2007 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER towing

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.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
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 gearbefore
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.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD (3) or a lower gear,
under heavy loads or hilly conditions.
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) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off. If you do get
the overheat warning, seeEngine Overheating
on page 418.
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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.
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(s), 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.
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Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle may have a seven-wire trailer towing
harness. This harness may have a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer connector (if equipped
with the trailering package) that is attached to a
bracket on the hitch platform or included with the
four-pin trailer towing harness. If your vehicle is
not equipped with the heavy-duty trailer connector,
you may purchase one from your dealer.The seven-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Running Lamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
Dark Blue: Electric Brakes
Red: Battery Feed (The chassis wiring ring
terminal must be fastened to a stud on the
underhood electrical center before the trailer
feed will become active.)
If you need to tow a light-duty trailer with a
standard four-way round pin connector, an adapter
connector is available from your dealer.
If you are charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery,
turn on the headlamps to boost the vehicle
system voltage and properly charge the battery.
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Your vehicle is also equipped with wiring for an
electric trailer brake controller. These wires
are located inside the vehicle on the driver’s side
under the instrument panel. These wires should
be connected to an electric trailer brake controller
by your dealer or a qualied service center.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a four-pin
trailer towing harness. This harness has a four-pin
trailer connector that contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Running Lamps
White: GroundThis harness also contains the following trailer
circuits that are not connected to the four-pin trailer
connector:
Light Green: Back-Up Lamps
Dark Blue: Electric Brakes
Red: Battery Feed
If your vehicle is a TrailBlazer SS, you were
provided with a trailer wiring harness extension,
and instructions for installing this extension, when
your vehicle was delivered. This extension will
allow your vehicle’s trailer wiring harness to
be more easily accessible. There is a four-way
connector on the harness. A seven-way adapter
plug is also included in case your trailer requires it.
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6. Start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the
radiator ller neck may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture through the ller neck until the
level reaches the base of the ller neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time
during this procedure if coolant begins to ow
out of the ller neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight
and fully seated.
Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan.
When the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster
to provide more air to cool the engine. In most
everyday driving conditions the clutch is not
engaged. This improves fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer
towing, and/or high outside temperatures, the fan
speed increases when the clutch engages so
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is
normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is
merely the cooling system functioning properly.
The fan will slow down when additional cooling is
not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start
the engine. It will go away as the fan clutch
disengages.
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(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all
your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are working properly. Look for
any other loose or damaged safety belt system
parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job, have it repaired.
Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced. Also
look for any opened or broken airbag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. The
airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood latch
assembly, secondary latch, pivots, spring anchor,
release pawl, rear compartment hinges, outer
liftgate handle pivot points, rear door detent link,
roller mechanism, liftgate handle pivot points, latch
bolt, fuel door hinge, cargo door hinge, locks,
and folding seat hardware. More frequent
lubrication may be required when exposed to a
corrosive environment. Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
(g)Inspect hoses for cracks, chang, leaks, kinks,
and proper installation.(h)Change automatic transmission uid and lter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F
(32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ush, and rell cooling system. This
service can be complex; you should have
your dealer/retailer perform this service. See
Engine Coolant on page 414 for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap, and ller neck. Pressure test the cooling
system and pressure cap.
(j)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate
a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired
and the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.
(k)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions,
inspect the lter at each engine oil change.
(l)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage. Replace belt if
necessary.
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For prompt and efficient assistance when calling,
please provide the following to the Roadside
Assistance Representative:
Your name, home address, and home
telephone number.
Telephone number of your location.
Location of the vehicle.
Model, year, color, and license plate number.
Odometer reading, Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN), and delivery date of the vehicle.
Description of the problem.
While we hope you never have the occasion to
use our service, it is added security while traveling
for you and your family. Remember, we are
only a phone call away. U.S. customers call
Chevrolet Roadside Assistance:1-800-CHEV-USA
(1-800-243-8872), text telephone (TTY) users,
call1-888-889-2438, Canadian customers
call1-800-268-6800.
Chevrolet and General Motors of Canada Limited
reserve the right to limit services or reimbursement
to an owner or driver when, in their sole
discretion, the claims become excessive in
frequency or type of occurrence.Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in
the coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. Chevrolet and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to make any
changes or discontinue the Roadside Assistance
program at any time without notication.
Towing and Road Service Exclusions
Specically excluded from Roadside Assistance
coverage are towing or services for vehicles
operated on a non-public roadway or highway,
nes, impound towing caused by a violation
of local, Municipal, State, Provincial, or Federal
law, and mounting, dismounting or changing
of snow tires, chains, or other traction devices.
Courtesy Transportation
To enhance your ownership experience, we and
our participating dealers are proud to offer
Courtesy Transportation, a customer support
program for new vehicles.
For warranty repairs during the Bumper-to-Bumper
(U.S.) or Base Warranty Coverage period
(Canada), provided by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty, interim transportation may be available
under the Courtesy Transportation program.
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If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where
the towing service will be taking it. Get a
card from the tow truck operator or write down
the driver’s name, the service’s name, and
the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle
before it is towed away. Make sure this
includes your insurance information and
registration if you keep these items in your
vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need
from the other driver. Things like name,
address, phone number, driver’s license
number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make,
model and model year, Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN), insurance company and
policy number, and a general description of
the damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from
the scene of the accident. They will walk you
through the information they will need. If
they ask for a police report, phone or go to
the police department headquarters the
next day and you can get a copy of the report
for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces
with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not
be necessary. This is especially true if there
are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility
for your vehicle. Whether you select a
dealer/retailer or a private collision repair
facility to x the damage, make sure you are
comfortable with them. Remember, you
will have to feel comfortable with their work for
a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully
and make sure you understand what work
will be performed on your vehicle. If you have
a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable
shops welcome this opportunity.
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