1997 Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual - Page 211

Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower before you start gear 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, 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. Parking on Hills You really should notpark 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 andthe trailer can be damaged. But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's how to do it: 2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks. 4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into PARK (P) yet. 2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will needservice 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 hitchnuts and bolts are tight. 3. When the wheel chocksare in place, release the regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and thenshift to PARK (P). 5. Release the regularbrakes. 4-38