towing PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1993 User Guide

Pontiac Customer Services Department
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, Michigan 48340-2952
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center 1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario,
L1H 8P7
Weight of the nailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total, gross
weight of your vehicle. The gross
vehicle weight
(GVW) includes the
curb weight
of the vehicle, any cargo
you may carry in it, and the people
who will
be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must add
the tongue load to the
GVW because
your vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too.
See the Index under
Loading Your &hide for more
information about your vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.
If your vehicle is not equipped to tow
a trailer weighing more than
2,000
pounds (900 kg), the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 10% of the total
loaded trailer weight
(B). If your
vehicle
is equipped with the optional
3,000 pound
(1 360 kg) towing
package, and you’re using a “dead-
weight” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A)
should weigh 10% of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). Or, if you have a
“weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 12% of the
total loaded trailer weight
(B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are proper.
If they
aren’t,
you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in
the trailer.
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Driving witb a Traiiler
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.
Tiai/er Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1000
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.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do
not
try to tap into your vehicle’s brake
system. If you do, both brake systems
won’t work well, or at all. 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 I
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.
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‘Your Driving and the Road
Driving with a Tmiler (CONX)
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.
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.
188
Passing
Making ’hrns
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
they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs
are still working.
Vehicles with the optional Lamp Monitor System will warn you when a
bulb burns out. But 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,
your Lamp Monitor System again can
tell you if one
of your vehicle lights is
out.
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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 to
D (Drive) and reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more than
1,000 pounds (454 kg), and
you have an automatic transaxle with
Overdrive, it’s best
to drive in D instead
of Overdrive (or, as you need to, a lower
gear). This will minimize heat build-up
and extend the life
of your transaxle.
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.
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Your Driving and the Road
Maintenance When Tmiler 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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Here you’ll find out what to do
about
some problems that can occur
on the road .
Part 5
Problems on the Road
........................................... Hazard Warning Flashers 192
Jumpstarting
.................................................... 193
Towing Your Pontiac
197
Engine Overheating 202
If a Tire Goes Flat 208
Changing a Flat Tire 210
Compactspare
................................................... 217
..............................................
...............................................
................................................
...............................................
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .......................... 218
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1 2. Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don't touch each other
or any other metal.
Towing Your Pontiac
Try to have a GM dealer or a
professional towing service tow your
Pontiac. The usual towing equipment is:
(A) Sling-type tow truck
(B) Wheel-lift tow truck
(C) Car carrier
If your vehicle has been changed or
modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
aero skirting, or special tires and
wheels, these instructions and
illustrations may not be correct.
Before you
do anything, turn on the
hazard warning flashers. When
you call,
tell the towing service:
That your vehicle can only be towed
with certain equipment, as described
later in this section.
drive. vehicle.
lever. damaged.
That your vehicle has fi-ont-wheel
The make, model, and year of your
Whether you can still move the shift
If there was an accident, what was
When the towing service arrives, let the
tow operator know that this manual
contains detailed towing instructions
and
illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
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Problems on the Road
I Towing Your Pontiac (CONI:)
To help avoid injury to you or
Ithers:
Never let passengers ride in a
vehicle that is being towed.
Never tow faster than safe or
posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts
not fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after
it has been lifted by the tow truck.
Always use separate safety chains
on each side when towing a vehicle.
Never use “J” hooks. Use T-
hooks instead.
198
When your vehicle is being towed, have
the ignition key off. The steering wheel
should be clamped in a straight-ahead
position, with
a clamping device
designed for towing service.
Do not use
the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transaxle should be
in Neutral
and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the
front wheels, unless you must.
If the
vehicle must be towed on the front
wheels, don’t go more than
35 mph
(56 km/h) or farther than 50 miles
(80 km) or your transaxle will be
damaged. If these limits must be
exceeded, then the front wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.
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Towing from the Front-
Vehicle Hook-up (EXCEPT SSE & SSEI’)
Before hoolung up to a tow truck, be
sure
to read all the information on
Towing Your Pontiac earlier in this
section.
1. Attach T-hook chains into the bottom
slots in the cradle behind the front
wheels, on both sides.
2. Across sling chains, position a 4x4
wood beam against bottom of
radiator support behind the front
bumper.
I x6019 I
3. Attach a separate safety chain around
the outboard end
of each control
arm.
.r
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Problems on the Road
bwing from the Front- I
L
A r
X6019
@hick Hook-up (SSE & SSEi ONLY) Attach a separate safety chain around
lefore hooking up to a tow truck, be the outboard end
of each control arm.
ure to read all the information on
bwing Your Pontiac earlier in this
xtion.
Do not tow with sling-type
equipment or hcia/fog light damage
will occur. Use wheel-lift or car
carrier equipment (additional
ramping may be required for car
carrier equipment). Use safety
chains and wheel straps.
To help avoid damaging a vehicle
during a tow over rough surfaces,
install a towing dolly beneath the
wheels that would otherwise be on
the ground during the tow. This
will increase clearance between the wheel-lift equipment and the
underbody
of the towed vehicle.
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