towing BUICK TERRAZA 2007 Owner's Guide

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 are turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer will
not 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 has to have
extra wiring.
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 are 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 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
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
do not shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 lbs (450 kg), you may prefer to drive in
THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) or, as you need
to, a lower gear. This will minimize heat build-up
and extend the life of your transaxle.
394

Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid, engine oil, belts, cooling
system, and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual, and the Index will help
you nd them quickly. If you are trailering, it is a
good idea to review these sections before you
start your trip.Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle may have a trailer wiring harness
package located in the glove box. It can be
connected from the rear of your vehicle to your
trailer. Contact your dealer for more information.
396

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
3. If you are in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving — DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and
get everyone out of the vehicle until it cools down.
Also, see “Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your
vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an
emergency situation. If an overheated engine
condition exists, an overheat protection mode
which alternates ring groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this mode, you
will notice a signicant loss in power and engine
performance. The temperature gage will
indicate an overheat condition exists. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil on page 411.
425

(h)Change automatic transaxle uid and lter if
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. See
Engine Coolant on page 420 for what to
use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap, and ller neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)Check system for interference or binding and
for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have
high effort or excessive wear. Do not lubricate
accelerator or cruise control cables.(k)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.
(l)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions,
the lter may require replacement more often.
(m)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage. Replace belt if
necessary.
Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be
performed at the intervals specied to help ensure
the safety, dependability, and emission control
performance of your vehicle. Your GM
Goodwrench
®dealer can assist you with these
checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at
once. Whenever any uids or lubricants are added
to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper
ones, as shown inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 518.
514

Towing and Road Service Exclusions
Specically excluded from Roadside Assistance
coverage are towing or services for vehicles
operated on a non-public roadway or highway,
nes, impound towing caused by a violation
of local, Municipal, State, Provincial, or Federal
law, and mounting, dismounting or changing
of snow tires, chains, or other traction devices.
Courtesy Transportation
To enhance your ownership experience, we and
our participating dealers are proud to offer
Courtesy Transportation, a customer support
program for new vehicles.
For warranty repairs during the Bumper-to-Bumper
(U.S.) or Base Warranty Coverage period
(Canada), provided by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty, interim transportation may be available
under the Courtesy Transportation program.
Several courtesy transportation options are
available to assist in reducing your inconvenience
when warranty repairs are required.Courtesy Transportation is not a part of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty and is available only
at participating dealers. A separate booklet entitled
“Warranty and Owner Assistance Information”
furnished with each new vehicle provides detailed
warranty coverage information.
Scheduling Service Appointments
When your vehicle requires warranty service, you
should contact your dealer and request an
appointment. By scheduling a service appointment
and advising your service consultant of your
transportation needs, your dealer can help
minimize your inconvenience.
If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the
service department immediately, keep driving it
until it can be scheduled for service, unless,
of course, the problem is safety-related. If it is,
please call your dealership, let them know this, and
ask for instructions.
If the dealer requests that you simply drop the
vehicle off for service, you are urged to do so as
early in the work day as possible to allow for
the same day repair.
535

If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where
the towing service will be taking it. Get a card
from the tow truck operator or write down the
driver’s name, the service’s name, and the
phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle before
it is towed away. Make sure this includes your
insurance information and registration if you
keep these items in your vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need
from the other driver. Things like name,
address, phone number, driver’s license
number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make,
model and model year, Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN), insurance company and policy
number, and a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from
the scene of the accident. They will walk you
through the information they will need. If they
ask for a police report, phone or go to the police
department headquarters the next day and you
can get a copy of the report for a nominal fee. In
some states/provinces with “no fault” insurance
laws, a report may not be necessary. This is
especially true if there are no injuries and both
vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility for
your vehicle. Whether you select a GM dealer
or a private collision repair facility to x the
damage, make sure you are comfortable with
them. Remember, you will have to feel
comfortable with their work for a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully
and make sure you understand what work will
be performed on your vehicle. If you have a
question, ask for an explanation. Reputable
shops welcome this opportunity.
541

Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts...... 30
R
Radiator Pressure Cap................................ 423
Radios........................................................ 258
Care of Your CD and DVD Player............ 343
Care of Your CDs and DVDs................... 343
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual................................ 282
Radio with CD......................................... 260
Rear Seat Audio.............................314, 316
Setting the Time...................................... 259
Theft-Deterrent......................................... 340
Understanding Reception......................... 342
Rear Climate Control System.............200, 203
Rear Reading Lamps.................................. 186
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides.................. 45
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)......................314, 316
Rear Seat Entertainment System........282, 298
Rear Seat Operation..................................... 16
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts.............. 42
Rear Windshield Washer/Wiper.................... 176
Rearview Mirrors......................................... 143Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 12
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.......... 518
Recreational Vehicle Towing........................ 384
Remote Keyless Entry System...................... 98
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation..... 99
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire........................... 474
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools............ 472
Replacement Bulbs..................................... 447
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government............................. 543
General Motors........................................ 543
United States Government....................... 543
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems................. 93
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash......................................... 94
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)................ 130
Right Front Passenger Position,
Safety Belts............................................... 41
Roadside
Assistance Program................................. 532
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.............. 378
Routing, Engine Drive Belt.......................... 521
Running the Engine While Parked............... 142
558

Tires (cont.)
Inspection and Rotation............................ 459
Installing the Spare Tire........................... 474
Removing the Flat Tire............................. 474
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools......... 472
Secondary Latch System......................... 481
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools..... 483
Tire Sidewall Labeling.............................. 450
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 453
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.................... 464
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance........... 465
Wheel Replacement................................. 465
When It Is Time for New Tires................. 461
Towing
Recreational Vehicle................................. 384
Towing a Trailer....................................... 386
Your Vehicle............................................. 384
Traction
Control System (TCS).............................. 353
Control System Warning Light.................. 216
StabiliTrak
®System................................. 355
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic....................................... 417
Transaxle Operation, Automatic................... 133
Trip Odometer............................................. 209
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................... 173
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................... 173
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)........ 188
Understanding Radio Reception................... 342
Uniform Tire Quality Grading....................... 464
Universal Home Remote System........147, 148
Operation........................................149, 154
V
Vehicle
Control..................................................... 350
Damage Warnings....................................... 5
Loading.................................................... 378
Symbols...................................................... 5
Vehicle Data Collection and
Event Data Recorders .............................. 537
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).......................................... 496
Service Parts Identication Label.............. 496
Vehicle Personalization
DIC .......................................................... 249
Ventilation Adjustment.................................. 200
Visors.......................................................... 123
561