1997 GMC SAVANA traction control

Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/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 mph
(40km/h).
1 When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts off.
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.
0 Cruise contrcil can be dangerous on Setting Cruise Control
I,
If you leave
your cruise control switch on
when you’re not using cruise, you might hit
a
button and go into cruise when you don’t want
to. You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch
OFF until you
want to use it.
I
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the SET button
at the end
of the lever
and release it.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up
to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in
front of
you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the brakes
vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
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
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia
will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle
on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
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The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems -- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding
the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to
go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should
adjust your speed. Of course, 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 your speed as you approach a
curve,
do it before you enter the curve, 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
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and
find
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from
a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.
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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 it
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 limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
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 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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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.
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 grades, they must
also conform
to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
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
graded
.loo. The relative performance of tires depends
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 climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction 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 performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does
not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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Shifting Automatic Transmission
....................... 2-20
Into Park
(P) ................................. 2-24
OutofPark
.................................. 2-27
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1 - 18
Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
............... 6-36
Signaling Turns
................................ 2-33
SIR .......................................... 1-25
Skidding
...................................... 4-13
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-64
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-4
Speedometer
................................... 2-49
Stains. Cleaning
................................ 6-50
Starter Switch Check
............................ 7-46
Starting Your Engine
............................ 2- 17
Steam
........................................ 5-12
Steering
....................................... 4-9
In Emergencies
............................... 4- 10
Power ....................................... 4-9
Tips
......................................... 4-9
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-32
StorageAreas
.................................. 2-44
Storage, Vehicle
................................ 6-32
Stuck: In Sand, Mud. Ice or Snow
.................. 5-37
SunVisors
.................................... 2-46
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
.................. 1-25
Symbols, Vehicle .................................. v
Taillamp Bulb Replacement ...................... 6-37
TapePlayerCare
............................... 3-27 Temperature Control.
Climate Control System
......... 3-2
Temperature Control. Passenger .................... 3-5
Theft
......................................... 2-15
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.......................... 3-23
Thermostat
.................................... 6-26
Third Gear. Automatic Transmission
................ 2-22
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-32
Time. Setting the
................................ 3-8
Tire Chains
.................................... 6-49
TireLoading
................................... 4-27
'Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-27
Tires
......................................... 6-41
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-47
Buying New
................................. 6-45
Chains
..................................... 6-49
Changing
a Flat .............................. 5-23
Dual Operation ............................... 6-45
Inflation
.................................... 6-42
Inflation Check
............................... 7-45
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-43
Loading
.................................... 4-27
Pressure
.................................... 6-42
Temperature
................................. 6-47
Traction
.................................... 6-46
Treadwear
................................... 6-46
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-46
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-44
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-47
When It's Time for New
....................... 6-44
Cleaning
.................................... 6-55
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