tow PONTIAC G5 2010 Owner's Guide

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. See
Loading the Vehicle on page 5-24for more information
about the vehicle’s maximum load capacity. If using a weight-carrying hitch, 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 are not, adjustments might be made by moving
some items around in the trailer.
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Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Get to know the rig before setting out for the open
road. Get acquainted 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
longer and not as responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
Before starting, 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. This checks the electrical
connection at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
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.
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 will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
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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
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transmission temperatures
may result and damage the vehicle. Frequent
stops are very important to allow the engine and
transmission to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear beforestarting
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.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce the
vehicle’s speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating. Vehicles 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.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the indicator
is in the red area, turn off the air conditioning to reduce
engine load. See
Engine Overheating on page 6-27 .
When towing under severe conditions such as hot
ambient temperatures or steep grades, the vehicle may
experience more transmission shifting. A COOLING
MODE ON message may also appear in the DIC. This
alerts the driver that the shifting mode is in progress
and is aiding engine cooling. See DIC Warnings
and Messages on page 4-38 DIC Warnings and
Messages for more information.Parking on Hills
{WARNING:
Parking the vehicle on a hill with the trailer
attached can be dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move. People can be
injured, and both the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always park the rig on a
flat surface.
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If parking the rig on a hill:1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet for an automatic transmission, or into gear for a
manual transmission. Turn the wheels into the
curb if facing downhill or into traffic if facing uphill.
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 the parking brake, and then shift into P (Park) for an automatic
transmission or R (Reverse) for a manual
transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply the regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
•Start the engine.
•Shift into a gear.
•Release the parking brake.
2. 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
The vehicle needs service more often when pulling a
trailer. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 7-3
for more on this. Things that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (do
not overfill), engine oil, drive belt, cooling system
and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help to find them quickly. When trailering, it is a good
idea to review this information before starting 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. See Engine Overheating on
page 6-27.
Towing a Trailer (Manual
Transmission)
Do not tow a trailer if the vehicle is equipped with a
manual transmission.
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Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following.1. Pull the interior hoodrelease lever with this
symbol on it. It is
located under the
instrument panel on
the driver’s side of the
vehicle.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and push thesecondary hood release lever to the left. It is
located under the front center of the hood toward
the driver’s side of the vehicle.
3. After you have partially lifted the hood, a gas strut will automatically take over to lift and hold the hood
in the fully open position.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Lower the hood until the lifting force
of the strut is reduced, then release the hood to
latch fully. Check to make sure the hood is closed
and repeat the process if necessary.
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A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6-18 .
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 6-13 .
C. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 6-13 .
D. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes on page 6-29 andHydraulic Clutch
on page 6-19.
E. Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 6-105 .
F. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 6-34.
G. Remote Negative ( −) Terminal. SeeJump Starting
on page 6-34.
H. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See Cooling System on
page 6-20.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid
on page 6-28.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 6-12 for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down and check the level.
6-13

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An engine coolant temperature warning can indicate a
serious problem. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 4-29 .
If you get an engine coolant temperature 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 engine coolant temperature warning with
no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so: 1. If you have an air conditioner and it is on, turn it off.
2. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in N (Neutral) for automatic transmission or NEUTRAL for manual
transmission, while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull
off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and let
the engine idle.
3. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open the windows as necessary. If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. 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.Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
6-28

5. Pull the headlamp assembly up at an angle andtowards the radiator to remove it.
6. Disconnect the bulb base from the wiring harness by lifting the locking tab.
7. Disconnect the wiring harness from the bulb socket.
8. Remove the retainer by turning it counterclockwise.
9. Turn the bulb socket for the headlamp, front turn signal, or parking lamp counterclockwise.
For the sidemarker bulb, use a tool to assist
in turning the bulb socket.
10. Pull the old bulb out of the socket.
11. Install a new bulb.
12. Reinstall the bulb assembly by reversing Steps 1 through 9.
When reinstalling the headlamp assembly, first
make sure that the wiring harness is in its original
position. If not, the headlamp assembly will not
fit correctly.
Align the two tabs on the bottom of the assembly
that fit into two slots in the headlamp assembly
bracket.Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL)
To replace a CHMSL bulb: 1. Open the trunk.
2. Press the tabs to release the bulb assembly.
3. Pull the bulb assembly down to access the bulbs.
4. Pull the old bulb straight out.
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3. Hold and turn the bulb socket clockwise and thenrelease it from the lamp housing.
4. Pull the old bulb out of the socket.
5. Push the new bulb straight into the bulb socket until it clicks.
6. Push the bulb socket into the housing and turn it clockwise to lock it into place.
7. Push the lamp straight into the fascia pocket.
8. Reinstall the two screws into the face of the back-up lamp.License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Remove the two screws holding each of the license plate lamps.
2. Turn and pull the license plate lamp toward you through the opening.
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
4. Install the new bulb.
5. Push the bulb straight into the socket and turn clockwise to reinstall.
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6. Push and turn the license plate lamp away fromyou through the opening.
7. Reinstall the two screws holding the license plate lamp.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamps Bulb Number
Back-Up Lamps 921
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) 912
Front Parking/Turn Signal Lamps 3157KX
Halogen Headlamps,
High/Low-Beam 9007 LL
License Plate Lamp and
Sidemarker 194
Stoplamp, Taillamp and Turn
Signal Lamps 3057KX
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact your
dealer/retailer.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear
or cracking. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 7-3
for more information on wiper blade inspection. Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. For proper type and length,
see
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 7-12 .
Here is how to remove the wiper blades:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the windshield.
2. Push the release lever and slide the wiper assembly toward the driver side of the vehicle.
3. Install a new blade by reversing Steps 1 and 2.
6-47