CHEVROLET LUMINA 1993 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
so responsive
as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical connector, lights, 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 worling. 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 lights 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,
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Driving with a Trailer (CONT.)
Making Turns
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 has
to have a different turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change
lanes or stop.
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When towing a trailer, the green 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.
Your vehicle has bulb warning .lights.
When you plug trailer lights into your
vehicle’s lighting system, its bulb
warning lights may not let you know if
one
of your lights goes out. So, when
you have trailer lights plugged in, be
sure to check your vehicle and trailer
lights from time to time to be sure
they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer lights, the bulb
warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle lights
is out.
Driving On Grades
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 Wh) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you have
an automatic transaxle with Overdrive,
it’s best to drive in
D instead of (or,
as you need to, a lower gear). This will
minimize heat build-up and extend the
life of your transaxle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached,
on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig
on
a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of
the chocks.
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 transaxle fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, belts, 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.

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I*= 162
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here you'll find what to do about
some problems that
can occur on the
road
.
Part 5
Problems on the A
b
1
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
........... 164
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
.............................. 165
Towing Your Chevrolet ........................................................................\
.............. 169
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
.................... 173
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
....................... 180
Changing a Flat Tire ........................................................................\
................... 181
Compact Spare Tire ........................................................................\
.................... 187
If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ..................................................... 188

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
.L
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 lights will flash on and off.
I I
Slide the switch up to make your front
and rear turn signal lights 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.
... w101.5
To turn off the flashers, slide the switch
down.
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 rn) behind your vehicle.

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 Chevrolet.
But please follow the steps here to do it
safely.
CAUTION I
I
A Batteries can hurt you. They
They contain acid that can burn
They contain gas that can
They contain enough electricity
If you don't follow thest: steps
exactly, some or all
of these things
can hurt you.
r-' can be dangerous because:
you.
explode or ignite.
to burn you.
NOTICE To Jump Start Your Chevrolet:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have
a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
165

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, “ >,
1 -. i,
Problems on the Road
Jump Starting (CONT.)
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren’t touching each
other.
If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start your
Chevrolet, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the
vehicles roll. Set the parking
brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle in
P (Park) or
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
If you leave your radio on, it
be badly damaged. The repairs
:,’
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries.
r-
An electric fan can start up
- L even when the engine is not
running and can injure
you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
Find the positive
(+) and negative (-)
terminals on each battery. Your
Chevrolet has a remote positive
(+)
jump starting terminal. The terminal is
on the same side of the engine
compartment as your battery.
You should always use the remote
positive
(+) terminal instead of the
positive
(+) terminal on your battery.
To uncover the remote positive
(+)
terminal, lift the red plastic cap.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine bHU 1 lUlY
Using a match near a battery
4 L can cause battery gas to
explode. Peopk have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You don’t need to add water
to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new GM vehicle.
But if a battery has filler caps, be
sure the right amount of fluid is
there. lf it is low, add wafer to take
care of that first. If you don’t,
explcrsive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Don’t get it on you. If
you accidentally get it in your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help
immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missing insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative
(-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part.
Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or you’ll get a
short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine
A parts can injure you badly.
Keep your hands away
from
moving parts once the engines are
running.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery.
Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.

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r--)blems on V-3 Road
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