2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO towing

Black plate (56,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-56 Driving and Operating
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to
move the trailer to the left, move
that hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move your hand
to the right. Always back up slowly
and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal.
Do this so the 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 the instrument panel
flash whenever signaling a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also flash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you
may think other drivers are seeing
the signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a
lower gear before starting down
a long or steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down,
the brakes might have to be used
so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well. Vehicles with
automatic transmissions can tow in
D (Drive), but M (Manual Mode) is
recommended. See “Manual Mode”
in Automatic Transmission on
page 9‑30 for 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.

Black plate (57,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-57
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 the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
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 P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. For vehicles with manual
transmissions, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of
gear and the parking brake applied,
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, seeEngine Overheating
on page 10‑25.Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill
with the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet for
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, or into gear
for vehicles with a manual
transmission. Turn the 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 brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park) for vehicles with an
automatic transmission or into
gear for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.start the 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.

Black plate (58,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-58 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 10‑25.
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
454 kg (1,000 lbs). 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 can
depend 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 for our trailering
information or advice, or you can
write us at our Customer Assistance
Offices. See
Customer Assistance
Offices (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑4 orCustomer Assistance
Offices (Mexico) on page 13‑5 for
more information.
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.

Black plate (59,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-59
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. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑13
for 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 and Loading Information
label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑13. Make sure not to go
over the GVW limit for the vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Use the correct hitch equipment.
See your dealer or a hitch dealer for
assistance.
.The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or
other bumper-type hitches to it.
Use only a frame-mounted hitch
that does not attach to the
bumper.
.Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, seal the holes when the
hitch is removed. If the holes
are not sealed, dirt, water, and
deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
from the exhaust can get into the
vehicle. See Engine Exhaust on
page 9‑28.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-2 Vehicle Care
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71 Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-74
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-84
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-90
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-91
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-100
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-103
General Information
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:

Black plate (95,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-95
Towing
Towing the Vehicle
Notice:To avoid damage,
the disabled vehicle should be
towed with all four wheels off
the ground. Care must be taken
with vehicles that have low
ground clearance and/or special
equipment. Always flatbed on a
car carrier.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
See Roadside Assistance Program
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑7
or Roadside Assistance Program
(Mexico) on page 13‑10. To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motor home, see
“Recreational Vehicle Towing”
in this
section.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Notice: Dolly towing or dinghy
towing the vehicle may cause
damage because of reduced
ground clearance. Always put
the vehicle on a flatbed truck or
trailer.
The vehicle was neither designed
nor intended to be towed with any
of its wheels on the ground. If the
vehicle must be towed, see “Towing
the Vehicle” earlier in this section.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Cleaning Exterior
Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a
soft cloth and a car washing soap
to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under “Washing
the Vehicle” later in this section.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing
of the vehicle by hand may be
necessary to remove residue from
the paint finish. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from your
dealer.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-5
.Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.If the vehicle has a Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit, check the
sealant expiration date printed
on the instruction label of
the kit. SeeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 10‑78.
.Underbody flushing service.
.Hood/Decklid/Liftgate/Liftglass
Support Gas Strut Service:
Visually inspect gas strut,
if equipped, for signs of wear,
cracks, or other damage. Check
the hold open ability of the gas
strut. Contact your dealer if
service is required. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 40 000 km/25,000 Miles
.Passenger compartment
air filter replacement (or every
24 months, whichever occurs
first). More frequent replacement
may be needed if you drive
in areas with heavy traffic,
areas with poor air quality,
or areas with high dust levels.
Replacement may also be
needed if you notice reduced
air flow, windows fogging up,
or odors. Your dealer can help
you determine when it is the
right time to replace the filter.
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 80 000 km/50,000 Miles.Engine air cleaner filter
replacement. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑16.
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (severe service) for
vehicles mainly driven in
heavy city traffic in hot weather,
in hilly or mountainous terrain,
when frequently towing a
trailer, or used for taxi,
police, or delivery service.
See Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑15.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
11-6 Service and Maintenance
.Rear axle fluid change (severe
service) for vehicles mainly
driven in hilly or mountainous
terrain, when frequently towing
a trailer, used for high speed or
competitive driving, or used for
taxi, police, or delivery service.
See your dealer.
.Evaporative control system
inspection. Check all fuel and
vapor lines and hoses for proper
hook‐up, routing, and condition.
Check that the purge valve,
if the vehicle has one, works
properly. Replace as needed.
An Emission Control Service.
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board
has determined that the failure
to perform this maintenance
item will not nullify the emissionwarranty or limit recall liability
prior to the completion of
the vehicle's useful life.
We, however, urge that all
recommended maintenance
services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded.
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 160 000 km/100,000 Miles
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (normal service).
See Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑15.
.Rear axle fluid change (normal
service). See your dealer.
.Spark plug replacement and
spark plug wires inspection.
An Emission Control Service. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 240 000 km/150,000 Miles
.Engine cooling system drain,
flush, and refill (or every five
years, whichever occurs first).
See
Cooling System on
page 10‑18. An Emission
Control Service.
.Engine drive belts inspection
for fraying, excessive cracks,
or obvious damage (or every
10 years, whichever occurs
first). Replace, if needed.