1994 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 149

Your Driving andthe Road Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then,to move the trailer to theleft, just move that handto 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 7hms 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 wellin advance. Thrn 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 arrowson your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn orlane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers you're aboutto turn, change lanesor stop. When towing a trailer, the green arrows for on your instrument panel will flash 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. six-speed manual transmission) or, as you need to, a lower gear. Parking on Hills You really should not park your vehicle, withatrailerattached,onahill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be Driving on Grades damaged. Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear But if you ever have park your rig on a to before you start down a longor steep hill, here's howto do it: downgrade. If you don't shift down, you 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't might have to use your brakesso much shift into"P" (Park) yet, or into gear that they would get hot and longer no for a manual transmission. work well. 2. Have someone placechxks under the On a long uphill grade, shift down and trailer wheels. reduce your speed to around 45 mph 3. When the wheel chocks are in place, (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of release the regular brakes until the engine and transmission overheating. chocks absorb the load. If you are towing a trailerand you 4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then have an automatic transmission with apply your parking brake, and then Overdrive, you may prefer drive in "D" to shift to "P" (Park), or "R" (Reverse) instead of Overdrive (or, as you needto, a for a manual transmission. lower gear). Or,if you have a manual transmission with fifth (or sixth) gear and 5. Release the regular brakes. you are towing a trailer, it's better not to use fifth (or sixth) gear.Just drive in fourth gear (fifth gearif you have a - ...I 4 8