
Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it’s one of those hills that’s
just too steep to climb, descend,
or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge.
On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline
with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way
to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, \
but you may not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes,
grass,
or shrubs.
Here are some other things to consider as you approach a hill.
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in
Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire
Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you won’t have to make
0 Are there obstructions on the hill than can block your path (boulders,
What’s beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a
places?
slipping?
turning maneuvers?
trees, logs
or ruts)?
fence? Get out and walk the hill
if you don’t know. It’s the smart way to
find out.
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs
and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the eff\
ects
of
erosion.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you need to take some
special steps.
Use a lower gear and get a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain your speed. Don’t use
more power than you need, because you don’t want your wheel\
s to start
spinning
or sliding.
turns, you might want
to find another route.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and
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Your Driving and the Road
Stalling on an Incline
If your vehicle stalls when you’re crossing an incline, be sure you (and your
passengers) get out on the uphill side, even
if the door there is harder to
open. If you get out on the downhill side and the vehicle starts to roll over,
you’ll be right in its path.
If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the path the vehicle will take
if ‘it does roll over.
AM440002
I CAUTION
A Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle stopped across an
incline is dangerous. If the vehicle rolls over, you could be \
crushed
or killed. Always get out on the uphill (high) side
of the vehicle and
I stay well clear of the rollover path.
Driving In Mud, Sand, Snow, Or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wheels won’t get good traction.
You can’t accelerate as quickly, turning
is more difficult, and you’ll need
longer braking distances.
It’s best
to use a low gear when you’re in mud-the deeper the mud, the
lower the gear. In really deep mud, the. idea is to keep you\
r vehicle moving
so you don’t get stuck.
When you drive
on sand, you’ll sense a change in wheel traction. But it will
depend upon how loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed \
sand (as
on beaches or sand dunes) your tires will tend to sink into the sand. This
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‘
Your Driving and the Road
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should -you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? . .. .. . -1 .. On fhe Road
Unless you are the only driver, ‘it is good .to share the driving task’with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about
100 miles (160 km) or two
hours at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for s\
ome- refreshment
like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do\
stop and move
around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend
to make some people
sleepy.
.. . .- , - .~
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that do no\
t have
controlled access, you’ll want to watch for some situations \
not usually found
on freeways. Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping cen\
ters with
direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zone\
s, vehicles
turning’ left and right
off the road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and
even animals.
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis?” Or \
is it just plain ,
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
’ There is something about an easy stretch of road with the sam\
e scenery,
along with the hum
of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the
, rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy\
. Don’t let it ’.
happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second,
and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it
can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well - ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. \
Check
your rearview mirrors frequently and your instruments from time \
to time.
This can help you avoid a fixed stare.
-
,x ! - : ,-.:.&---z-.- ..* .-7
0 d
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause drowsiness. But
don’t wear sunglasses at night. They will drastically reduce \
your overall
-%
vision at the very time you need all the s.eeing power you h\
ave.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat\
drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
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Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out
for the open road, you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with
the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And
always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good deal
longer and not nearly
so responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety \
chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has electric brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and
that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you w\
ould when
driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations \
that
require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to g\
o much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer left, just move your hand to 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 Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so
your trailer wheels won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs\
, trees, or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn 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 arrows on your instrument \
panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about t\
o turn, change lanes,
or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument pan\
el will flash for
turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
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Problenrs on the Road
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your vehicle.
They can provide the right equipment and know how to tow it without dam-
age.
If your vehicle has been changed since it was factory-new, by adding things
like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, th\
ese things could
be damaged during towing.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, or that it has the four-wheel drive
option.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can move the shift lever for the transmission and \
transfer case,
if you have one.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
I A To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the tow
truck.
Always use separate safety chains on each side when towing a
vehicle.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
off. The steering
wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed for towing service.
Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transmission and transfer case,
if you have one, should be in Neu-
tral and the parking brake released.
If you have a two-wheel drive vehicle, don’t have your vehicle \
towed on the
rear wheels, unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on\
the rear
wheels, don’t go more than
35 mph (56 km/h) or farther than 50 miles (80
krn) or your transmission will be damaged. If these limits must be exceeded,
then the rear drive wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
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Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the clutch is engaged,
the fan spins faster to provide more air to
cool the engine. In most every day
driving conditions the clutch is not engaged. This improves fue\
l economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing andlor high
outside temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch e\
ngages.
So
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is normal and should not be
mistaken as the transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely the
cooling system functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the engine. It will go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
If a Tire Goes Fiat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip \
the steering wheel
firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the‘vehicle under control by steering
the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off the road
if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driv\
ing slowly to a
level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers.
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I CAUTION
Sust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened,
could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from the places where the wheel attac\
hes to
the vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to
do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later- if vou
need to, to get all the rust or dirt
off.
A :an make the wheel nuts become loose after a time. The wheel
Remove any rust
or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or spare
wheel. Place the spare on the wheel mounting surface.
1 CAUTION I
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you do, the nuts migh
come loose. Your wheel could fall
off, causing a serious accident.
K2530
Replace the wheel nuts with the rounded end of the nuts toward the wheel.
Tighten each wheel nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
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Service & Appearance Cam
Tire lnspecfion and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and rotated at the
mileages recommended in the Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
Q
-
-
K2655
Use this rotation pattern.
If your vehicle has front tires with different load ratings or tread designs (such
as all season
vs. onloff road) than the rear tires, don’t rotate your tires \
front
to rear.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear \
inflation pressure
as shown on the CertificationRire label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque”
in the Index.
A Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which -it is fastened, can
make the wheel nuts become loose after a time. The wh.eel could
come
off and cause an accident. When you change- a- :wheel, remove
’ any -rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle:
,: In an emergency, you can use a cloth or paper towel to do this; but
3 be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you need- to, to get
-T all the rust or dirf off. See “Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.
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