instrument panel SATURN VUE 2004 Owner's Guide
Page 227 of 392
Dinghy Towing (Manual or Five-Speed
Automatic Transaxle*)
To tow your vehicle from the front with all four wheels
on the ground, do the following:
1. Position and attach the vehicle to tow it behind the
recreational vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC.
3. Turn fog lamps and all accessories off.
4. If you have the manual transaxle, shift your
transaxle to NEUTRAL and let the engine run
for three minutes, then turn it off.Notice:Towing your vehicle after shifting the
ve-speed automatic transaxle from anything other
than DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL (N) can cause internal
damage to the automatic transaxle. Always shift the
ve-speed automatic transaxle from DRIVE (D) to
NEUTRAL (N) as the last shift before towing.
5. If you have the automatic ve-speed transaxle, shift
your transaxle from DRIVE (D) to NEUTRAL and let
the engine run for three minutes, then turn it off.
6. Locate and remove the large IGNITION fuse from
the underhood fuse block. See “Instrument Panel
Fuse Block” underFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 5-98.
Notice:If you tow your vehicle without performing
each of the steps listed under “Dinghy Towing,”
you could damage the automatic transaxle. Be sure
to follow all steps of the dinghy towing procedure
prior to and after towing your vehicle.
Notice:If you tow your vehicle for more than
eight hours per day or at speeds greater than
65 mph (105 km/h), you could damage the automatic
transaxle. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Do not tow your vehicle for
extended periods of time or at speeds greater
than 65 mph (105 km/h).
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Page 239 of 392
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that
the load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer when towing a trailer, you’ll need to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return
to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just 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. 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
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. See your
retailer if you need information. 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.
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