
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 Ð such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº Ð and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.Off-Road Driving with Your
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel
drive.
Also, see
Anti-Lock BrakesunderBraking on page 4-6.
If your vehicle doesn't have four-wheel drive, you
shouldn't drive off-road unless you're on a level, solid
surface.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some de®nite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.
©Off-roading© means you've left the great North American
road system behind. Traffic lanes aren't marked.
Curves aren't banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In
short, you've gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that's
why it's very important that you read this guide.
You'll ®nd many driving tips and suggestions. These will
help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
4-14

·Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
·Since you can't see as well, you may need to slow
down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
·Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
·In remote areas, watch for animals.
·If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But
as we get older these differences increase. A
50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if
you're driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may
cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driverwho doesn't lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean Ð inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a ®lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ¯ash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes
moving; that way, it's easier to pick out dimly lighted
objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked
regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be
examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness Ð the inability to see in dim light Ð and aren't
even aware of it.
4-29

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ¯ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check
traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with
the ¯ow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the
prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your
mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic ¯ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in
your ªblindº spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to
move slightly slower at night.
4-34

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway
hypnosisº? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road in
less than a second,and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
·Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
·Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
·If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in ¯at or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. See
Off-Road
Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle on
page 4-14
for information about driving off-road.
4-36

Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brake±and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so you'll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
Your trailer's brake system can tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic brake system only if:
·The trailer parts can withstand 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
·The trailer's brake system will use less than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of ¯uid from your vehicle's
master cylinder. Otherwise, both braking systems
won't work well. You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
¯uid tap at the port on the master cylinder that
sends ¯uid to the rear brakes. But don't use copper
tubing for this. If you do, it will bend and ®nally break off.
Use steel brake tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you'll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
4-60

Fuse Usage
LT TRN Left Turn Signal Rear
RT TRN Right Turn Signal Rear
RR PRK Right Rear Parking Lamps
TRL PRK Trailer Park Lamps
LTHDLP Left Headlamp
RTHDLP Right Headlamp
FRPRK Front Parking Lamps
INT BAT Instrument Panel Fuse Block Feed
ENG IEngine Sensors/Solenoids, MAF,
CAM, PURGE, VENT
ECM BEngine Control Module, Fuel Pump
Module, Oil Pressure
ABS Anti-Lock Brake System
ECM I Engine Control Module Injectors
F/PUMP Fuel Pump
DRL Daytime Running LampsFuse Usage
A/C Air Conditioning
HORN Horn
W/W PMP Not Used
HORN Horn
BTSIAutomatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System
B/U LP Back Up Lamps
IGN B Column Feed,Ignition 2, 3, 4
STARTER Starter
RAP Retained Accessory Power
LD LEV Not Used
OXYSEN Oxygen Sensor
IGN E Engine
MIR/LKS Mirrors, Door Locks
FOG LP Fog Lamps
IGN A Starting and Charging Ignition 1
5-97

Fuse Usage
STUD #2 Accessory Feeds, Electric Brake
PARKLP Parking Lamps
LR PRK Left Rear Parking Lamps
LIFTGLASS Liftglass
IGN CStarter Solenoid, Fuel Pump,
PRNDL
HTDSEAT Heated Seat
HVACHeating,Ventilation, Air Cooling
System
TRCHMSL Trailer Center High Mount Stop Light
RRDFOG Rear Defogger
TBC Truck Body ComputerFuse Usage
CRANK Clutch Switch, NSBU Switch
CHMSL Center High Mounted Stoplamp
HAZLP Hazard Lamps
VECHMSLVehicle Center High-Mounted Stop
Lamp
RR DEFOG Rear Defogger
HTDMIR Heated Mirror
ATC Transfer Case (Four-Wheel Drive)
STOPLP Stop Lamps
RR W/W Rear Window Wiper
5-98

Chains, Tires..................................................5-70
Charging System Light....................................3-29
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-43
Checking Coolant............................................5-28
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-15
Checking the Fluid Level..................................5-23
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-65
Check...........................................................3-33
Engine Light...............................................3-33
Gages Warning Light...................................3-38
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-90
Child Restraints..............................................1-36
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-36
Infants and Young Children...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-44
Older Children.............................................1-30
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat
Position..................................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-49
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-43
Top Strap...................................................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...................1-39, 1-40
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-89
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-87
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-84
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-86
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-86
Cleaning Leather............................................5-85
Cleaning the Mirror.........................................2-39
Cleaning the Photocells...................................2-39
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-86
Cleaning the Windshield and Wiper Blades.........5-88
Cleaning Tires................................................5-89
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-85
Cleaning Wood Panels....................................5-86
Cleaning........................................................5-84
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-84
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-90
Weatherstrips..............................................5-87
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-26
Compact Disc Messages.................3-52, 3-62, 3-73
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-83
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-17
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Coolant.........................................................3-32
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-32
Heater, Engine............................................2-24
Cooling System..............................................5-32
Cooling.........................................................3-19
3