trailer CHEVROLET TRACKER 1993 User Guide

(CO) from your exhaust can get into
your vehicle (see “Carbon
Monoxide’’
in the Index). Dirt and
water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches.
Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does
not
attach to the bumper.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of
the trailer so that the tongue will not
drop to
the road if it becomes separated
from
the hitch. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by
the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Follow
the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And,
never allow safety chains to drag
on the
ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000
pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its
own brakes
- and they must be
adequate. Be sure
to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake
system if the trailer’s brake system
will use more than
0.02 cubic inch
(0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. If
it does, both
braking systems won’t work well.
You could even lose your brakes.
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
Will the trailer brake parts take
3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If
not, the trailer brake system must not
be used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then
make the brake fluid tap at the port
on the master cylinder that sends fluid
to the rear brakes. But don’t use
copper tubing
for this. If you do, it
will bend and finally break off. Use
steel brake tubing.
88. 182
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 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 lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
ProCarManuals.com

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
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.
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
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
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
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
engine and transmission overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000
pounds
(450 kg), and you have a manual
transmission with fifth gear, it’s better
not to use fifth gear. Just drive
in fourth
gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
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, or into gear
for a manual transmission.
the trailer wheels.
2. Have someone place chocks under
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
apply your parking brake, and then
shift
to P (Park), or R (Reverse) for
a manual transmission.
vehicle, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear - not in N (Neutral).
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive
... 184
ProCarManuals.com

J
It be dangerous tu get out
of your vehicle if the shift lever
is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
If you have left the engine running,
the veficle can
move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be
sure your vehicle won’t move, when
you’re
on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive, and
your transfer
case is in N (NeutraI) ,
your vehicle will be free to roll,
even
if your shift lever is in
P (Park). So, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear - not in
N (Neutral).
If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer; also see
“Parking On Hills” in the Index.
6. 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
transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, 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.
185 9 =
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
... 202
If No Steam Is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam,
the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. If you
get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for
a minute or
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
so:
off.
highest fan speed and open
the
window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral).
If
you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes. If
the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can
idle the engine for two
or three minutes
while you’re parked, to see if the
warning stops. But then, if you still have
the warning, TURN OFF THE
ENGINE AND GET EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service help right away.
ProCarManuals.com

Service & Appearance Care
This doughnut-shaped logo (symbol) is
used on most oil containers to help you
select the correct oil.
You should look for this
on the oil
container, and use
only those oils that
display the logo.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM
‘
Engine Oil) meets all the requirements
for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives: Don’t add
anything to
your oil. Your Geo dealer is
ready to advise if you think something
should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil: See if
any
one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles
(6 km).
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than
10 miles (16 km).
The engine is at low speed most of
the time (as in door-to-door delivery,
or
in stop-and-go traffic).
You tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places.
The vehicle is frequently operated
off-road.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, you
need to change your oil
and filter
every 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
or 3 months - whichever comes first.
If none of them is true, change oil and
filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or
7.5 months - whichever comes first.
ProCarManuals.com

' /vu I IL-t
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking
the transmission fluid level if you have
been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
90°F (32°C).
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
To get
the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is
180°F to 200°F (82°C to
93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot:
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F (lO°C), drive the
vehicle in
D (Third Gear) until the
engine temperature gage moves and then
remains steady for ten minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
weather.
To
check transmission fluid cold:
A cold check is made after the vehicle
has been sitting for eight hours or more
with the engine
off and is used only as a
reference. Let the engine run at idle for
five minutes if outside temperatures are
50°F (10°C) or more. If it's colder than
50°F (lO°C), you may have to idle the
engine longer.
A hot check must follow
when fluid
is added during a cold check.
U
235 9
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedules
This section tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them. Your Geo
dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy
with it. If you go to your dealer for your service needs,
you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service people
will perform the work using genuine GM parts.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended limits.
You will find these limits on your vehicle’s Tire-Loading
Information Label. See “Loading Your Vehicle’’
in the
Index.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
use the recommended unleaded fuel. See “Fuel” in the
driving
limits.
Index.
Selecting the RiQht Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s
how to decide which schedule
to follow:
Schedule I
Is any one of these true for your vehicle?
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
Most trips are less than 10 miles (16 km) and outside
temperatures are below freezing.
The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in
door-to-door delivery, or
in stop-and-go traffic).
You operate your vehicle in dusty areas.
You tow a trailer.
If any one (or more) of these is true for your driving, follow
Schedule
I.
Schedule I1
Follow Schedule I1 only if none of the above conditions is
true.
285 =
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
I
... 286
Schedule I
Follow Schedule I if your vehicle is
MAINLY driven under one or more of
the following conditions:
When most trips are less than 4 miles
When most trips are less than 10 miles
(6 km).
(16 km) and outside temperatures
remain below freezing.
When most trips include extended
idling and/or frequent low-speed
operation, as
in stop-and-go traffic.
When towing a trailer.
When operating in dusty areas.
Schedule I should also be followed if
the vehicle is used for delivery service,
police, taxi
or other commercial
applications.
*An Emission Control Service.
* The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
has determined that the failure to perform
this maintenance item will not nullify the
emission warranty or limit recall liability
prior to the completion
of vehicle useful life.
General Motors, however, urges that all
recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded in "Section E:
Maintenance Record.
' '
ITEM
NO.
2
4
~
14
16
18
WHAT TO SERVICE
See "Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services "following Schedules
t and It.
WHEN TO PERFORM
Miles (kilometers) or Months
(whichever occurs first).
PCV Valve Replacement* I Every 50,000 Miles (83 OOO km).
ECM & Associated Sensors Insmtion* I Every 100,OOO Miles (166 OOO h).
Power Steering System Inspection I Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) or 7.5 Months.
ProCarManuals.com