1994 Oldsmobile Bravada Owner's Manual - Page 142

Your Driving and the Road Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When youtow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a differentturn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal aturn or lane change. Properlyhooked up, the trailer lights will alsoflash, telling other drivers you'reabout to turn,change lanes or stop. When towing atrailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on thetrailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not, It's important to check occasionallyto be sure the trailer bulbs are still working. On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) toreduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating. If you are towing a trailerthat weighs more than 3,000 pounds (1 350 kg), it's best to drive in D instead of Overdrive (or, asyou need to, a lower gear). This will minimizeheat build-up and extend the life of your transmission. 4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake and then shift to P (Park). 5. Release the regular brakes. When You Are Readyto Leave After Parking on a Hill 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold Parking on Hills You really shouldnot park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. Peoplecan be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged. But if you ever have park your rigon to 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 chocksunder the trailer wheels. 3 When the wheel chocksare in place, . release the regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load. the pedal down while you: Start your engine; Shift into a gear; and Release the parking brake. 2. Let up on thebrake pedal. 3 Drive slowlyuntil the trailer is clear . of the chocks. 4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. Driving On Grades Reduce speedand shift to a lower gear before you start down a long orsteep downgrade. If you don't shift down, you might haveto use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer work well. Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you're pulling atrailer. See the Maintenance Schedule formore on this. Things that are especially important in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don't overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system,and brake adjustment. Each of these is covered in this manual,