1997 GMC JIMMY Owner's Manual

Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane I~igllway waits for just the right rnolnent.
accelerates, n1cn~es around the vehicle ahead. then goes
back into the right lane again.
A simple nl~~neuver'!
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on
a two-lane
highway is
a potentially dangerous move. since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane
as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation. an error in
judgmen~, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can
suddenly put the passing driver face
to face with the
worst
of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision.
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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
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If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle
to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for
a
second skid if il occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water. snow, ice,
gravel or other material is
on the road. For safety. you'll
want to slow down
and adjust your driving to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer
and
vehicle control more lilnited.
While driving
on a surface with reduced traction. try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or
braking (inclucling engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear).
Any sudden changes could cause the tircs lo slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until yo11r
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water. ice or packed snow on
the road to make a "mirrored surface" -- and slow down
when you
have any doubt.
Remember:
Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving Guidelines
This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined as a utility
vehicle in Consumer Information Regulations issued by
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
of the United States Department of
Transportation.
Utility vehicles have higher ground
clearance
and a narrower track to make them capable of
performing
in a wide variety of off-road applications.
Specific design characteristics give them
a higher center of
gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of the higher
ground clearance is
a better view of the road allowing yo11
to anticipate problems. They are not designed for
cornering at the same speeds
as conventional
two-wheel-drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are dcsigned
to perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions.
If at all possible. avoid shalp turns or abrupt
manewers. As with other vehicles
of this type. failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may result
in loss of control
or vehicle rollover.
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Off-Road Driving with Your
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Before
You
Go Off-Roading
Loading Your Vehicle
for Off-Road Driving
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A CAUTION:
Cargo on the load floor piled higher than
the seatbacks can be thrown forward
during a sudden stop.
You or your
passengers could be injured. Keep cargo
be
below
the top
of the seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
tossed about whell driving over rough
terrain.
You or your passengers can be
struck by flying ot>,jects. Secure the
cargo properly.
0 Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle's
center
of gravity, making it more likely to
roll over.
You can be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy
loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area
as far forward
and low
as possible.
Environmental Concerns
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Traveling to Remote Areas Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It's a good idea to practice in an area that's safe and
close to home before you go into the wilclerness.
Off-road driving does rec1tIir-e some new md cliffrent
driving skills. Here's what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your
eyes,
for example, need to constantly sweep the terrain
tor unexpected ohstacles. Your ears need to listen for
unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands,
feet and body, you'll need to respond to vibrations and
vehicle
bounce.
Whengu're driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can
easily throw you
out of position. This could cause you to lose
control and crash.
So, whether you're driving on
or off the road, you and your passengers should
wear
safety belts.
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Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be fimilix with the terrain and its
many different features. Here are some things
to consider.
Surfcm Corzc1i~io11.s. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, rrrud. 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 traction and longer
braking distances.
Su@ce Ohstclcles. 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
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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 of these subjects later.)
Will
you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly? 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
tl1rnC ot- suclden 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
1-oad. And this is certainly true for off-nmi driving. At
the very tirne you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes. perceptions and judgment can be
affected by
wen a small amount of alcohol. You could
have
:I serious -- or even fital -- accident if you drink
and drivc or ride with a drivel- who has been drinking.
See "Drunken Driving" in the Index.
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Driving on Off-Road Hills
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If
you drive up them. you will stall. If yoa drive
down them,
you can't control your speed. If you
drive across them, you will roll over. You could be
seriously in,jured
or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness, don't drive the
hill.
Approaching a Hill
When yo11 approach a hill. you need to decide if it's one
of those hills that's just too steep to clirnh, descend or
cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On ;I \very small
hill7 for example, there may be a smooth, constant
incline
with only a small change in elevation where you
can easily see a11 the way to he top. On a large hill. the
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