1997 GMC JIMMY steering

Lockout Switch
Four-door vehicles have a lockout feature to prevent
passengers from operating power
windows. It is located
on the driver’s door. Press LOCK to activate this feature.
Press
NORM and the windows return to normal operation.
Swing-Out Windows (2-Door Only)
If your vehicle has rear
swing-out windows, unlatch
them
at their clasps and
push out
on the glass to
open them.
When you close the window, be sure the latch catches.
Horn
TO sound the horn, press the horn symbols on the
steering wheel pad.
2-37

Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
If you have the tilt steering
wheel,
you should adjust
the steering wheel before
you drive.
You can raise it to the highest level to give your legs
more
room when you enter and exit the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steerins wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Move the steering wheel
to a
comfortable level. then release the lever to lock the
wheel in place.
Do not ad-just the steering wheel while driving.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left. side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp HighLow Beam Changer
0 Windshield Wipers
0 Windshield Washer
2-38 -

Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds\
of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips
on driving.
4-2
4-3 4-6
4-6 4-9
4-11
4-12 4-13
4-14
4-28 4-29
4-32 4-3 3 Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving Control
of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss of Control
Driving Guidelines
Driving at Night
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing
(Four-wheel Drive with the
Manual Shift Transfer Case Only)
Recreational Vehicle Towing (Except
Four-wheel Drive with the Manual Shift
Transfer Case)
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
4-34
4-35
4-35
4-37 4-4
1
4-42
4-42 4-45
4-1

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want
it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy to ask more
of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s
reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 314 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in
314 of a second, a vehicle
moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency,
so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight
of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

Braking in Emergencies
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning. you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
4-9

Suppose you're steering througl1 a shxp CLII-V~. Tllen you
suddenly accelemtc.
Both control systems -- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration cim ciemand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What sho~~ld you do
if this ever happens'! Ease LIP on the
accelerator pedal. steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near CLI~V~S warn that ~OLI shoulcl
adjust your speed. Of co~~rse. the posted speeds are
based
on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to
go slower.
If you need to reduce yo111- speed as you approach a
curve, do it before ~OLI enter the curve7 while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can "drive" through the
curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate
until you are out of the curve. and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
4-10

An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If yo^^ are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions. you can
turn
it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just
as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
The fact that
SLICII emergency situations are always
possible is
a good rwson to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
I OFF- ROAD RECOVERY / ,+
-/// edge of paved surface
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pwement, recovery should
be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way, steer so
that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. YOLI
can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the
right front
tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your
steering wheel
to go straight down the roadway.
4-11

0 Check your mirrors. glat~ce over your shoulder and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are
far enough
ahead
of the passed vehicle to see its front in yo~~r
inside mirror. acti\;ate your right lane change signal
and move
back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed
may seem to be farther away f'rom you
than it really is.)
a Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Loss of Control
Let's re\:iew what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems
(brakes. steering
;MI accelerution) don't ha\^ enough friction where the
tires meet the road
to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency. don't give up. Keep trying to steer a.nd
constantly seek an escape route
or area of less danger.
Skidding
4-13