CHEVROLET BLAZER 1997 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving with a Trailer
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.)
To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
0 Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through
a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main heating or cooling system on and
with the
fan on
any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside
air into your vehicle. Do not use
MAX A/C because it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See b‘ Comfort
Controls”
in the Index.) 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 the trailer hitch and platform
(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.
4-50

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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,
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
I 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.
I’urn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and
a heavy-duty turn signal flasher (included in
the optional trailering package).
The arrows
on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal
a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will
also flash, telling other
drivers you‘re about
to turn, change lanes or stop.
4-51

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel
will flash 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
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear byfilw 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 engine and transmission overheating.
if
you have an automatic transmission. you should use
DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle in DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life
of your
transmission. Or.
if you have a manual transmission. it's
better not to use
FIFTH (5 j gear. just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or. as you need to. a lower gear). 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 you turn
your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your 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 PARK (P) (or the
rnanual transmission out of gear and the parking brake
applied) for a few minutes before turning the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see "Engine
Overheating"
in the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle. with a trailer
attached.
on ;I hill. If something goes wrong, your ris
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
4-52

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
7 .?
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You
or others could be
i injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly
level ground, use the steps
that follow.
transfer case shift lever and your transfer case is
in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to
roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL (N).
I If you have four-wheel drive with a manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
whiie you:
Start your engine:
Shift into a gear: and
Release the parking brake.
3,. 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.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling
a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belt. cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual. and
the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it‘s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your
trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-54

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Trailer Wiring Harness
The light duty trailer wiring is a six-wire harness
assembly. The optional heavy-duty trailer wiring is an
eight-wire harness assembly. The harnesses are stored
under the vehicle, along the passenger-side frame
crossmember on two-door vehicles or on the driver’s
side corner frame crossmember on four-door vehicles.
The heavy-duty trailer wiring has
a 30-amp feed wire
with an inline
fuse located by the junction block. See
“Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index. Both
harnesses have no connector and should be wired by a
qualified electrical technician. The technician can
use
the following color code chart when connecting the
wiring harness
to your trailer.
Dark Blue: Use for electric trailer brakes or
auxiliary wiring.
0 Red: Use for battery charging; it connects to the
starter solenoid (eight-wire harness only).
0 Light Green: Back-up lamps (eight-wire
harness only).
Brown: Taillamps and parking lamps.
0 Yellow: Left stoplamp and turn signal.
0 Dark Green: Right stoplamp and turn signal.
0 White (Heavy Gage): Ground wire.
0 White (Light Gage): Auxiliary stoplamp.
Securely attach the harness
to the trailer, then tape or
strap
it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure you leave it
loose enough so the wiring doesn‘t bend or break, but
not so loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness in its original place. Wrap the harness together
and tie
it neatly so it won’t be damaged.
4-55

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine .b NOTES
4-56

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5 -2
5-2
5-3
5 -7
5-12
Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
5-22
5 -22
5-23
5-35
5-36
Engine Fan Noise
If a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire
Compact Spare Tire
(If Equipped)
If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off. Press
the button
on top of
the steering column all the
way down
to make your
front and rear turn signal
lamps flash
on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is
in, and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, press the button until the first
click and release.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
5-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle.
But please use the following steps to do
it safely.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered
by
your warranty.
Do not try to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it. This could damage your vehicle, even if
you have
a manual transmission. And if you have
an automatic transmission, it won’t start that
way.
I A CAUTION:
I
~ Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
1 because:
~ 0 They contain acid that can burn you.
I They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
~ 0 They contain enough electricity to
~ burn you.
~ If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
~ of these things can hurt you.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
5-3