
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
does not release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push, or the pedal may
go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 328.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS),
the light will come on
when your engine is
started and stay on for
several seconds. This is
normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on,
there may be a problem with the anti-lock
portion of the brake system. If the brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes,
but you do not have anti-lock brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 204for more
information.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. If the
light comes on when you are driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then
start the engine again to reset the system. If
the light still stays on, or comes on again while
you are driving, your vehicle needs service.
205

If the regular brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes and there is a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 204for more information.
The ABS warning light should come on brie y
when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle has a
traction control system
warning light.
This light will come on when your traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or
hear the system working, but this is normal.If the traction control system warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 281for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that
your engine is very hot.
This light will come on when you rst start the
vehicle as a check to let you know that the light is
working. It will go out after a few seconds. If the
light does not come on, the bulb may be burned out.
See your dealer to have it corrected.
If the light does not go out or if the light comes on
and stays on while you are driving, your vehicle
may have a problem with the cooling system.
206

SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays if there is a problem with
the brake system. The brake system warning
light and the anti-lock brake system warning light
may also display on the instrument panel
cluster. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 204andAnti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light on page 205for more information. If this
happens, stop as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the
message on the DIC display. If the message
displays or appears again when you begin driving,
the brake system needs service. See your
dealer as soon as possible. SeeBrakes on
page 381for more information.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays, while the ignition is on,
when the brake uid level is low. The brake system
warning light on the instrument panel cluster
also comes on. SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 204for more information. Have the
brake system serviced by your dealer as soon as
possible.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system, this message displays
if there is a problem with the URPA system. Do
not use this system to help you park. See
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) on
page 184for more information. See your dealer
for service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING
Your vehicle may have a speed variable assist
steering system. SeeSteering on page 285.
This message displays if a problem is detected
with the speed variable assist steering system.
When this message is displayed, you may notice
that the effort required to steer the vehicle
decreases or feels lighter, but you will still be able
to steer the vehicle.
226

There are several conditions that can cause this
message to appear.
One condition is overheating, which could
occur if StabiliTrak®activates continuously
for an extended period of time.
The message also displays if the brake
system warning light is on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 204.
The message could display if the stability
system takes longer than usual to complete its
diagnostic checks due to driving conditions.
The message displays if an engine or vehicle
related problem has been detected and the
vehicle needs service. See your dealer.
The message turns off as soon as the conditions
that caused the message to be displayed are
no longer present.
STARTING DISABLED SERVICE
THROTTLE
This message displays when your vehicle’s throttle
system is not functioning properly. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
THEFT ATTEMPTED
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays if the theft-deterrent
system has detected a break-in attempt while you
were away from your vehicle. SeeTheft-Deterrent
System on page 112for more information.
229

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems
have to do their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 283.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modi cations on page 347.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 204.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might
be less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
278

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modi cations on page 347.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that
will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with the ABS, this
warning light will stay
on. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light
on page 205.
279

Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice
some noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. On a rear-wheel-drive
vehicle, the system operates if it senses that
one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. On an All-Wheel-Drive
(AWD) vehicle, the system will operate if it
senses that any of the wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system brakes the spinning wheel(s) and/or
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
The TCS warning light will also ash to indicate
that the traction control system is active.
This warning light will
come on to let you
know if there is
a problem with your
traction control system.
281

SeeTraction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
on page 206. When this warning light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
The TCS automatically comes on whenever you
start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in
slippery road conditions, you should always
leave the system on. But you can turn the traction
control system off if you ever need to.
Notice:Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when the TCS is off. You could
damage your vehicle’s driveline.
When the TCS is switched off on AWD vehicles,
you may still feel the system working. This is
normal and necessary with the AWD hardware on
your vehicle.
You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever
gets stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking
the vehicle is required. SeeRocking Your Vehicle
to Get It Out on page 322andIf Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 321
for more information. See alsoWinter Driving
on page 317for information on using TCS when
driving in snowy or icy conditions.To turn the system off,
press the TC (traction
control) button
located on the console
under the climate
controls.
If you press the TC (traction control) button once,
the traction control system will turn off and the
traction control system warning light will come on.
Press the TC button again to turn the system
back on. If you press and hold the TC button for
ve seconds, the StabiliTrak
®system and the
traction control system will turn off. Press the TC
(traction control) button again to turn StabiliTrak
®
back on. For more information, seeStabiliTrak®
System on page 283.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modi cations on page 347for more information.
282