Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
{WARNING
The driver can lose control
when pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well — or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your dealer/
retailer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.The vehicle can tow a trailer if it
is equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
trailering capacity of the vehicle,
seeTrailer Towing on page 8-53.
Trailering changes handling,
acceleration, braking, durability
and fuel economy. With the added
weight, the engine, transmission,
wheel assemblies and tires are
forced to work harder and under
greater loads. The trailer also adds
wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements. For safe
trailering, correctly use the proper
trailering equipment.
The following information has
important trailering tips and rules
for your safety and that of your
passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Pulling A Trailer
Here are some important points:
•There are many laws, including
speed limit restrictions that apply
to trailering. Check for legal
requirements with state or
provincial police.
•Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 1 600 km (1,000 miles)
the new vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
•During the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This reduces wear
on the vehicle.
Driving and Operating 8-49
•Vehicles with automatic
transmissions can tow in D (Drive)
but M (Manual Mode) is
recommended. See “Manual
Mode” inAutomatic Transmission
on page 8-26for more
information. Use a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often.
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is better not
to use the highest gear.
•Use the cruise control when
towing.
•Obey speed limit restrictions.
Do not drive faster than the
maximum posted speed for
trailers, or no more than 90 km/h
(55 mph), to reduce wear on the
vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires experience.
Get familiar with handling and
braking with the added trailer weight.
The vehicle is now longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
Check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires and mirror
adjustments. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start the vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer
brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working.
During the trip, check regularly to
be sure that the load is secure, and
the lamps and trailer brakes are
working properly.
Towing with a Stability
Control System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by the
trailer, which mainly occurs during
cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
8-50 Driving and Operating
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual’s Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission
fluid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system and brake system.
It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 9-24.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
•The weight of the trailer.
•The weight of the trailer tongue.
•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
1,000 lbs (454 kg). But even
that can be too heavy.
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and
how much the vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. It candepend on any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the tow
vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from
the maximum trailer weight.
Ask your dealer/retailer for our
trailering information or advice, or
you can write us at our Customer
Assistance Offices. SeeCustomer
Assistance Offices on page 12-3
for more information.
Driving and Operating 8-53
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer
is an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes
the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle.
If there are a lot of options,
equipment, passengers or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue
weight the vehicle can carry, which
will also reduce the trailer weight the
vehicle can tow. If towing a trailer,
the tongue load must be added to
the GVW because the vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. SeeVehicle
Load Limits on page 8-12for more
information about the vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 to 15 percent of the total
loaded trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your
Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Tire-Loading Information
label. SeeVehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12. Make sure not to go
over the GVW limit for the vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
8-54 Driving and Operating
Vehicle Care
General InformationGeneral Information...............9-2
California Proposition 65
Warning.............................9-2
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements........9-3
Accessories and
Modifications.......................9-3
Vehicle ChecksDoing Your Own
Service Work......................9-4
Hood...................................9-5
Engine Compartment
Overview............................9-6
Engine Cover.......................9-9
Engine Oil..........................9-10
Engine Oil Life System.........9-13
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................9-14
Manual Transmission Fluid. . . .9-15
Hydraulic Clutch..................9-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......9-16
Cooling System...................9-17
Engine Coolant...................9-19
Engine Overheating.............9-24
Power Steering Fluid............9-25Washer Fluid......................9-26
Brakes...............................9-27
Brake Fluid.........................9-28
Battery...............................9-29
Rear Axle...........................9-30
Starter Switch Check............9-31
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
System Check...................9-32
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check.......................9-32
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check..............9-32
Wiper Blade Replacement......9-33Headlamp AimingHeadlamp Aiming................9-34
Bulb ReplacementBulb Replacement...............9-37
Halogen Bulbs....................9-37
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting....................9-37
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking Lamps
(Base Vehicle)...................9-37
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking Lamps
(Up-Level Vehicle)..............9-38
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)....................9-39
Fog Lamps.........................9-40Taillamps, Turn Signal, and
Stoplamps.........................9-40
License Plate Lamp.............9-40
Replacement Bulbs..............9-41
Electrical SystemElectrical System
Overload...........................9-41
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers...........................9-42
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block.......................9-42
Instrument Panel
Fuse Block.......................9-45
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block.......................9-46
Wheels and TiresTires..................................9-48
Winter Tires........................9-48
Tire Sidewall Labeling..........9-49
Tire Designations.................9-51
Tire Terminology and
Definitions.........................9-52
Tire Pressure......................9-54
Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation........9-56
Tire Pressure Monitor
System.............................9-56
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation..........................9-57
Tire Inspection....................9-61
Vehicle Care 9-1
Tire Rotation.......................9-61
When It Is Time for
New Tires.........................9-62
Buying New Tires................9-63
Different Size Tires and
Wheels.............................9-65
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading............................9-65
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance.....................9-67
Wheel Replacement.............9-67
Tire Chains.........................9-68
If a Tire Goes Flat...............9-69
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit..................9-71
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit...........9-77
Tire Changing.....................9-77
Compact Spare Tire.............9-83
Jump StartingJump Starting.....................9-84
TowingTowing the Vehicle..............9-87
Recreational Vehicle
Towing.............................9-87
Appearance CareExterior Care......................9-88
Interior Care.......................9-92
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition 65
Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle),
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
9-2 Vehicle Care