1998 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 203

1998 Pontiac Sunfire Manual

Page 203 highlights

Your vehicle can towa trailer if it is equipped with a 2.4L engine and 4-speed automatic transaxle and the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is foryour vehicle, you should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer" that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That's the reason for this part. In itare many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more,the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. If You DoDecide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points: 0 There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you'll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1 600 k ) m your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. 0 0 0 m that Then, during the first 500 miles (800 k ) you tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 lun/h) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Don't drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than 55 mph (90 k / )to mh) save wear on your vehicle's parts. a Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. 4-35

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Your vehicle
can
tow
a
trailer
if
it is equipped with
a
2.4L
engine and 4-speed automatic transaxle and the
proper trailer towing equipment.
To
identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is
for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight
of
the Trailer”
that appears later in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering
means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and
it
has to be used
properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that
of
your
passengers.
So
please read this section carefully
before you pull a
trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires
are
forced to work harder
against the drag
of
the added weight.
The
engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat.
What’s
more,
the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If
You
Do Decide
To
Pull
A
Trailer
If
you
do,
here are some important points:
0
0
0
0
a
There
are
many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A
good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You can ask
a
hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles
(1
600
km)
your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500
miles
(800
km)
that you
tow a
trailer, don’t drive over
50
mph
(80
lun/h)
and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of
your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed
limit
restrictions when towing a
trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55
mph
(90
km/h))
to
save wear
on
your
vehicle’s parts.
4-35