1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE 4 wheel drive

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine --
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet
ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the
least traction of all. You can get wet ice
when it’s about
freezing
(32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain begins to fall.
Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until salt and sand crews
can get there. Whatever the condition
-- smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow
-- drive with caution.
Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If
you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and
polish the surface under the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability
when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even
though
you have an anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in
the Index.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until
you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the
sun can’t reach: around
clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface
of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear.
If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on
it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached,
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
PARK
(P) yet.
3. When
the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be
sure the transfer case
is in a drive gear -- not in
NEUTRAL (N).
6. Release the regular brakes.
e
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) 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
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free
to roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear -- not
in
NEUTRAL (N).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Winches
If you wish to use a power winch on your vehicle, only
use it when your vehicle is stationary or anchored.
NOTICE:
Using a power winch with the transmission in
gear may damage the transmission. When
operating a power winch, always leave the
transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
Use the regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block
the wheels to keep your vehicle from rolling.
Power Take-Off (PTO)
I NOTICE:
If you have a PTO that will exceed 35 hp installed
on your vehicle, it could damage the transfer case
or transmission. When having a PTO installed on
your vehicle, make sure that it will not exceed
35 hp.
Before using a PTO, refer to the manufacturer’s or
installer’s instructions.
NOTICE:
Using a PTO while operating in one place before
the vehicle has reached normal operating
temperature can damage the transfer case or
transmission.
If you will be using the PTO while
operating in one place, drive and warm up the
vehicle before using the PTO.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To engage a PTO:
1. Turn the ignition off.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (N).
4. Engage the PTO.
NOTICE:
Using a PTO for more than four hours without
driving your vehicle
can damage the transfer case
or transmission.
If using a PTO for more than
four hours without driving your vehicle, drive
your vehicle for a while to allow the transfer case
and transmission to cool.
5. Start the vehicle. If you are going to drive the
vehicle, shift the transmission into the gear you
want. Then shift the transfer case into the range you
want (if you have four-wheel drive), apply the
regular brakes and release the parking brake.
Using a Transfer Case Mounted Power
Take-Off
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Set the parking brake.
Turn the ignition off.
Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL
(N).
Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (N).
Engage the PTO.
If you are going to drive the vehicle, shift the
transfer case into the range you want. Then apply the
regular brakes and release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to THIRD
(3) to start the
Power Take-Off.
Release the regular brakes to drive the vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may
want to
use another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. But please use the following steps to
do it safely.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
0 They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered
by your
vehicle warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing
or pulling
it could damage your vehicle. With an automatic
transmission, it won’t start that
way.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
2. Get the vehicles close enough
so the jumper cables
can reach, but be 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.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the
parking brake
fiiy on both vehicles involved in the
jump
start procedure. Put an automatic transmission
in
PARK (P). If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle,
be sure the transfer case is not
in NEUTRAL (N).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have your GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. See “Roadside Assistance” in
the Index. They can provide the right equipment and
know-how to tow it without damage.
If
your vehicle has been changed since it was
factory-new, by adding such things as
fog lamps, aero
skirting,
or special tires and wheels, these things could
be damaged during towing.
Before you
do anythmg, 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 make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can move the shift lever for the
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
the
four-wheel-drive option.
transmission and transfer case,
if you have one. When
the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains these towing
instructions. The operator may want to see them.
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0 Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
0 Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
being
towed.
~ 0 Never tow with damaged parts not
’ 0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
~ been lifted by the tow truck.
fully
secured.
0 Always use separate safety chains on each
side when towing a vehicle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing From the Front
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed
on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or your transmission will
be damaged.
If these limitations must be exceeded, then
the drive wheels have to be supported on a dolly. If
your vehicle is four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case, use the following directions:
1. Turn the ignition key to the off position.
2. Engage the parking brake.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for towing
service. (Do not use the vehicle’s steering column
lock for this.)
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