2005 GMC SIERRA 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

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.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 cannot 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.
4-35

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 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.
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 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 are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. SeeOff-Road
Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle on
page 4-20for information about driving off-road.
4-42

Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon
monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle.
You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-53. To maximize your safety
when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle. Do not use
the climate control setting for maximum air
because it only recirculates the air inside
your vehicle. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-21.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.
While towing a trailer or when exposed to long periods
of sunshine, the oor of the truck bed may become
very warm. Avoid putting items in the truck bed
that might be affected by high ambient temperatures.
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.
4-88

Light (cont.)
Traction Off................................................3-41
Up-Shift.....................................................3-39
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-18
Exit...........................................................3-18
Locking Rear Axle...........................................4-11
Lockout Protection..........................................2-13
Locks
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Door........................................................... 2-8
Lockout Protection.......................................2-13
Power Door.................................................. 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-13
Loss of Control...............................................4-19
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-50
Lumbar
Power Controls............................................. 1-5
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-11
At Least Once a Month................................6-11
At Least Once a Year..................................6-12
At the First 100, 1,000 and 6,000 Miles
(160, 1 600 and 10 000km).......................6-11Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-8
Maintenance Record....................................6-18
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-17
Owner Checks and Services.........................6-10
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-14
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-44
Manual Seats................................................... 1-3
Manual Selectable Ride...................................4-10
Manual Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-33
Operation...................................................2-32
Manual Windows............................................2-16
Memory Seat.................................................2-74
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-54
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass
and Temperature Display...........................2-58
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display.............2-55
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-55
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................2-63
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors........................2-61
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-64
8

Mirrors (cont.)
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors...................2-63
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-64
Outside Manual Mirrors................................2-60
Outside Power Camper-Type.........................2-62
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors....................2-62
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-62
Outside West Coast-Type Mirrors...................2-61
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-21
Noise Control System, Tampering......................5-61
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-17
O
Odometer......................................................3-33
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-33
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-17
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-20
Pressure Gage............................................3-47
Older Children, Restraints................................1-33
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®System.............................................2-64
Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
Off Paved Roads.........................................4-20Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-30
Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror.............................2-63
Camper-Type Mirrors....................................2-61
Convex Mirror.............................................2-64
Curb View Assist Mirrors..............................2-63
Heated Mirrors............................................2-64
Manual Mirrors............................................2-60
Power Foldaway Mirrors...............................2-62
Power Mirrors.............................................2-62
West Coast-Type Mirrors..............................2-61
Outside Power Camper-Type Mirror...................2-62
Overdrive Disable...........................................3-49
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode.....5-39
Owner Checks and Services.............................6-10
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-49
Shifting Out of............................................2-51
Parking
Brake........................................................2-48
Over Things That Burn.................................2-52
Parking Your Vehicle.......................................2-52
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-36
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-76
9

Passing.........................................................4-17
Passlock®......................................................2-21
Power
Accessory Outlets........................................3-19
Door Locks.................................................. 2-9
Electrical System.......................................5-122
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-5
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-23
Seat............................................................ 1-4
Steering Fluid.............................................5-46
Windows....................................................2-17
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................2-10
Programming the HomeLink
®Transmitter...........2-67
Q
QUADRASTEER™..........................................4-14
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-15
R
Radios..........................................................3-69
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-70
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-125
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-126
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-126
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-83
Radio with CD............................................3-73
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-98Radios (cont.)
Rear Seat Audio........................................3-122
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-70
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-69
Theft-Deterrent..........................................3-123
Understanding Reception............................3-125
Rear Axle......................................................5-58
Locking......................................................4-11
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-13
Rear Doors....................................................2-14
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-30
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)..................................3-122
Rear Seat Entertainment System.....................3-111
Rear Seat Operation.................................1-9, 1-10
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-27
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass and Temperature Display................2-58
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display..................2-55
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-55
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-6
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-14
Recovery Hooks.............................................4-49
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-62
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-5
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................5-97
10