2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER parking brake

Dolly Towing (Vehicles with Electronic
Transfer Case)
Front Towing (Front Wheels off the
Ground)
Notice:Towing your vehicle from the rear could
damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by
the warranty. Never have your vehicle towed from
the rear.
If your vehicle has an electronic transfer case, you can
dolly tow your vehicle from the rear only if the front
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.
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 “Electronic
Transfer Case” underFour-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.
4-50

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 SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-99.
Rear Towing (Rear Wheels off the Ground)
Notice:Towing your vehicle from the rear could
damage it. Also, repairs would not be covered by
the warranty. Never have your vehicle towed from
the rear.
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.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Put the automatic or manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
4-51

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 SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-99.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.
4-52

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.
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 SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-99.
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.
4-53

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 SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-99.Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants,
cargo and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the
Certication/Tire label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, and it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose
control and crash. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle.
4-54

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). SeeTow/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,
seeEngine Overheating on page 5-27.
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.
4-69

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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 — not in NEUTRAL.
See “Four-Wheel Drive (Automatic Transfer
Case)” in the Index.
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
release the parking brake.
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.
4-70

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 transmission uid (don’t overll),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you nd them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-99. Both harnesses have no
connector and should be wired by a qualied 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: Driver’s side stoplamp and turn signal.
Dark Green: Passenger’s side 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.
4-71