Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive
defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. See
Safety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-9.
Defensive driving really means ªbe ready for anything.º
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
ªalways expect the unexpected.º
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It's the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when
the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn
suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task Ð such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the ¯oor Ð makesproper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.
Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It's the number one contributor to
the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle:
·Judgment
·Muscular Coordination
·Vision
·Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
4-2
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you can't, try to slow down before you
hit them.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't
work as well in a quick stop and may cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water
or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly
until your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you're going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing
on the road. If you can see re¯ections from trees,
telephone poles or other vehicles, and raindrops
ªdimpleº the water's surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn't a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine's air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If
you can't avoid deep puddles or standing water,
drive through them very slowly.
4-31
Customer Assistance Information......................7-2
Customer Satisfaction Procedure......................7-2
Online Owner Center......................................7-3
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users...............................................7-4
Customer Assistance Offices............................7-4
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities..................................................7-5
Roadside Assistance Program..........................7-5
Courtesy Transportation...................................7-7Reporting Safety Defects..................................7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government...............................................7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government...............................................7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.....7-10
Service Publications Ordering Information.........7-10
Section 7 Customer Assistance Information
7-1
The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court program
administered by the Council of Better Business
Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle
repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Although you may be required to
resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to
®lling out a court action, use of the program is free of
charge and your case will generally be heard within
40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given in
your case, you may reject it and proceed with any other
venue for relief available to you.
You may contact the BBB using the toll-free telephone
number or write them at the following address:
BBB Auto Line
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1804
Telephone: 1-800-955-5100
This program is available in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Eligibility is limited by vehicle age,
mileage and other factors. General Motors reserves the
right to change eligibility limitations and/or discontinue
its participation in this program.Online Owner Center
The Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownership
needs. You can ®nd your speci®c vehicle information
all in one place.
The Owner Center allows you to:
·Get e-mail service reminders.
·Access information about your speci®c vehicle,
including tips and videos and an electronic
version of this owner's manual. (United States only)
·Keep track of your vehicle's service history and
maintenance schedule.
·Find GM dealers for service nationwide.
·Receive special promotions and privileges only
available to members. (United States only)
Refer to the web for updated information.
To register your vehicle, visit www.MyGMLink.com.
(United States) or My GM Canada within
www.gmcanada.com (Canada).
7-3
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or
speech-impaired and who use the Text Telephones
(TTYs), GMC has TTY equipment available at its
Customer Assistance Center. Any TTY user can
communicate with GMC by dialing: 1-800-GMC-8583
(462-8583). (TTY users in Canada can dial
1-800-263-3830.)
Customer Assistance Offices
GMC encourages customers to call the toll-free number
for assistance. If a U.S. customer wishes to write to
GMC, the letter should be addressed to GMC's
Customer Assistance Center.
United States
Pontiac-GMC Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
1-800-GMC-8782 (462-8782)
1-800-GMC-8583 (462-8583) (For Text Telephone
devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-800-GMC-8782 (462-8782)
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
From Puerto Rico
1-800-496-9992 (English)1-800-496-9993 (Spanish)
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
U.S. Virgin Islands:
1-800-496-9994
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
Canada
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
1-800-263-3777 (English)
1-800-263-7854 (French)
1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800
All Overseas Locations
Please contact the local General Motors Business Unit.
Mexico, Central America and
Caribbean Islands/Countries (Except
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands)
General Motors de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
Customer Assistance Center
Paseo de la Reforma # 2740
Col. Lomas de Bezares
C.P. 11910, Mexico, D.F.
01-800-508-0000
Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0 800
7-4
GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities
This program, available to
quali®ed applicants, can
reimburse you up to
$1,000 toward aftermarket
driver or passenger
adaptive equipment you
may require for your
vehicle (hand controls,
wheelchair/scooter
lifts, etc.).
This program can also provide you with free resource
information, such as area driver assessment centers and
mobility equipment installers. The program is available
for a limited period of time from the date of vehicle
purchase/lease. See your dealer for more details or call
the GM Mobility Assistance Center at 1-800-323-9935.
Text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call
1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. All TTY users
call 1-800-263-3830.
Roadside Assistance Program
GMC's Roadside Assistance Provides stranded owners
with over-the-phone roadside repairs, location of the
nearest GMC dealer or the following special services:
Flat Tire Change:Installation of spare tire will be
covered at no charge (customer is responsible for repair
or replacement of tire).
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough fuel for the customer
to get to the nearest service station (up to $5.00)
will be covered.
Jump Start:No-start situations which require a battery
jump start will be covered at no charge.
Lock Out:Replacement keys or locksmith service will be
covered at no charge if you are unable to gain entry
into your vehicle. Delivery of the replacement key will be
covered within 10 miles (16 km).
Emergency Towing Service:Towing to the nearest GMC
dealer for warranty related disablements will be
covered.
7-5
Trip Routing:Custom-made, computerized highlighted
maps using the most direct or scenic route are provided
free of charge. Maps include points of interest and a
list of GMC dealers along the route. Also included is a
list of hotels along the route that are discounted
through affiliation with ªQuest International.º Trip Routing
is available through Roadside Assistance by calling
1-800-GMC-8782 (462-8782). Please be prepared to
provide your Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN). Allow
®ve working days for ful®llment.
Trip Interruption Assistance:GMC will reimburse any
reasonable trip interruption expenses (up to $500.00)
when directly associated with warranty disablement. Trip
interruption service covers expenses such as meals
and overnight lodging if vehicle disablement occurs at
least 150 miles (240 km) from your home or rental
property. You will be required to obtain prior approval
from GMC Roadside Assistance and pay for expenses
at the time of disablement. Original receipts should
be submitted to GMC Roadside Assistance for
reimbursement. A service representative will provide
assistance when you call.
The Roadside Assistance services listed are available to
retail lease customers operating 2003 GMC light duty
trucks for a period of 3 years/36,000 miles (60,000 km).
All services must be pre-arranged by GMC Roadside
Assistance.Over-the-phone assistance, such as providing the name
of the closest dealer or minor technical advice, etc.,
is available to all owner/operators of GMC trucks,
regardless of vehicle or mileage.
Just dial GMC Roadside Assistance at 1-800-GMC-8782
(1-800-462-8782, Roadside Assistance prompt) to
reach a quali®ed representative who can assist you.
Text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-888-889-2438.
Your Roadside Assistance representative will ask for the
following information when your call is received:·Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN)
·Name and home address
·Telephone number and location from which you are
calling
·Location, license plate number and color of your
GMC truck
·Mileage of vehicle and description of problem
Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, 365 days a year, including weekends and
holidays. Should you have any questions about roadside
assistance, call the GMC Roadside Assistance Center
or contact your dealer.
Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in the
coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
GMC reserves the right to make any changes or
discontinue the Roadside Assistance program at
anytime without noti®cation.
7-6
Convenience Net............................................2-49
Coolant.........................................................3-41
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-41
Heater, Engine............................................2-22
Cooling System..............................................5-29
Cruise Control Light........................................3-47
Cruise Control................................................3-12
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-11
Customer Assistance Information........................ 7-7
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users.............................................. 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government.............................................. 7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government.................................... 7-9
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-10
D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-16
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.........................3-22, 3-27Delayed Locking............................................... 2-9
Dinghy Towing................................................4-46
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-18
Dome Lamps.................................................3-19
Door............................................................... 2-9
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-9
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
DRIVER DOOR AJAR.....................................3-62
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-50
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-51
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-60
Driver............................................................1-14
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-14
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-24
Driving Downhill..............................................4-23
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-26
Driving in Water..............................................4-27
Driving On Grades..........................................4-58
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-19
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-40
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-31
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-32
Driving Uphill..................................................4-20
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-56
Driving..........................................................4-28
At Night.....................................................4-28
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