Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the
front of my vehicle, will it keep the air bags
from working properly?
A:As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is
attached to your vehicle so that the vehicle’s
basic structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep
the air bags from working properly in a crash.
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front of the
vehicle that could keep the air bags from
working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end sheet metal or
height, they may keep the air bag system
from working properly. Also, the air bag system
may not work properly if you relocate any of the air
bag sensors. If you have any questions about
this, you should contact Customer Assistance
before you modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance
are in Step Two of theCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 7-2.
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
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This switchbank is located in the center of the instrument
panel.
e(Marker Lamp Defeat Switch):See “Marker Lamp
Defeat Switch” underExterior Lamps on page 3-13.
j(Manual High Idle Switch):See “Manual High Idle
System” underStarting Your Diesel Engine on
page 2-14.
i(Traction Control Switch):SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-11.
f(Outside Heated Mirror Switch):SeeOutside
Heated Mirrors on page 2-41.
g(Power Take Off Switch):SeePower Take-Off
(PTO) on page 4-36.
h(Rear Air Suspension Dump Control
Switch):See “Rear Air Suspension Dump Control”
underTwo-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift Control
on page 2-26.
k(Rear Axle Shift Control Switch):See “Air Shift
Control” (Automatic Transmission) underTwo-Speed
Rear Axle Electric Shift Control on page 2-26.
Exhaust Brake Switch:SeeDiesel Engine Exhaust
Brake on page 2-25.
l(Differential Lock Control Switch):SeeRear
Axle Differential Lock Control on page 4-10.
cd(Air Bag Off Switch):SeeAir Bag Off Switch
on page 1-55.
If your vehicle does not have some of the features
controlled by these switches, there will be a blank switch
marker in its place.
Accessory Power Outlets
With accessory power outlets, you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
The accessory power outlets are located on the
passenger’s side of the instrument panel.
To use an outlet, pull the cover down. When not using
it, always cover the outlet with the protective cap.
These circuits are protected by a fuse and have
maximum current levels.
Notice:Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
amperage rating.
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Hourmeter Gage
The instrument panel cluster displays the accumulated
engine run time hours using the reconfigurable
odometer VF display. The engine run time hours
displays only when the ignition is in the OFF or ACC
position and the trip reset switch is pressed for
about four seconds.
When the ignition is in the OFF or ACC position, the
instrument panel cluster displays the engine
accumulated hours for up to 30 seconds. The value of
the accumulated hours does not change when the
battery is disconnected.
The hourmeter resets to 0.0 when 10,000 hours are
accumulated. The instrument panel cluster begins
to reaccumulate the engine run time hours from 0.0
hours.
Audio System(s)
Notice:Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle – like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio – be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine,
radio or other systems, and even damage them.Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been added
improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with
it first. Figure out which radio you have in your vehicle,
find out what your audio system can do, and how to
operate all of its controls to be sure you are getting
the most out of the advanced engineering that went
into it.
Setting the Time
Press and hold the HR or MIN arrow for two seconds.
Then press the HR (down) arrow until the correct
hour appears on the display. Press and hold the
MIN (up) arrow until the correct minute appears on
the display. The time may be set with the ignition on
or off.
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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. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-8.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
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 is 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 — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the floor — 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 is 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
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 are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not 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 reflections
from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and
raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not 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 not avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. If you try to drive through owing
water, as you might at a low water crossing,
your vehicle can be carried away. As little as
six inches of owing water can carry away a
smaller vehicle. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore
police warning signs, and otherwise be very
cautious about trying to drive through
owing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
•Turn on your low-beam headlamps and your
marker and clearance lamps, if your vehicle has
them — not just your parking lamps — to help make
you more visible to others.
4-20
Customer Assistance and Information...............7-2
Customer Satisfaction Procedure......................7-2
Online Owner Center......................................7-3
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users...............................................7-3
Customer Assistance Offices............................7-3
Roadside Assistance Program..........................7-4
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Records.....................................................7-5Reporting Safety Defects..................................7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government...............................................7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government...............................................7-7
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors...........................................7-7
Service Publications Ordering Information...........7-7
Section 7 Customer Assistance and Information
7-1
Online Owner Center
The Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownership
needs. You can find your specific vehicle information
all in one place.
The Owner Center allows you to:
•Get e-mail service reminders.
•Access information about your specific 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).
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or
speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs),
Chevrolet has TTY equipment available at its Customer
Assistance Center. Any TTY user can communicate
with Chevrolet by dialing: 1-800-833-CHEV (2438). (TTY
users in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830.)
Customer Assistance Offices
Chevrolet encourages customers to call the toll-free
number for assistance. If a U.S. customer wishes
to write to Chevrolet, the letter should be addressed to
Chevrolet Medium Duty Truck’s Customer Assistance
Center.
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United States
GM Medium Duty Truck
Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 44947
Detroit, MI 48244
1-800-TO-CHEVY (1-800-862-4389)
1-800-833-2438 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-800-TO-CHEVY
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
From Puerto Rico:
1-800-496-9992 (English)
1-800-496-9993 (Spanish)
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
From 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
Roadside Assistance Program
GM Medium Duty Truck’s Roadside Assistance provides
stranded owners with towing service for disabled
vehicles during the base warranty period. This service
combines the efforts of trained telephone representatives
with a network of GM Medium Duty Truck’s dealer
services.
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