
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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2003 - Savana OM

Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
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
driver who 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—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—the inability to see in dim light—and
aren’t even aware of it.
4-15
2003 - Savana OM

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“blind”spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain
you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect
to move slightly slower at night.
4-20
2003 - Savana OM

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as“highway hypnosis”?
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 inless 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.
4-22
2003 - Savana OM

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.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
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2003 - Savana OM

Fuse Usage
1 Spare
2 Outside Rear View Mirror
3 Courtesy Lamp/SEO
4 Left Rear Stop/Turn Signal
5 Cargo Locks
6 Right Rear Stop/Turn Signal
7 Driver Locks
8Stop/Center High Mounted
Stop Lamp
9 Climate Control 1
10 Climate Control
11 Brakes
12 Heated Mirror/Defogger
13 Right Rear Blower
14 Driver Turn Mirror
15 Door Locks
16 Upfitter Park
17 Not Available
18 Left Rear Park LampFuse Usage
19 Pass Turn Mirror
20 Right Rear Park Lamp
21 Trailer Park Lamp
22 Front Park Lamp
32 Auxilary1
33 Auxilary2
Relays Usage
23 Window Residual Accessory Power
24 Auxiliary
25 Right Rear Defogger
26 Courtesy Lamp
27 Cargo Unlock
28 Driver Unlock
29 Park Lamp
30 Door Locks
31 Pass Unlock
Circuit Breaker Usage
34 Power Window
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2003 - Savana OM

Fuse Usage
1 Radio Battery
2 Powertrain Control Module Battery
3 Left Rear Turn Lamp
4 Right Rear Turn Lamp
5 Backup Lamps Trailer Wiring
6 Ignition 0
7 Stop Lamp
8 Right Rear Defogger/Heated Mirror
9Right Daytime Running Lamp/
Turn Signal
10Left Daytime Running Lamp/
Turn Signal
11 Truck Body Control Module 4
12 Fuel Pump
13 Trailer
14 Flasher
15 Horn
16 Truck Body Control Module 3
17 Trailer Stop/Turn Signal
18 Truck Body Control Module 2
19 Truck Body Control ModuleFuse Usage
20 Remote Function Actuator
21 Engine 2
22 Ignition E
23 Engine 1
24Truck Body Control Module
Ignition 1
25 Spare
26 RPA/Inside Rearview Mirror
27 Crankcase
28Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System
29 Auxiliary Power Outlets
30 Cigarette Lighter
31 Instrument Panel Cluster
32 Air Conditioning
36 Vehicle Back Up
37Supplemental Inflatable
Restraint System
38 Powertrain Control Module Ignition 1
39 Oxygen Sensor B
40 Oxygen Sensor A
5-95
2003 - Savana OM

Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Specifications............................................... 5-5
Glass Surfaces...............................................5-84
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-4
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer.................... 3-7
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-91
Headlamps....................................................5-50
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-22
Hitches..........................................................4-41
Hood
Checking Things Under.................................. 5-9
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn ............................................................... 3-5
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-29How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-31
How to Add Fluid............................................5-22
How to Check........................................5-19, 5-57
How to Check Lubricant...................................5-47
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-35
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter..........5-18
How to Reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL Light......5-16
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-14
Hydroplaning..................................................4-18
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-27
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-26
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-34
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-35
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-28
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-32
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard...........................4-26
Ignition Positions.............................................2-21
Ignition Transmission Lock Check......................6-15
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-36
Inflation–Tire Pressure...................................5-57
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror......................2-32
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2003 - Savana OM