2-77
Here are some situations you may experience with
your fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem with
the fuel gage.
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the
gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.
The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
the ignition.
Message Center
The message center is located on the left side of the
instrument panel cluster. It gives you important safety
and maintenance facts. When you turn the ignition on,
the entire center lights up for just a few seconds. As
needed, the message center will display one of the
following messages. The message center is capable of
alternating among different messages if needed.
Battery
If this message is displayed
when the engine is running,
you may have a problem
with your charging system.
The battery display will also stay on while the key is in
RUN until the engine is started.
If the message stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or some
other charging system problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving with this message displayed could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this message
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and the air conditioner.
2-83 Cargo Door Ajar
This message is displayed
when the rear liftglass or
liftgate is ajar when the
ignition is in RUN.
Low Fuel
This message is displayed
when your vehicle is low
on fuel.
Refer to the fuel gage for a better indication of the
amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
Secondary Information Center (SIC)
This section explains the features of your SIC.
The SIC provides instant information about fuel,
mileage and vehicle history in addition to allowing you
to personalize certain features of your vehicle. If you
would like to skip to the section on personalizing your
vehicle, see the section under MENU.
2-84 Fuel
Each press of the FUEL button will change the
display between the fuel remaining range, average
fuel economy, instantaneous fuel economy and a
blank display.
The average fuel economy can be reset using the
RESET button.
Trip
Each press of the TRIP button will change the
display between personal trip computer, business trip
computer, timer, vehicle history, annual mileage and a
blank display.
Personal Trip Computer and Business
Trip Computer
Each press of the arrow button will change the
display between turn on/off, trip odometer, fuel used,
average fuel economy and average speed.
The ON/OFF button will turn the trip computer on
and off. The information on the trip computer only
gets updated when it is turned on. The personal and
business computers are independent, i.e. turning one
of them on does not turn the other off.All information associated with the trip computer
will be reset when the RESET button is pressed.
If the RESET button is pressed and held for more
than two seconds, all of the trip computer settings
will reset starting from the last ignition cycle
(turning the ignition from OFF to RUN). This
feature is for someone who has forgotten to reset the
trip computer when pulling out of the driveway and
does not realize it until after driving for awhile.
Timer
Each press of the ON/OFF button will turn the timer
on or off.
The RESET button will reset the timer to 00:00:00.
If turned on, the timer will accumulate whenever
the SIC is powered (the engine does not have to
be running).
The timer will rollover after 99:59:59.
2-85
Vehicle History Last 15 Days
The first press of the arrow button will display the
maximum speed and accumulated mileage for the
current day.
Every press of the arrow button after will display the
maximum speed and accumulated mileage for the
previous day.
This feature requires the date and time to be set
correctly. Refer to the setting of day/date/time under
the MENU button explained later in this section.
Annual Mileage
The annual mileage displayed is the mileage
accumulated since the annual mileage was reset.
Pressing the RESET button will reset the annual
mileage to 0.
Pressing the arrow button will display the ratio of
personal trip computer mileage to annual mileage as
a percent.
Pressing the arrow button again will display the ratio
of business trip computer mileage to annual mileage
as a percent.Menu
Press the MENU button to choose a feature you would
like to personalize (the features are listed below). Each
press of the button will display a new item that can be
personalized. Use the arrow button to choose the setting
you would like to use within the chosen feature. For
example: Say you would like to personalize the
automatic door locks so that the automatic locking
feature is disabled. You would do the following:
1. First press the MENU button until you reach the
Automatic Door Lock screen.
2. Next, press the arrow button until you find the
Disabled setting.
3. The setting is now actually set without having to
do anything else. You can do one of three things at
this point:
You can leave the personalization mode by
pressing FUEL or TRIP. The SIC will then
display the day/date.
3-8 Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
air inside escape. This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
The A/C button, located below the mode knob, allows
the air coming into your vehicle to be cooled. This
setting is useful for normal cooling on hot days.
Use A/C with recirculation on to allow the air inside
your vehicle to be recirculated. This setting will help to
maximize your air conditioner's performance and your
vehicle's fuel economy. This setting also cools the air
the fastest and can be used to keep unwanted odors
and/or dust from entering the vehicle.
When using the air conditioner, turn off the recirculation
setting and use the outside air setting after the vehicle
reaches a comfortable interior temperature. When the
right knob on the control panel is between floor and
defrost, the recirculation feature will not function.
This helps reduce window fogging.Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger compartment
air filter which filters outside air entering the vehicle.
For information on replacing the filter see ªPassenger
Compartment Air Filterº in the Index.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using it. On cold days, use the floor or bi
-level
(mode knob set between vent and floor) setting with the
temperature knob in the red area.
On cold days, approximately 32F (
-0C) or lower,
you may experience differences in how the transmission
shifts until the engine is warm. This feature
automatically reduces the time it takes for the engine to
reach normal operating temperature and shortens the
time it takes the heater to reach full output.
If you use the engine coolant heater before starting your
engine in cold weather, 20F (
-8C) or lower, the
heating system will produce warmer air faster to heat the
passenger compartment.
The use of an engine coolant heater also reduces the
time it takes for the engine to reach normal operating
temperature. For more information, see ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.
4-15 Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For
example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance and
service work done. Check to make sure all underbody
shields (if so equipped) are properly attached. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the
fluid levels up where they should be? What are the local
laws that apply to off
-roading where you'll be driving?
If you don't know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you be on
someone's private land? If so, be sure to get the
necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about
how to load your vehicle.
The heaviest things should be on the load floor and
forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items as far
forward as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on
the off
-road terrain doesn't toss things around.
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
below the top of the seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over rough
terrain. You or your passengers can be
struck by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
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.
You'll find other important information in this manual.
See ªVehicle Loading,º ªLuggage Carrierº and ªTiresº
in the Index.
4-27
If the water isn't too deep, then drive through it slowly. At
fast speeds, water splashes on your ignition system and
your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get
your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your tailpipe is
under water, you'll never be able to start your engine.
When you go through water, remember that when your
brakes get wet, it may take you longer to stop.
CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown. If it's
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Don't drive
through rushing water.
See ªDriving Through Waterº in the Index for more
information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust system
for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off
-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
4-34
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in GMC
dealerships all across North America. They'll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?