INFO - TOWING

DIVS INVL 1 5 7 REVISION 11/24/93

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE 1993-94 T-TRUCKS AND 1988-94 K-TRUCKS. PREVIOUS DIVISIONAL PUBLICATION NUMBERS WERE:

DIVISION BULLETIN # PUBLISH DATE

GMC TRUCK 92-0A-47 FEBRUARY 1992 CHEVROLET 92-90-0A FEBRUARY 1992 GM OF CANADA 92-7-102 APRIL 1992 ______________________________________________________________________

REVISION: 09/06/95 DIVS INVL 1 3 5 7

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE 1995-96 T TRUCKS AND 1995-96 K TRUCKS. PLEASE DISCARD BULLETIN 160101 (GROUP REFERENCE 0 - GENERAL INFORMATION). ______________________________________________________________________

REVISION: 04/16/96 DIVS INVL 1 3 5 7

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE ALL 1988-1996 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. PLEASE DISCARD BULLETIN 16-01-01A (SECTION 0 - GENERAL INFORMATION). ______________________________________________________________________

REVISION: 08/21/98 DIVS INVL 1 2 3 5 7

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE 1988-98 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND ADD 1995-99 J AND N SERIES PASSENGER CARS AND CAR TOWING INFORMATION. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 16-01-01A (SECTION - GENERAL INFORMATION). ______________________________________________________________________

SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON TOWING

MODELS: 1995-99 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1997-99 CHEVROLET MALIBU 1995-98 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1997-99 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 1999 OLSMOBILE ALERO 1995-99 PONTIAC GRAND AM 1995-99 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 1996-98 TOYOTA CAVALIER WITH HYDRA-MATIC 4T40-E OR 4T45-E AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE (RPOS MN4, MN5) OR 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSAXLE (RPOS MK7, MJ1)

1988-98 CHEVROLET AND GMC LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS 1991-94 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1996-98 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA WITHOUT ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE (RPO NP1)

SOME OWNERS MAY WANT TO TOW THEIR VEHICLES BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND (DINGHY TOW). TOWING IN THIS MANNER IS ACCEPTABLE ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED AND PREPPED AS SHOWN BELOW. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION.

PASSENGER CARS -

NOTICE: THESE VEHICLES MUST NOT BE TOWED BACKWARDS OR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE MAY OCCUR.

"DINGHY" TOWING IS PERMITTED ONLY ON THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES. PLEASE REVIEW THE APPROPRIATE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR EACH VEHICLE BEFORE TOWING.

- 1995-99 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, PONTIAC SUNFIRE, AND TOYOTA CAVALIER EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 4T40-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (RPO MN4) OR 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION (RPO MK7 OR MJ1) - 1995-99 PONTIAC GRAND AM EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 4T40-E OR 4T45-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OR 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MJ1) - 1995-98 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION (RPO MJ1) - 1997-99 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA- MATIC 4T40-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (RPO MN4) - 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 4T40-E OR 4T45-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (RPO MN4 OR MN5)

TOWING PROCEDURE

1. FIRMLY SET THE PARKING BRAKE.

2. OPEN THE FUSE PANEL. PULL THE FUSE INDICATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL SECTION DETAILING TOWING YOUR VEHICLE. THIS PREVENTS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND/OR ELECTRONIC PRNDL INDICATOR FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY.

3. SECURELY ATTACH THE VEHICLE TO THE TOW VEHICLE.

4. TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, WHICH IS ONE POSITION FORWARD OF LOCK. UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ALLOWS FOR PROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT WHEELS AND TIRES DURING TOWING.

5. SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL (N).

6. RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED IS FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE TOW VEHICLE.

NOTICE: EXTRA CARE SHOULD BE USED WHENEVER TOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE TOWING VEHICLE'S GCWR SHOULD NOT BE EXCEEDED BY ADDING THE WEIGHT OF THE DINGHY TOWED VEHICLE OR VEHICLE DAMAGE MAY RESULT.

7. REPLACE THE FUSE IN THE FUSE PANEL WHEN FINISHED TOWING.

IMPORTANT: THE TOWING SPEED AS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL SHOULD NOT EXCEED 104 KM/H (65 MPH) FOR 1995-99 VEHICLES.

TRUCKS -

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE

"DINGHY" TOWING IS PERMITTED ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS ONLY WHEN EQUIPPED WITH: - T TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW PROCESS 231 TRANSFER CASE (RPO NP2) - K TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW PROCESS 241 TRANSFER CASE(RPO NP2) - K TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A BORG-WARNER 1370/4401/4470 TRANSFER CASE, AND THE TRANSFER CASE IS PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. - K TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW PROCESS 246 TRANSFER CASE (RPO NP8)

IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE TRANSFER CASE MODEL, LOCATE THE IDENTIFICATION TAG. THIS TAG ATTACHES TO THE REAR CASE HALF AND PROVIDES THE TRANSFER CASE MODEL NUMBER (FIGURES 1 AND 2). ONLY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NEW PROCESS 231/241/246 OR BORG-WARNER 1370/4401/4470 MODEL TRANSFER CASES CAN BE DINGHY TOWED WITH THE TRANSFER CASE IN NEUTRAL.

IMPORTANT: THE FOLLOWING ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE DINGHY TOWED UNLESS THE PROPELLER SHAFTS ARE FIRST REMOVED.

- K TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE, NEW PROCESS 243 (RPO NP1) (NO NEUTRAL) - T TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL ELECTRIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE, NEW PROCESS 233 (RPO NP1) (NO NEUTRAL) - SYCLONE, TYPHOON, L VAN AND BRAVADA WHICH ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE BORG-WARNER 4472 TRANSFER CASE (NO NEUTRAL) AND THE NVG136 TRANSFER CASE - T TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW PROCESS 207 TRANSFER CASE (NO OIL PUMP) - K TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW PROCESS 208 TRANSFER CASE (NO OIL PUMP)

THE TRANSFER CASES IN THESE ALL WHEEL DRIVE OR FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES EITHER HAVE NO NEUTRAL POSITION OR INTERNAL OIL PUMP TO PROVIDE LUBRICATION WHILE BEING TOWED. TO PROPERLY TOW THESE VEHICLES, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PLACED ON A PLATFORM TRAILER WITH ALL FOUR TIRES OFF THE GROUND. TOWING WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IN RARE CASES WHEN TOWING WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND IS UNAVOIDABLE, BOTH FRONT AND REAR PROPELLER SHAFTS MUST BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE AND/OR TRANSMISSION. FOLLOW THE APPLICABLE SERVICE MANUAL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION PROCEDURE AS FRONT AND REAR PROPELLER SHAFTS ARE MATCHED TO ATTACHING COMPONENTS AT ASSEMBLY.

REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES

REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED, SHOULD NOT BE DINGHY TOWED. THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE NO PROVISION FOR INTERNAL LUBRICATION WHILE BEING TOWED. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY TOW THESE VEHICLES, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PLACED ON A PLATFORM TRAILER WITH ALL FOUR TIRES OFF THE GROUND. TOWING WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE GROUND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IN RARE CASES WHEN IT IS UNAVOIDABLE THAT A REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE IS TO BE DINGHY TOWED, THE PROPELLER SHAFT TO AXLE YOKE ORIENTATION SHOULD BE MARKED AND THE PROPELLER SHAFT REMOVED FOLLOWING THE APPLICABLE SERVICE MANUAL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION PROCEDURE.

IMPORTANT: DUST OR DIRT CAN ENTER THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE OPENING CREATED BY THE REMOVAL OF THE SLIP YOKE FROM THE TRANSMISSION IF PROPER PROTECTION IS NOT PROVIDED. ALSO, CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL BEFORE DRIVING THE TRUCK.

TOWING PROCEDURE

THE CORRECT DINGHY TOWING PROCEDURE THAT ALL CUSTOMERS SHOULD FOLLOW IS GIVEN BELOW.

NOTICE: EXTRA CARE SHOULD BE USED WHENEVER TOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE TOWING VEHICLE'S GCWR SHOULD NOT BE EXCEEDED BY ADDING THE WEIGHT OF THE DINGHY TOWED VEHICLE OR VEHICLE DAMAGE MAY RESULT.

1. FIRMLY SET THE PARKING BRAKE.

2. PLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN "P" (PARK) OR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THE LOWEST GEAR (1ST).

3. SECURELY ATTACH THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED TO THE TOW VEHICLE.

4. IF EQUIPPED, PLACE THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFT LEVER IN "N" (NEUTRAL).

CAUTION:

SHIFTING THE TRANSFER CASE TO NEUTRAL CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK (AUTOMATIC) OR 1ST GEAR (MANUAL), AND MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

5. RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED IS FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE TOW VEHICLE.

6. INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TURN THE KEY ONE NOTCH FORWARD OF THE LOCK POSITION. THIS PLACES THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION, WHICH UNLOCKS THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE PREVENTING BATTERY DRAIN. UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN WILL ALLOW FOR PROPER MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT WHEELS AND TIRES DURING TOWING.

FIGURES: 02 CAPTIONS: FIGURE 1 - NEW PROCESS REAR CASE HALF FIGURE 2 - BORG-WARNER REAR CASE HALF

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

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