towing SATURN VUE 2005 Owner's Manual

Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
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.
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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.
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
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transaxle temperatures may
result and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops
are very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before 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.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating. If your engine does overheat, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-29.
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Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4for more information. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle
uid (don’t overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive belt,
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 this information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29.
Changing a Tire When Trailer Towing
If you get a at tire while towing a trailer, be sure
to secure the trailer and disconnect it from the vehicle
before changing the tire.
Trailer Wiring
Additional wire length has been provided for connecting
trailer wiring to your vehicle. A loop of ve wires is
stored below the jack, which is located on the driver’s
side of the cargo area. The wires are fused in both
the underhood and instrument fuse block. See
Instrument Panel Fuse Block on page 5-94and
Underhood Fuse Block on page 5-96.
The wires do not have a connector and should be wired
to the trailer by a qualied electrical technician. The
technician can use the following information when
connecting a trailer wiring harness to your vehicle.
Yellow: Left Turn Signal
Brown: Parking Lamps
Light Blue: Stop Lamps
Black: Ground Wire
Dark Green: Right Turn Signal
When connecting a trailer harness, be sure you leave it
loose enough so the wiring does not bend or break,
but not so loose that it drags on the ground. Store
harness below jack in the cargo area when it is not in
use. Wrap the harness together and tie it neatly so it will
not be damaged.
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How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly
inated simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inated even when they are under-inated.
Check the tire’s ination pressure when the tires
are cold. Cold means your vehicle has been sitting for
at least three hours or driven no more than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary. If
the ination pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Re-check the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-64andWheel Replacement
on page 5-67for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The rst rotation
is the most important. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
When towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground, the vehicle’s odometer will not record the miles
generated while towing. Keep a record of how many
miles your vehicle was towed so they can be added to
the mileage on the vehicle’s odometer when following
your maintenance schedule for recommended services.
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(h)Severe service is when 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 retailer perform
this service. See Engine Coolant on page 5-26 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)Or every 12 months, whichever occurs rst. If you
drive regularly under dusty conditions, the lter may
require replacement more often.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the lter at each engine oil change.
(m)Change the uid the rst time the vehicle is serviced
after 100,000 miles (166 000 km) and when the
vehicle is serviced after each subsequent 50,000 miles
(83 000 km).
(n)Severe service is when the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures — over 110°F (43°C).
In very low temperatures — under -20°F (-29°C).
When doing frequent trailer towing.
(p)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
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R
Radios..........................................................3-39
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-40
Care of Your CD and DVD Player..................3-73
Care of Your CDs and DVDs........................3-73
Radio with CD....................................3-42, 3-46
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-40
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-40
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-70
Understanding Reception..............................3-72
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-10
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-27
Rear Seat Entertainment System.......................3-60
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-24
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass and Temperature Display................2-31
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display..................2-29
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-29
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-6
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-14
Recovery Hook...............................................4-45Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-50
Reduced Engine Power Light............................3-36
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-4
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................5-75
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-71
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-53
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government................................... 7-9
Saturn......................................................... 7-9
United States Government.............................. 7-8
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems....................1-58
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-59
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-24
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-5
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................4-44
Roof Rack System..........................................2-38
Running the Engine While Parked.....................2-28
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Tires (cont.)
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-81
Tire Sidewall Labelling..................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-67
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-67
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-64
Top Strap......................................................1-40
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-41
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-50
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-55
Your Vehicle...............................................4-50
Traction
Control System (TCS)..................................4-10
Control System Warning Light.......................3-30
Low Light...................................................3-31
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic..................................5-23, 5-24
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-26
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-19
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-22
Transmission
Up-Shift Light..............................................3-28
Trip Odometer................................................3-25
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-72
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-65
Up-Shift Light.................................................3-28
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Design......................................................... 4-3
Loading......................................................4-46
Parking Your...............................................2-26
Service Soon Light......................................3-37
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 7-7
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-92
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-92
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-20
Visors...........................................................2-13
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