1994 GMC SIERRA ESP

Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are some
things to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
you approach things faster and you have less time to scan the\
terrain for
obstacles.
0 you have less time to react.
0 you have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles.
you’ll need more distance for braking, especially since you’re on an
unpaved surface.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. You
need to be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Here are
some things to consider.
Surface Conditions. Off-roading can take you over hard-packed dirt,
gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or ice. Each of these surfaces affects
the steering, acceleration, and braking of your vehicle in different ways.
Depending upon the kind of surface you are on, you may experience
slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor tra\
ction, and
longer braking distances.
Surface Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock,
log, hole, rut, or bump can startle you if you’re not prepared for them. Often
these obstacles
are hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here
are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s more discussion\

Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction quickly?
of these subjects later.)
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When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a firm grip on the
steering wheel.
Ruts, troughs, or other surface features can jerk the wheel
out of your hands if you’re not prepared.
When
you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, your wheels can
leave
the ground. If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you can’t
control the vehicle
as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s especially important
to
avoid sudden acceleration, sudden turns. or sudden braking.
In
a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of alertness from driving
on paved roads and highways. There are no road signs, posted speed limits
or signal lights.
You have to use your own good .judgment about what is safe
and what isn’t.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road. And this
is
certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special
alertness and driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You could have a serious - or
even
fatal - accident if you drink and drive or ride with a driver who has
been drinking. (See “Drunken Driving”
in the Index.)
Driving On Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill. Driving safely
on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle
can and can’t do. There are some hills that simply can’t be driven, no matter
how well built the vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up
them, you will stall.
If you drive down them, you can’t control
yorrr speed. If you drive across them, you will roll over. You
could be seriously injured or killed.
If you have any doubt about
the steepness, don’t drive the hill.
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.
Oil 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.
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After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations can be
a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand, have the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system for
damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some
drivers are likely to be impaired
- by alcohol or drugs. with night vision
problems,
or by fatigue.
Here are some tips
on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
a Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
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Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
0 Turn on your low-beam headlights - not just your parking llgnts - to
help make you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road
spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on
them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay
attention to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and
plan your trip
into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
save time and energy. (See the
next section, “Freeway Driving.”)
0 Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
0 Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need
it. When a light turns green, and just
before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
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If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You
should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you
are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things
to do
to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn on your
hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle
to alert police that you’ve
been stopped
by the snow, Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around
you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats - anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing
to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
A CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause
deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you.
You can’t see it or smell it, so you
might not know
it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base
of your vehicle , especially any that is blocking
your exhaust pipe. And check around again from time
to time to
be sure snow doesn’t collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the vehicle that’s away
from the wind. This will help keep CO out.
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from the front edge of the foot to the middle of the hitch ball socket. If
the distance is less than 12 inches, take the foot off the trailer tongue.
0 If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will weigh more than
4,000 pounds (1 8 14 kg) be sure to use a properly mounted,
weight-distributing hitch and sway control
of the proper size. This
equipment is very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling
when you’re driving.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under
the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will
not drop to
the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer. Follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with
your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs
its own brakes
- and they must be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for
the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Your trailer brake system can tap
into your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system,
but consider
the following:
0 Will the trailer brake system use more than 0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of
fluid from your vehicle’s master cylinder? If it will, don’t tap into your
vehicle’s brake system. Both braking systems won’t work well, and
you
could even lose your brakes altogether.
0 Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If
not, the trailer brake system must not be used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, make the brake tap at the port on
the
master cylinder that sends the fluid to the rear brakes. But don’t use copper
tubing for this.
if you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use steel brake
tubing.
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.
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A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is
not fully in “P” (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
If’ you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, even when you’re on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in “N”
(Neutral), your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift lever
is in
“P” (Park). So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
- not in “N” (Neutral).
If you are parking on a hill, or if you’re pulling a trailer, also see
“Parking
On Hills” in the Index.
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
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service 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
fluid (don’t overfill), engine oil,
axle lubricant, 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 hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Light Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
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To Jump Start Your Vehicle
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
If you have a diesel engine vehicle with two batteries (or more), you
should know before
you begin that, especially in cold weather, you may
not be able to get enough power from
a single battery in another
vehicle to start your diesel engine.
If your vehicle
has more than one battery, use the battery that’s on the
passenger side
of the vehicle - this will reduce electrical resistance.
sure the vehicle’s aren’t touching each other.
If they are, it could cause
a ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start your
vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage
the electrical systems.
You could be injured
if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put an automatic transmission
in “P” (Park) or a
manual transmission in “N” (Neutral). If you have a four-wheel-drive
vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is not in “N” (Neutral).
2. Get the vehicles
close enough
so the jumper cables can reach, but be
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save
your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and
negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
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