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2-54 Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Switch
(If Equipped)
This switch includes
wiring provisions for a
dealer or a qualified
service center to install
an auxiliary roof lamp.
This switch is located
on the center of the
instrument panel near
the comfort controls.
When the switch wiring is connected to an auxiliary roof
mounted lamp, pressing the button will activate the
lamp and illuminate an indicator light near the button.
Pressing the button again will turn off the roof
mounted lamp.
If your vehicle has this switch, you may have the
Snow Plow Prep Package. For further information
see ªSnow Plow Prep Packageº in the Index.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
The instrument panel intensity control is located to the
right of the headlamp switch.
Rotate the thumbwheel up to adjust the instrument panel
lights. To turn on the dome lamps (with the vehicle
doors closed) rotate the thumbwheel all the way up.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lights will
not come on If the DOME OVERRIDE button is
pressed in.
Illuminated Entry
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated
entry feature.
When the doors are opened, the dome lamps will come
on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is in the ªoutº
position. When all the doors are closed, or the front door
handles are pulled and released, the lamps will stay on
for a short period of time and will then go out. If the
DOME OVERRIDE button is pressed in, the lamps will
not come on.
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2-71 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag's electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag
modules, the wiring, the passenger air bag suppression
circuit and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, see ªAir Bagº
in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
AIR BAG OFF Light
When you turn the right front passenger's air bag off,
this light will come on and stay on to remind you that
the air bag has been turned off. This light will go off
when you turn the air bag back on again. See ªAIR BAG
OFF Switchº in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.
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4-
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4-1
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 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Steering
4
-11 Off-Road Recovery
4
-11 Passing
4
-13 Loss of Control
4
-14 Off-Road Driving with Your
Four
-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
4
-30 Driving at Night
4
-32 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads4
-35 City Driving
4
-36 Freeway Driving
4
-37 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-38 Highway Hypnosis
4
-38 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-40 Winter Driving
4
-44 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-46 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-52 Camper Wiring Harness (If Equipped)
4
-53 Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab
4
-53 Towing a Trailer
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4-52
Your dealer can help you make a good vehicle-camper
match. He'll also help you determine your CWR.
After you've loaded your vehicle and camper, drive to a
weigh station and weigh the front and rear wheels
separately. This will tell you the loads on your axles.
The loads on the front and rear axles shouldn't be more
than either of the GAWRs. The total of the axle loads
should not be more than the GVWR.
Open your driver's door and look at the Certification/Tire
label to find out your GAWR and GVWR.
If you've gone over your weight ratings, move or take
out some things until all the weight falls below the
ratings. Of course, you should always tie down any
loose items when you load your vehicle or camper.
When you install and load your slide
-in camper, check
the manufacturer's instructions.
If you want more information on curb weights, cargo
weights, Cargo Weight Rating and the correct center of
gravity zone for your vehicle, your dealer can help you.
Just ask for a copy of ªConsumer Information,
Truck
-Camper Loading.º
Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the CWR
for your vehicle. Weigh your vehicle with the trailer
attached, so that you won't go over the GVWR or
GAWR. If you are using a weight
-distributing hitch,
weigh the vehicle without the equalizer bars in place.
You'll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information, see ªTrailer Towingº in
the Index.
Camper Wiring Harness
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with a camper wiring harness
see ªTrailer Wiring Harnessº in the Index for further
information.
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4-65 Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle is equipped with one of the following
wiring harnesses for towing a trailer or hauling a
slide
-in camper.
Basic Trailer Wiring Package
All regular and extended cab gasoline engine pickups
have a six
-wire trailer towing harness.
The six-wire harness is located at the rear of the vehicle
and is tied to the vehicle's frame. The harness requires
the installation of a trailer
-wiring harness connector,
which is available through your dealer.
The six
-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Light Blue: Center High
-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
If you need to upgrade your vehicle to heavy
-duty
trailering, a brake controller harness and an underbody
harness with a seven
-pin universal heavy-duty trailer
connector are available from your dealer.
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4-66
Basic Trailer Wiring Package (Diesel Engine)
Regular and extended cab pickups equipped with a
6.5L Turbo Diesel engine have an eight
-wire trailer
towing harness.
The trailer wiring harness with a seven-pin connector
and separate Center High
-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
connector are located at the rear of the vehicle and are
tied to the vehicle's frame.* The harness connector can
be plugged into a seven
-pin universal heavy-duty trailer
connector available through your GM dealer.* The single CHMSL wire is tied to the seven
-wire
harness and is used if your trailer or cap are equipped
with a CHMSL.
The eight
-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Light Blue: CHMSL
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If you need to upgrade your vehicle to heavy
-duty
trailering, a brake controller harness and a seven
-pin
universal heavy
-duty trailer connector are available
from your GM dealer.
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4-67
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Package (If Equipped)
Your pickup may be equipped with the eight-wire trailer
towing harness. This harness with a seven
-pin universal
heavy
-duty trailer connector is attached to a bracket on
the platform hitch.*
* The Center High
-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) wire
is tied next to the trailer wiring harness for use with a
trailer, slide
-in camper or cap.The eight
-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Light Blue: CHMSL
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
A jumper harness for an electric trailer brake controller
and a trailer battery feed fuse are included with this
trailering package. (See ªInstrument Panel Jumper
Wiring Harnessº later in this section.)
If you need to tow a light
-duty trailer with a standard
four
-way round pin connector, an adapter connector is
available from your dealer.
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4-68
Camper/Fifth-Wheel Trailer Wiring Package
(If Equipped)
The eight
-wire camper harness is located under the front
edge of the pickup box on the driver's side of the vehicle,
attached to the frame bracket. A connector will have to be
added to the wiring harness which connects to the camper.
The eight
-wire harness contains the following
camper/trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back
-up Lamps
Light Blue: Center High
-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
A jumper harness for an electric trailer brake controller
and a trailer battery feed fuse are included with this
trailering package. (See ªInstrument Panel Jumper
Wiring Harnessº later in this section.)
If your vehicle is equipped with the ªHeavy-Duty
Traileringº option, please refer to ªHeavy
-Duty Trailer
Wiring Package,º earlier in this section.
When the camper
-wiring harness is ordered without the
heavy
-duty trailering package, an eight-wire harness
with a seven
-pin connector and separate CHMSL
connector are located at the rear of the vehicle and are
tied to the vehicle's frame.