towing GMC SIERRA CLASSIC 2007 Owner's Manual

This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it does not come
on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the
light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 423.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), this light
will come on when you
start your engine and
may stay on for several
seconds.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. A chime
will sound when the light stays on. If the regular
brake system warning light is not on, you still have
brakes, but you do not have ABS. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on you do
not have ABS and there is a problem with your
regular brakes. In addition to both lights, you
will also hear a chime sound on the rst
occurrence of a problem and each time the
vehicle is shut off and then restarted. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 254.
255

If the transmission continues to operate above
265°F (130°C), contact your nearest dealer or the
GM Roadside Assistance Center. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 644.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle while the
transmission temperature gage reading is
above normal. See your dealer for service.
The following situations can cause the
transmission to operate at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the
auxiliary transmission oil cooler, if equipped.A temporary solution to reduce hotter transmission
operating temperatures may be to let the
transmission cool down. If the transmission is
operated at higher temperatures on a frequent
basis, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 617for the proper transmission
maintenance intervals.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
258

If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount
of cargo being hauled as soon as it is
possible
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park
your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light
remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady”
following. If the light is still ashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 474.
The diagnostic system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips
with the cap properly installed should turn the
light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.
260

TRANSMISSION HOT
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the
transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC,
you can damage the transmission. This could
lead to costly repairs that would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not drive your
vehicle with overheated transmission uid
or while the transmission temperature warning
is displayed.
If the transmission uid temperature becomes
high, this message will appear on the DIC display.
When the transmission enters the protection
mode, you may notice a change in the
transmission shifting patterns. When the
transmission uid temperature returns to normal,
the display will turn off and the transmission
shifting patterns will return to normal.If the vehicle has the Tow/Haul mode, use this
feature if the transmission is operating at higher
temperatures and/or the following situations
exist, which can cause the transmission to operate
at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Over-loading
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the
auxiliary transmission oil cooler
A temporary solution to hotter transmission
operating temperatures may be to let the
transmission cool down. If the transmission is
operated at higher temperatures on a frequent
basis, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 617for the transmission
your vehicle is equipped with for the proper
transmission maintenance intervals. Also see
Transmission Temperature Gage on page 257for
more information.
280

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 356
Defensive Driving...................................... 356
Drunken Driving........................................ 357
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 360
Braking...................................................... 360
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 361
Braking in Emergencies............................. 363
Traction Assist System (TAS).................... 363
Manual Selectable Ride............................. 365
Locking Rear Axle..................................... 366
Steering.................................................... 367
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 369
Passing..................................................... 369
Loss of Control.......................................... 371
Off-Road Driving........................................ 372
Driving at Night......................................... 391
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 392
City Driving............................................... 396
Freeway Driving........................................ 397Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 398
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 399
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 400
Winter Driving........................................... 402
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 406
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 407
Recovery Hooks........................................ 408
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 409
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment.............................................. 416
Truck-Camper Loading Information............ 421
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab.............. 423
Towing........................................................ 423
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 423
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 424
Towing a Trailer........................................ 429
Trailer Recommendations.......................... 460
Power Take-Off (PTO)............................... 461
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
355

Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you
spin the wheels too fast while shifting
the transmission back and forth, you can
destroy the transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 562.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front wheels.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift
into Four-Wheel High. If your vehicle has the
Traction Assist System (TAS), you should
turn it off by pressing the TAS on/off button.Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R)
and a forward gear, or with a manual transmission,
between FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and
REVERSE (R), spinning the wheels as little as
possible. Release the accelerator pedal while you
shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. By slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and reverse
directions, you will cause a rocking motion
that may free your vehicle. If that does not get
your vehicle out after a few tries, it may need to be
towed out. Or, you can use the recovery hooks
if your vehicle has them. If your vehicle does need
to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 423.
407

The Tire and Loading Information label also shows
the size of the original equipment tires (C) and
the recommended cold tire ination pressures (D).
For more information on tires and ination see
Tires on page 543andInation - Tire Pressure on
page 551.
There is also important loading information on the
vehicle Certication/Tire label. It tells you the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and
the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the
front and rear axles. See “Certication/Tire Label”
later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your
vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.4. The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 429for important information
on towing a trailer, towing safety rules and
trailering tips.
410

If your vehicle has gone over the weight ratings,
move or take out some things until all the
weight falls below the ratings.
Secure loose items to prevent weight shifts that
could affect the balance of your vehicle. When the
truck-camper is loaded, drive to a scale and
weigh the front and the rear wheels separately to
determine axle loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of the GAWRs. The total
of the front and rear axle loads should not
exceed your vehicle’s GVWR. These ratings are
given on the vehicle certication label attached
to the rear edge of the driver’s door. See
“Certication/Tire Label” underLoading Your
Vehicle on page 409. If weight ratings are
exceeded, move or remove items to bring all
weights below the ratings.
When you install and load your slide-in camper,
check the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you want more information on curb weights,
cargo weights, Cargo Weight Rating and the
correct center of gravity zone for your vehicle,
your dealer can help you. Just ask for a copy of
“Consumer Information, Truck-Camper Loading.”Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab
General Motors is aware that some vehicle owners
may consider having the pickup box removed
and a commercial or recreational body installed.
Owners should be aware that, as manufactured,
there are differences between a chassis cab and a
pickup with the box removed which may affect
vehicle safety. The components necessary
to adapt a pickup to permit its safe use with a
specialized body should be installed by the
body builder.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 644.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes (such as behind
a motorhome), see “Recreational Vehicle
Towing” following.
423

Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your
vehicle behind another vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common types of
recreational vehicle towing are known as dinghy
towing, towing your vehicle will all four wheels
on the ground, and dolly towing, towing your
vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”.
With the proper preparation and equipment,
many vehicles can be towed in these ways.
See “Dinghy Towing” and “Dolly Towing” following.
Here are some important things to consider
before you do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as
you would prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on
a Long Trip on page 398.
Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed
with all four wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being towed.
424

Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Shift an automatic transmission to PARK (P),
or a manual transmission to FIRST (1).
2. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition on.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
4. 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.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 153for the
proper procedure to select the neutral position
for your vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake only after the
vehicle being towed is rmly attached to
the towing vehicle.
7. Turn the ignition off and leave the steering
column unlocked.
425