2007 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER brakes

PARK (P):This position locks the rear wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start
the engine because your vehicle cannot move
easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 127.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 368.
{CAUTION:
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle
will be free to roll — even if your shift
lever is in PARK (P) — if your transfer
case is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear — not in
NEUTRAL. SeeFour-Wheel Drive on
page 121. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 127.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock control system.
You have to fully apply the regular brakes rst and
then press the shift lever button before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is
in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into another gear.
SeeShifting Out of Park (P) on page 129.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle.
If you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
the accelerator pedal about
halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
You will shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 322.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for
off-road driving. You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower
gear selection if the transmission shifts too often.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. It reduces vehicle speed more than
DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might
choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) when
driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing
a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill.To shift to the THIRD (3) position, you must rst
press the large button on the shift handle.
While the button is pressed, move the shifter in
the THIRD (3) position.
SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than THIRD (3) without using your
brakes. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
To shift to the SECOND (2) position, you must rst
press the large button on the shift handle. While
the button is pressed, move the shifter in the
SECOND (2) position.
You can also use SECOND (2) for starting the
vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
FIRST (1):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than SECOND (2) without using
your brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving forward, the
transmission will not shift into rst gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
120

To shift to the FIRST (1) position, you must rst
press the large button on the shift handle.
While the button is pressed, move the shifter in
the FIRST (1) position.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only
the accelerator pedal may damage the
transmission. The repair will not be covered by
your warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin
the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Four-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, the engine’s
driving power can be sent to all four wheels
for extra traction. To get the most satisfaction out
of four-wheel drive, you must be familiar with
its operation. Read the part that follows before
using four-wheel drive. You should use Two-Wheel
High for most normal driving conditions.Notice:Driving on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel-Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive
Low for an extended period of time may cause
premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain.
Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel-Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive
Low for extended periods of time.
Notice:If you continually drive your vehicle
with the transfer case in AUTO or Four-Wheel
Drive, you could shorten the life of the
transfer case or the Four-Wheel Drive system.
The selector switch should be left in
Two-Wheel Drive High mode. Only use AUTO
and Four-Wheel Drive when you need extra
traction such as in wet or slippery road
conditions.
121

When you are ready to drive, move the shift
lever out of PARK (P) before you release the
parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to
take some of the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission, so you can pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift
lock control system. You have to fully apply
the regular brakes rst and then press the shift
lever button before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition is in RUN. SeeAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 117.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves,
dry grass, or other things that can burn.
129

With cruise control, you can maintain a speed
of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more without
keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can
really help on long trips. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply the brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you cannot drive safely at a steady speed.
So, do not use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise control
on slippery roads.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when
you are not using cruise, you might hit a
button and go into cruise when you do
not want to. You could be startled and
even lose control. Keep the cruise control
switch off until you want to use cruise
control.
Setting Cruise Control
1. Move the cruise control switch to on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the set button at the end of the
lever and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
The accelerator pedal will not go down.
178

Some vehicles have
a cruise light on the
instrument panel
cluster that will come
on when the cruise
control is engaged.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired
speed and then you apply the brake. This, of
course, shuts off the cruise control. But you do
not need to reset it.
Once you are going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, you can move the cruise control switch
briey from on to resume/accelerate.
You will go right back up to the previously chosen
speed and stay there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate, the
vehicle keeps going faster until you release
the switch or apply the brakes. So unless you
want to go faster, do not hold the switch at
resume/accelerate.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the button at the end of the lever,
then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You will now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from on to resume/
accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to the
desired speed and then release the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts,
move the switch briey to resume/accelerate.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
Press in the set button at the end of the lever until
you reach the desired speed, then release it. Each
time you do this, you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle
will slow down to the cruise control speed set earlier.
179

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 362.
{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),
this light will come
on when you start
your engine and may
stay on for several
seconds, that is normal.
A chime may also sound when the light comes on.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. 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. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 208earlier
in this section.
The ABS warning light should come on briey
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light does not come on then, have it xed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
209

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.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 386.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 208.
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.
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.
310