Q:What are the different types of add-on
child restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by
the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular restraint should
take into consideration not only the child’s
weight, height, and age but also whether or not
the restraint will be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints, there
are many different models available. When
purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is
designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is,
the restraint will have a label saying that it
meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint state the weight
and height limitations for a particular child
restraint. In addition, there are many kinds
of restraints available for children with
special needs.
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck.
This is necessary because a newborn
infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs
so much compared with the rest of its
body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing
seat settles into the restraint, so the
crash forces can be distributed across
the strongest part of an infant’s body,
the back and shoulders. Infants always
should be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
48
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.Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half
the adult population — choose never to drink
alcohol, so they never drive after drinking.
For persons under 21, it is against the law in
every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good
medical, psychological, and developmental
reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink
alcohol and then drive. But what if people do?
How much is “too much” if someone plans
to drive? It is a lot less than many might think.
Although it depends on each person and situation,
here is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of
someone who is drinking depends upon
four things:
•The amount of alcohol consumed
•The drinker’s body weight
•The amount of food that is consumed before
and during drinking
•The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol
207
According to the American Medical Association, a
180 lb (82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with
a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would
reach the same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce
(120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if
each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of liquors like
whiskey, gin, or vodka.It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example,
if the same person drank three double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour,
the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent.
A person who consumes food just before or during
drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women
generally have a lower relative percentage of
body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in
body water, this means that a woman generally will
reach a higher BAC level than a man of her
same body weight will when each has the same
number of drinks.
The law in most U.S. states, and throughout
Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent.
In some other countries, the limit is even lower.
For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and
Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial
drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent.
The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to
six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have
seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the
drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.
208
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.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 169.
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; the
weight of the load; and the amount of brake
force applied.
210
Loading Your Vehicle
It is the responsibility of the Final Stage
manufacturer to install a Certification label on
your vehicle. This label shows how much weight
your vehicle can properly carry. It may also
show the size of the vehicle’s original tires, and
the inflation pressures needed to obtain the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is
called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
The tire information could also be shown on a
separate Tire Information label.
The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle,
all occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification label also tells you the maximum
weight for the front and rear axles, called the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out
the actual loads on your front and rear axles,
go to a weigh station and weigh your vehicle.
Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure
to spread out your load equally on both sides
of the center line.Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the
GAWR for either the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, spread it out.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
238
Using heavier suspension components to get
added durability might not change the weight
ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your
vehicle the right way.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
If you put things inside your vehicle — like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything else — they
go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or
turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden
stop or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops
of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down
unless you need to.
239
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment
If you will be installing a snow plow on your
vehicle, we recommend that the vehicle have
the snow plow prep package (RPO ANQ).
Before installing a snow plow, see your dealer
for information on other recommended optional
equipment and vehicle weight restrictions.
Notice:The payload your vehicle can carry
will be reduced when a snow plow is installed.
Your vehicle can be damaged if either the
front or rear axle ratings, or the GVW,
are exceeded. See your dealer for more
information.
{CAUTION:
On some vehicles that have certain front
mounted equipment, such as a snow
plow, it may be possible to load the front
axle to the front gross axle weight rating
(GAWR) but not have enough weight
on the rear axle to have proper braking
performance. If your brakes can not work
properly, you could have a crash. To help
your brakes work properly when a snow
plow is installed, always follow the
snow plow manufacturer or installer’s
recommendation for rear ballast to ensure
a proper front and rear weight distribution
ratio, even though the actual front weight
may be less than the front GAWR, and the
total vehicle weight is less than the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Maintaining
a proper front and rear weight distribution
ratio is necessary to provide proper
braking performance.
240
Diesel Engine Fuel
For the Caterpillar®diesel, see the Caterpillar®
Operation & Maintenance Manual for information
concerning fuel usage.
Notice:Diesel fuel or fuel additives not
recommended in this manual could damage
your fuel system and engine. Your warranty
would not cover this damage. And:
Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine
oil or automatic transmission uid could
damage your engine and emission controls.
Aftermarket diesel fuel additives are not
tested by General Motors. Some additives,
particularly those which contain alcohol or
water emulsi ers, may damage your fuel
system. If you believe that unique
circumstances call for a fuel additive to be
used, consult your dealer for advice.
If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be
difficult to restart your engine. To avoid this,
never let your tank get empty.
If gasoline is ever accidentally added to the fuel
tank, to avoid severe engine damage, do not run
the engine until the fuel tank can be drained.
If you run out of fuel,Running Out of Fuel on
page 262tells you how to restart your engine.
What Fuel to Use
In the United States, for best results use
No. 2-D diesel fuel year-round (above and below
freezing conditions) as oil companies blend
No. 2-D fuel to address climate differences.
No. 1-D diesel fuel may be used in very cold
temperatures (when it stays below 0°F or−18°C);
however, it will produce a power and fuel
economy loss. Avoid the use of No. 1-D diesel
fuel in warm or hot climates. It may result in
stalling, poor starting when the engine is hot, and
may damage the fuel injection system.
It is important that diesel-powered trucks are
refueled only with ultra low-sulfur fuel. The
emission control system requires the use of diesel
fuel with ultra low-sulfur (0.0015% by weight, or
15 ppm, maximum) content. Both ultra low-sulfur
and higher sulfur diesel fuels are available in
the United States and ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel is
available in Canada. However, only higher
sulfur diesel fuel is available in Mexico. Use of
fuels with higher-sulfur content will affect the
function of the emission components and may
cause reduced performance, excessive smoke,
and unpleasant odor.
253