-41 When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
make sure the parking brake has released.
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, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
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 this information before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
Page 280 of 426
5-
5-1
Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5
-2 Hazard Warning Flashers
5
-3 Other Warning Devices
5
-3 Jump Starting
5
-10 Towing Your Vehicle
5
-10 Engine Overheating5
-13 Cooling System
5
-19 If a Tire Goes Flat
5
-20 Changing a Flat Tire
5
-30 Compact Spare Tire
5
-31 If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
Page 284 of 426
5-5
The remote positive (+)
terminal is located in
the engine compartment
on the passenger's
side of the vehicle.
A second remote
positive (+) terminal is
located on the rear
underseat fuse block.
Lift the red plastic cap
to access the terminal.
The remote negative (
-) terminal is located near
the power steering fluid reservoir. It is marked
ªGND (
-).º See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº
in the Index for more information on location.You will not see the battery of your vehicle under the
hood. It is located under the rear passenger's seat.
You will not need to access the battery for jump
starting. The remote positive (+) terminal is for
that purpose.
CAUTION:
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.
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5-6
CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don't
need to add water to the ACDelco battery
installed in every new GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take
care of that first. If you don't, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don't get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could also be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one. Negative (
-) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (
-) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don't connect positive (+) to the negative (
-) or you
will get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts, too. And don't connect the
negative (
-) cable to negative (-) terminal on the
dead battery because this can cause sparks.
Page 286 of 426
5-7
6. Connect the red
positive (+) cable to
the remote positive (+)
terminal location on the
vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal
if the vehicle has one.
7. Don't let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to the positive (+)
terminal location of the
vehicle with the good
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the
black negative (
-) cable
to the negative (
-)
terminal location of the
vehicle with the good
battery. Use a remote
negative (
-) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
Don't let the other end of the cable touch anything
until the next step. The other end of the negative (
-)
cable doesn't go to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (
-) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.
Page 287 of 426
5-8
9. Connect the other end of
the negative (
-) cable to
the negative (
-) terminal
location on the vehicle
with the dead battery.
Your vehicle has a remote
negative (
-) terminal
marked GND (
-)
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won't start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
NOTICE:
Damage to your vehicle may result from
electrical shorting if jumper cables are removed
incorrectly. To prevent electrical shorting, take
care that the cables don't touch each other or any
other metal period. The repairs wouldn't be
covered by your warranty.