Stop Tabs
If your vehicle has a sunroof, it will have a
crossrail stop tab placed in the siderail in the
location labeled SUNROOF STOP. This tab
prevents you from moving the crossrails past the
opening of the sunroof and loading cargo too
far forward.If your vehicle has the OnStar and navigation
system, it will have a crossrail stop tab placed in
the siderail in the location labeled OnSTAR STOP.
This tab prevents you from moving the crossrails
and cargo too close to the OnStar antenna,
which could cause the system to function
improperly or not at all.
Vehicles with the off-road lamps will have
additional stop tabs placed in the siderails to
prevent you from moving the lamps too far
rearward, causing them to shine into the optional
sunroof opening.
162
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. If the light does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. A chime
will sound when the light stays on. If the regular
brake system warning light is not on, you still have
brakes, but you do not have ABS. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on you do
not have ABS and there is a problem with your
regular brakes. In addition to both lights, you
will also hear a chime sound on the rst
occurrence of a problem and each time the
vehicle is shut off and then restarted. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 211.The ABS warning light should come on brie y
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.
Traction Off Light
The traction off light will
come on when a traction
control system or
anti-lock brake system
problem has been
detected. The vehicle
may need service.
When this light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 309.
If the Traction Control System (TCS) detects that
the vehicle’s brake’s are overheating, the TCS will
shut off and the traction off light will come on. When
the brakes cool off, the TCS will turn back on
automatically and the traction off light will go out.
212
Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 302
Defensive Driving...................................... 302
Drunken Driving........................................ 303
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 306
Braking...................................................... 306
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 307
Braking in Emergencies............................. 309
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 309
Locking Rear Axle..................................... 311
Steering.................................................... 312
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 314
Passing..................................................... 314
Loss of Control.......................................... 316
Off-Road Driving........................................ 317
Assist Steps.............................................. 338
Driving at Night......................................... 342
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 344
City Driving............................................... 347
Freeway Driving........................................ 348Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 349
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 350
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 351
Winter Driving........................................... 353
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 357
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 358
Recovery Loops........................................ 358
First Aid Kit and Tool Kit........................... 360
Front Mounted Receiver............................ 360
Power Winch Platform............................... 361
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 362
Towing........................................................ 369
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 369
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 369
Selectable Extended Rear Ride Height...... 371
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
System.................................................. 372
Towing a Trailer........................................ 374
Trailer Recommendations.......................... 388
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
301
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 392.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 212.
307
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at each
front wheel and at both rear wheels.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
308
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 (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only
if it senses that any of the wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system applies the brakes to limit wheel spin.
The Traction Control System may operate on dry
roads under some conditions. When this happens,
you may notice a reduction in acceleration or a
pumping sound. This is normal and doesn’t mean
there’s a problem with your vehicle. Examples of
these conditions include hard acceleration in a turn,
an abrupt upshift or downshift of the transmission or
driving on rough roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage
the cruise control. SeeCruise Control on page 183.
309
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 reducing vehicle speed 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.Off-Road Driving
This off-road guide is meant to provide advice for
when you drive your vehicle off paved roads.
Also, seeBraking on page 306.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some de nite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you have left the great
North American road system behind. Traffic lanes
are not marked. Curves are not banked. There
are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill or downhill. In short, you have gone right
back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that
is why it is very important that you read this guide.
You will nd many driving tips and suggestions.
These will help make your off-road driving
safer and more enjoyable.
317
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) improve your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Even though you have ABS,
you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) on page 307.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
ne until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you are
actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in
a serious situation. You should probably stay
with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you
are near help and you can hike through the
snow. Here are some things to do to summon
help and keep yourself and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police
that you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
around you. If you do not have blankets
or extra clothing, make body insulators
from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
oor mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to
keep warm.
355