towing CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 2010 User Guide

{WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when
the engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting
Into Park on page 8-21.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on page 8-49.
Make sure the shift lever is fully
in P (Park) before starting the
engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. The regular brakemust be fully applied first and then
the shift lever button pressed before
shifting from P (Park) when the
ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you
cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever, then
push the shift lever all the way
into P (Park) as you maintain brake
application. Then press the shift
lever button and move the shift lever
into another gear. SeeShifting Out
of Park on page 8-22.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse)
only after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth
to get out of snow, ice or sand
without damaging the transmission,
seeIf the Vehicle is Stuck on
page 8-11.N (Neutral):In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into
a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Driving and Operating 8-27

To release the parking brake:
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Pull the parking brake handle up
until you can press the release
button.
3. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake handle all the
way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature wear
or damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.Driving with the parking brake
applied will cause a warning chime to
sound and the Park Brake message
to appear in the DIC. The message
will remain on until:
•the parking brake is released
•the vehicle comes to a stop.
If you are towing a trailer and you
are parking on a hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on page 8-49.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a Brake Assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brakecontrol module to supplement
the power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle.
The stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsations or
pedal movement during this time
is normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates
The Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly decreased.
Driving and Operating 8-33

Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{WARNING
Never fill a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle. Static
electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor.
You can be badly burned and the
vehicle damaged if this occurs.
To help avoid injury to you and
others:
•Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
•Do not fill a container while
it is inside a vehicle, in a
vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than
the ground.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
•Bring the fill nozzle in contact
with the inside of the fill
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the filling is
complete.
•Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
•Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that
has been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer/retailer or towing
retailer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer.
See the following trailer towing
information in this section:
•For information on driving while
towing a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips.
•For maximum vehicle and trailer
weights, see Trailer Towing.
•For information on equipment
to tow a trailer, see Towing
Equipment.
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, seeTowing the Vehicle
on page 9-87. For information on
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle — such as a motorhome,
seeRecreational Vehicle Towing
on page 9-87.
8-48 Driving and Operating

Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
{WARNING
The driver can lose control
when pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well — or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your dealer/
retailer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.The vehicle can tow a trailer if it
is equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
trailering capacity of the vehicle,
seeTrailer Towing on page 8-53.
Trailering changes handling,
acceleration, braking, durability
and fuel economy. With the added
weight, the engine, transmission,
wheel assemblies and tires are
forced to work harder and under
greater loads. The trailer also adds
wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements. For safe
trailering, correctly use the proper
trailering equipment.
The following information has
important trailering tips and rules
for your safety and that of your
passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Pulling A Trailer
Here are some important points:
•There are many laws, including
speed limit restrictions that apply
to trailering. Check for legal
requirements with state or
provincial police.
•Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 1 600 km (1,000 miles)
the new vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
•During the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This reduces wear
on the vehicle.
Driving and Operating 8-49

•Vehicles with automatic
transmissions can tow in D (Drive)
but M (Manual Mode) is
recommended. See “Manual
Mode” inAutomatic Transmission
on page 8-26for more
information. Use a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often.
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is better not
to use the highest gear.
•Use the cruise control when
towing.
•Obey speed limit restrictions.
Do not drive faster than the
maximum posted speed for
trailers, or no more than 90 km/h
(55 mph), to reduce wear on the
vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires experience.
Get familiar with handling and
braking with the added trailer weight.
The vehicle is now longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
Check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires and mirror
adjustments. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start the vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer
brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working.
During the trip, check regularly to
be sure that the load is secure, and
the lamps and trailer brakes are
working properly.
Towing with a Stability
Control System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by the
trailer, which mainly occurs during
cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
8-50 Driving and Operating

Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, 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. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the 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
The arrows on the instrument panel
flash whenever signaling a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also flash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you
may think other drivers are seeing
the 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 starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the transmission
is not shifted down, the brakes might
have to be used so much that they
would get hot and no longer
work well.Vehicles with an automatic
transmission can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/or
hilly conditions. For vehicles with
a manual transmission, it is
better not to use the highest 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 the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades,
the 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 P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off.
Driving and Operating 8-51

Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual’s Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission
fluid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system and brake system.
It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 9-24.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
•The weight of the trailer.
•The weight of the trailer tongue.
•The total weight on your
vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
1,000 lbs (454 kg). But even
that can be too heavy.
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and
how much the vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. It candepend on any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the tow
vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from
the maximum trailer weight.
Ask your dealer/retailer for our
trailering information or advice, or
you can write us at our Customer
Assistance Offices. SeeCustomer
Assistance Offices on page 12-3
for more information.
Driving and Operating 8-53

Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer
is an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes
the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle.
If there are a lot of options,
equipment, passengers or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue
weight the vehicle can carry, which
will also reduce the trailer weight the
vehicle can tow. If towing a trailer,
the tongue load must be added to
the GVW because the vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. SeeVehicle
Load Limits on page 8-12for more
information about the vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 to 15 percent of the total
loaded trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your
Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Tire-Loading Information
label. SeeVehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12. Make sure not to go
over the GVW limit for the vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
8-54 Driving and Operating

Towing Equipment
Hitches
Use the correct hitch equipment.
See your dealer/retailer or a
hitch dealer for assistance.
•The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches
or other bumper-type hitches to
it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
•Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, seal the holes when the hitch
is removed. If the holes are not
sealed, dirt, water, and deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from the
exhaust can get into the vehicle.
SeeEngine Exhaust on
page 8-25.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Leave enough slack so the rig can
turn. Never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does the trailer have its own
brakes? Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted and
maintained properly.
Because the vehicle has antilock
brakes, do not tap into the vehicle’s
brake system. If this is done,
both brake systems will not work
well, or at all.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
Notice:Do not add anything
electrical to the vehicle unless you
check with your dealer/retailer
rst. Some electrical equipment
can damage the vehicle and the
damage would not be covered
by the vehicle’s warranty. Some
add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from
working as they should.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle battery, even if the vehicle
is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 2-32andAdding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 2-33.
Driving and Operating 8-55

Tire Rotation.......................9-61
When It Is Time for
New Tires.........................9-62
Buying New Tires................9-63
Different Size Tires and
Wheels.............................9-65
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading............................9-65
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance.....................9-67
Wheel Replacement.............9-67
Tire Chains.........................9-68
If a Tire Goes Flat...............9-69
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit..................9-71
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit...........9-77
Tire Changing.....................9-77
Compact Spare Tire.............9-83
Jump StartingJump Starting.....................9-84
TowingTowing the Vehicle..............9-87
Recreational Vehicle
Towing.............................9-87
Appearance CareExterior Care......................9-88
Interior Care.......................9-92
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition 65
Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle),
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
9-2 Vehicle Care