1997 GMC JIMMY traction control

If’ you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, you could lose control
of your vehicle.
And you could injure yourself or others. Don’t shift
down more than one gear when
you downshift.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped
with a manual transmission. disregard the shift light
wlxn the transfer case is in 4LO.
Locking Rear Axle
If you have this feature. your rear axle can give you
additional traction
on sno\v, mud. ice, sand 01- gra~~l. It
works like a standard axle most of the time, but when
one of the rear nhxls has
no traction and the other does,
the locking feature
will allow the wheel with traction to
~nove the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
If your \:chicle has all-wheel drive, your engine’s
driving power is sent to all four wheels for extra
traction. This is like four-wheel drive, but there is
no
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle.
It is fully automatic and adjwts itself as needed for
mid conditions.
Four-wheel Drive (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power
to all four wheels for extra
traction.
To shift out of two-wheel drive and into
four-wheel drive, move the transfer case shift lever to
4HI or 4LO. You should use ?HI for most normal
driving conditions.
1 NOTICE:
~~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~
Driving in the 4HI or 41,O positions for a long
time on
dry or wet pavement could shorten the
life of your vehicle’s drivetrain.
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To shift into or out of 4LO:
1. The vehicle must be moving less than 3 mph
(4.8 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N)
for an automatic transmission. For a manual
transmission, the clutch pedal must be engaged.
The preferred method
for shifting into or out of 4LO
is to have your vehicle moving I to 2 tnph (I .6 to
3.2 km/h).
2. Press the transfer case shift button and shift in one
continuous motion.
Don’t pause
in N SET PARK BRAKE as you shift into
or out of
4L0, or your gears could clash.
Remember that driving
in 4HI or 4LO may reduce fuel
economy. Also, driving in four-wheel drive on dry
pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and
make your transfer case harder to
shift and reduce
powertrain longevity.
Electronic Transfer Case (If Equipped)
If your four-wheel-drive
vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the transfer
case switches are above
the radio controls.
Use these switches to shift into and out
of four-wheel
drive.
You can choose among three driving settings:
2HI: This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in
two-wheel drive. When this lamp is lit, it is about
one-half
as bright as the others.
4HI: This setting engages your front axle to help drive
your vehicle. Use
4HI when you need extra traction, such
as on snowy or icy roads. 01- in most off-road situations.
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Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can
maintain
a speed of about
25 mph (40 krn/h) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This
can
really help on long trips.
Cruise control
does not
work at speeds below about
25 rnph (40 km/h).
If you have an automatic transmission and you apply
your brakes, the cruise control will shut
off.
If you have a manual transmission and you apply your
brakes or push the clutch pedal, the cruise control
will
shut off.
A CAUi ION:
I
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don‘t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on

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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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 in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wl~ecls
won't get
good traction. You ca11.t accelerate ;IS quickly,
turning
is nm-e 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 your vehicle moving
so ~OLI don't
get stuck.
When
you drive on sand, you'll sense a change in wheel
traction. But it will depend upon how loosely p~~ked the
sand is. On loosely prncked sand (as on beaches or sand
dunes) your tires will tend
to sink into the sand. This has
a11 effect on steering. accelerating and braking. You may
want
to reduce the air pressure in your tires slightly
when driving on sand. This will ilnprove traction.
Hard packed snow and
ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it's very easy to lose control. On wet
ice, for example, the traction is
so poor that you will
have difficulty accelerating. And if you do get moving.
poor steering and difficult braking
can C~LIS~ you to slide
out
of colltl*ol.
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or ws can be
dangerous. Underwat.er springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could
fall through the ice and you and
your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle
on safe surfaces
only.
Driving in Water
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Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have
a crash.
Using tires
of different sizes may also cause
damage to
your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires
on all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare
(if you have one). It was developed for
use on
your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed
by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear. traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles
sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
c Urades, they rnust also conform to Federal safety
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on
a specified government test course. For
example.
a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
( 1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and clilnate.
e oraded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
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Traction -- A, B, C
The tmction grades, from highest to lowest. are A, B. and
C, and they represent the tire‘s ability to stop on wet
pavement
as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction perf’ormance.
Wxning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based
on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (tuning) traction.
Temperature -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (,the highest), B, and C.
representing the tire‘s resistance to the gencration of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested undcr
controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause
the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required
by law.
Warnin?: Thc ten~perat~u-e pxde for this tire is
estnblishcd for a tire that is properly intlated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed. underinflation, or
excessive loading. either separatcly or in combination.
c;m ca~~se heat buildup
md possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
care1’uIly at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overdl performance.
lee1 Replacement
~epl~e ;my wheel that is bent. cracked, or badly rusted
01- corrocled. If wheel n~~ts keep coming loose. the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be 1-eplacec1.
If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels. which cm sometimes be repaired). See your
GM dcalcr if any of’ these conditions exist.
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