2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER automatic transmission

Dinghy Towing
Vehicles with the Automatic Transfer Case
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transfer
case with a NEUTRAL position, you can dinghy tow your
vehicle. To dinghy tow your vehicle, use the following
steps:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Place the transmission in PARK (P).3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the tow
vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle's transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in Park (P) for
an automatic transmission, or if your vehicle is
in gear, for a manual transmission. You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is ®rmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL.
4. With the engine running, shift the transfer case to
NEUTRAL (N). See ªAutomatic Transfer Caseº
under
Four-Wheel Drive on page 5-45for more
information on how to shift the transfer case
to NEUTRAL.
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1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to
attach and secure the vehicle being towed to
the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow
vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put an automatic or a manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Shift the transfer case to 2HI. See ªElectronic
Transfer Caseº under
Four-Wheel Drive on
page 2-28for how to shift the transfer case to 2HI.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is ®rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
Notice:Do not exceed the posted speed limit when
towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could
be badly damaged.
Notice:If you tow your vehicle from the front for
more than 50 miles (80 km) on a dolly, you could
damage it. Never dolly tow your vehicle from
the front more than 50 miles (80 km).
6. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery
from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT
and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel
fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you
reach your destination See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-85.
Rear Towing (Rear Wheels off the Ground)
Notice:Do not tow your vehicle from the rear.
Your vehicle could be badly damaged and the
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
If your vehicle has an electronic transfer case, you can
dolly tow your vehicle from the rear only if the rear
wheels are on the dolly. Use the following steps to dolly
tow your vehicle:
1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to
attach and secure the vehicle being towed to
the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow
vehicle.
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2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is ®rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
Notice:Do not exceed the posted speed limit when
towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could
be badly damaged.
5. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery
from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT
and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel
fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you
reach your destination See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-85.
Dolly Towing (Two-Wheel Drive
Vehicles)
Front Towing (Front Wheels off the
Ground)
You can dolly tow your vehicle from the front. Use the
following steps to dolly tow your vehicle:
1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to
attach and secure the vehicle being towed to
the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow
vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
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3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is ®rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
5. Turn the ignition to OFF. To prevent your battery
from draining while towing, remove the RDO BATT
and CLSTR fuses from the instrument panel
fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you
reach your destination See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-85.
Notice:Do not exceed the posted speed limit when
towing your vehicle. If you do, your vehicle could
be badly damaged.
Notice:If you tow your vehicle from the front for
more than 50 miles (80 km) on a dolly, you could
damage it. Never dolly tow your vehicle from
the front more than 50 miles (80 km).
Rear Towing (Rear Wheels off the Ground)
You can dolly tow your vehicle from the rear. Use the
following steps to dolly tow your vehicle:
1. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions to attach
and secure the vehicle being towed to the dolly and
then the loaded dolly to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is ®rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
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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.
If You 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 if your trailer will
weigh 3,500 lbs. (1 589 kg) or less. You should
always use a sway control if your trailer will weigh
more than 3,500 lbs. (1 589 kg). You can ask a
hitch dealer about sway controls.
·Don't tow a trailer at all during the ®rst 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
·Then, during the ®rst 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.
·If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow
in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower
gear selection if the transmission shifts too often
(e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions). If
you have a manual transmission and you are
towing a trailer, it's better not to use the highest
gear. See
Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-35.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
·the weight of the trailer,
·the weight of the trailer tongue
·and the weight on your vehicle's tires.
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Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle may be equipped with a tow/haul feature.
The tow/haul mode is a feature that assists when
pulling a heavy trailer. The purpose of the tow/haul
mode is:
·Reduce the frequency of shifts when pulling a
heavy trailer,
·provide the same shift feel when pulling a heavy
trailer as when the vehicle is unloaded, and
·reduce the need to change throttle position when
pulling a heavy trailer.
This feature is turned on or off by pressing a button on
the ¯oor console or the shift knob. When the feature
is on, a light located on the instrument panel cluster will
illuminate to indicate that the tow/haul mode has
been selected.
See
Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-35. The tow/haul
mode is automatically turned off each time the vehicle is
started.
The tow/haul mode is most effective when the vehicle
and trailer combined weight is at least 75% of the Gross
Combination Weight Rating (GCWR).The tow/haul mode for hauling a heavy trailer is most
useful under the following conditions:
·When driving through hilly terrain at speeds below
55 mph (88 km/h),
·when driving in low speed or stop and go traffic
below 55 mph (88 km/h), and
·when driving in parking lots.
Operating in the tow/haul mode when not pulling a
heavy trailer will not cause damage to the vehicle, but
you may experience reduced fuel economy and
undesirable performance from the engine and
transmission. The tow/haul mode should be used only
when pulling a heavy trailer.
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.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal ¯asher (included
in the optional trailering package).
The arrows on your instrument panel will ¯ash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also ¯ash, telling other drivers
you're about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ¯ash 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 gearbeforeyou 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.If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow in
DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission
to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if
the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy loads
and/or hilly conditions). Or, 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). See
Tow/Haul
Mode Light on page 3-35.
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
Engine Overheating on page 5-25.
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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 don't shift into
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual
transmission. Then turn your wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if facing uphill.
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 apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P), or
REVERSE (R) for a manual transmission.5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle with an
automatic transfer case, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear±not in NEUTRAL.
6. Release the regular brakes.{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move,
even when you're on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow.
Always put the shift lever fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set.
If the transfer case on four-wheel drive vehicles
is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear Ð not in NEUTRAL.
See ªFour-Wheel Drive (Automatic Transfer
Case)º in the Index.
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