2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE mirror

Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes,
steering and acceleration) do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.If you have the Traction Assist System, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If you do not have
this system, or if the system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
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 will 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.
4-19

Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can not 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 are 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
are driving, do not 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 does not 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 is 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
are not even aware of it.
4-34

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 is 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 is not 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.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
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.
4-40

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. Do not 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.
4-42

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 all trailer hitch parts 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.
4-76

Fuses Usage
RR Wiper Rear Window Wiper Switch
SEO ACCYSpecial Equipment Option
Accessory
WS WPR Windshield Wipers
TBC ACCYTruck Body Controller
Accessory
IGN 3 Ignition, Heated Seats
4WD Four-Wheel Drive System
HTR A/C Climate Control System
LOCKPower Door Lock Relay
(Lock Function)
HVAC 1Inside Rearview Mirror,
Climate Control System
L DOORDriver’s Door Harness
Connection
CRUISE Cruise Control
UNLOCKPower Door Lock Relay
(Unlock Function)
RR FOG LP Rear Fog Lamp (Export Only)
BRAKE Anti-Lock Brake System
DRIVER UNLOCKPower Door Lock Relay
(Driver’s Door Unlock
Function)
IGN 0 PCM, TCM
TBC IGN 0 Truck Body Controller
5-121

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Setting the Time..........................................3-73
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-114
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-115
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-117
Automatic Climate Control System.....................3-22
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation..........2-50, 2-53
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-16
Automatic Transfer Case..................................2-38
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-34
Auxiliary Battery..............................................4-82
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Switch.................3-19
B
Backing Up....................................................4-76
Battery..........................................................5-47
BATTERY NOT CHARGING.............................3-66
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-41
Before You Drive...........................................3-100
Before You Go Off-Roading..............................4-20Brake
Parking......................................................2-42
System Warning Light..................................3-42
Brake Adjustment............................................5-46
Brake Fluid....................................................5-43
Brake Pedal, Throttle.......................................2-33
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-46
Brake Wear...................................................5-46
Brakes..........................................................5-43
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-30
BUCKLE PASSENGER....................................3-69
BUCKLE SEATBELT.......................................3-69
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-58
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-65
Daytime Running Lamps...............................5-65
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-63
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps....................................................5-62
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-58
Headlamps.................................................5-58
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-66
Taillamps....................................................5-65
Buying New Tires...........................................5-83
2

Child Restraints (cont.)
Top Strap...................................................1-40
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-38
Chime Level Adjustment.................................3-117
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-22
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle.................................5-111
Outside of Your Vehicle..............................5-114
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-117
Weatherstrips............................................5-114
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses......................5-115
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet...................................5-111
Cleaning Glass Surfaces................................5-113
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components...............5-113
Cleaning Leather...........................................5-113
Cleaning the Mirror.................................2-52, 2-55
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel.........5-113
Cleaning the Video Screen.............................3-112
Cleaning Vinyl..............................................5-113
Climate Control System
Automatic...................................................3-22
Climate Controls Personalization....................3-32
Dual..........................................................3-29
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-32
Compass Calibration...............................2-52, 2-54
Compass Operation.........................................2-53Compass Variance..................................2-51, 2-54
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-27
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-45
Heater, Engine............................................2-33
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-29
Cooling System..............................................5-33
Cruise Control................................................3-11
Cruise Control Light........................................3-51
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-14
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-8
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................................................ 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-13
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-12
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-12
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-13
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