2009 GMC ENVOY traction control

When the StabiliTrak
system is both on and
actively controlling the
stability of the vehicle, the
StabiliTrak light will blink for
the duration of the event.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working.
This is normal.
The StabiliTrak disable
button is located on the
transmission shift handle.
The StabiliTrak system is automatically disabled in
4LO mode and cannot be turned on until the vehicle is
switched to 2HI, 4HI, or 4AWD.
The StabiliTrak system has three modes of operation:
STABILITRAK ON, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, and
STABILITRAK OFF.
STABILITRAK ON — The vehicle will default to
STABILITRAK ON every time the driver starts the
vehicle. The StabiliTrak light will be off and no DIC
messages will be displayed.TRACTION CONTROL OFF — The driver can modify
the engine speed management system by momentarily
pressing the StabiliTrak button on the transmission shift
handle. The StabiliTrak light will come on and TRACTION
CONTROL OFF will be displayed. For vehicles without
a DIC, the StabiliTrak indicator light will come on.
Momentarily pressing the StabiliTrak button again will
return the system to the STABILITRAK ON mode.
STABILITRAK OFF — The driver can turn off
StabiliTrak by pressing the StabiliTrak button for more
than ve seconds. The StabiliTrak light will come on
and STABILITRAK OFF will be displayed. For vehicles
without a DIC, the StabiliTrak indicator light will
come on. Momentarily pressing the StabiliTrak button
again will return the system to the STABILITRAK
ON mode. See StabiliTrak Off below for more
information.
Traction Control Off
In this mode, stability control and brake-traction control
are functional. Engine speed management will be
modied and the driven wheels can spin more freely.
This can cause the brake-traction control to activate
more frequently. If the controller detects excessive wheel
spin in this mode, the StabiliTrak indicator light may
blink and the STABILITRAK ACTIVE message may be
displayed to warn the driver that damage may occur
to the transfer case.
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StabiliTrak Off
In this mode, both stability control and part of the traction
control system are disabled. The vehicle will still have
brake-traction control, but will not be able to use the
engine speed management system. System noises may
be heard as a result of the brake-traction control coming
on. If the controller detects excessive wheel spin in this
mode, the StabiliTrak indicator light may blink and the
STABILITRAK ACTIVE message may be displayed
to warn the driver that damage may occur to the
transfer case.
It is recommended to leave the system on for normal
driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn
the system off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice orsnow, and you may want to “rock” the vehicle in an
attempt to free it. It may also be necessary to turn off the
system when driving in extreme off-road conditions
where high wheel spin is required. SeeIf Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-30
for more information.
When the transfer case is in 4LO, the stability system is
automatically disabled. The StabiliTrak light will come
on and the STABILITRAK OFF message will appear on
the DIC. The StabiliTrak system cannot be turned on
until the vehicle is switched to 2HI, 4HI, or 4AWD.
The following chart describes the StabiliTrak system
events and the corresponding messages and lights that
will be displayed on the instrument panel cluster.
Vehicles with a DIC Vehicles without a DIC Event
StabiliTrak
Indicator LightDIC MessageStabiliTrak
Indicator LightStabiliTrak
Service Light—
Off None Off OffStabiliTrak On mode (System is fully
enabled, but is not actively
controlling vehicle stability).
SolidTraction
Control OffSolid Off Traction Control Off Mode
Solid StabiliTrak Off Solid OffStabiliTrak Off Mode (StabiliTrak
indicator light will ash when system
rst enters this mode).
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Vehicles with a DIC Vehicles without a DIC Event
Blinking StabiliTrak Active Blinking OffStabiliTrak system activates using
engine speed management, brake
traction control, and/or stability
control.
SolidService
StabiliTrakSolid SolidStabiliTrak system is disabled due to
a system fault.
SolidStabiliTrak Not
ReadySolid OffStabiliTrak system is disabled due to
a failure to initialize.
Notice:If the StabiliTrak
®light comes on due to
heavy braking and/or because the traction control
system has been continuously active, do not allow
the wheel(s) of one axle to spin excessively. This
could lead to damage to the transfer case and costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle is allowed to spin
excessively while the StabiliTrak, ABS and brake
warning lights and any relevant DIC messages are
displayed, the transfer case could be damaged. The
repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Reduce engine power and do not spin the wheel(s)
excessively while these lights and messages are
displayed.StabiliTrak may activate on dry or rough roads or under
conditions such as heavy acceleration while turning
or abrupt upshifts/downshifts of the transmission. When
this happens, a reduction in acceleration may be noticed,
or a noise or vibration may be heard. This is normal.
If cruise control is being used when the system activates,
the StabiliTrak light will ash and cruise control will
automatically disengage. Cruise control may be
reengaged when road conditions allow. SeeCruise
Control on page 3-10.
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StabiliTrak will turn off automatically if a problem is
detected in the system. The StabiliTrak light will come
on and SERVICE STABILITRAK will be displayed on
the DIC. For vehicles without a DIC, the StabiliTrak light
and the StabiliTrak service light will both come on. If the
SERVICE STABILITRAK message (or StabiliTrak service
light) does not clear itself after restarting the vehicle, see
your dealer/retailer for service.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect the vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3for more information.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give more traction
on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but when traction is low,
this feature will allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
Steering
Power Steering
If power steering assist is lost because the engine stops
or the system is not functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is
banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before entering
the curve, while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerate
gently into the straightaway.
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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 the vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, the 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.
If the 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,
the 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, slow
down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is
important to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance is 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 might not realize the surface is slipperyuntil the 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 Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Vehicles with four-wheel drive can be used for off-road
driving. Vehicles without four-wheel drive should not be
driven off-road except on a level, solid surface.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Always wear your safety belt and observe safe driving
speeds, especially on rough terrain.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road
and this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very
time you need special alertness and driving skills, your
reexes, perceptions, and judgment can be affected
by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a
serious — or even fatal — accident if you drink and drive
or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Off-roading can be great fun but has some denite
hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. When
off-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves are
not banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces can be
slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
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Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe
and close to home before you go into the wilderness.
Off-roading requires some new and different skills.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes
need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected
obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or
engine sounds. Use your arms, hands, feet, and body to
respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to successful off-road
driving. One of the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed. At higher speeds:
You approach things faster and have less time to
react.
There is less time to scan the terrain for obstacles.
The vehicle has more bounce when driving over
obstacles.
More braking distance is needed, especially on an
unpaved surface.
{CAUTION:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing and quick
changes in direction can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to lose control and
crash. So, whether you are driving on or off the
road, you and your passengers should wear safety
belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. Be familiar with the terrain and its many
different features.
Surface Conditions:Off-roading surfaces can be
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow,
or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the vehicle’s
steering, acceleration, and braking in different ways.
Depending on the surface, slipping, sliding, wheel
spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer
braking distances can occur.
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Stalling on an Incline
{CAUTION:
Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle
stopped across an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed or killed.
Always get out on the uphill (high) side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the rollover path.
If the vehicle stalls when crossing an incline, be sure you,
and any passengers, get out on the uphill side, even if the
door there is harder to open. If you get out on the downhill
side and the vehicle starts to roll over, you will be right in
its path.
If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the path
the vehicle will take if it does roll over.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, the wheels do not
get good traction. Acceleration is not as quick, turning
is more difficult, and braking distances are longer.It is best to use a low gear when in mud — the deeper
the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud,
keep the vehicle moving so it does not get stuck.
When driving on sand, wheel traction changes. On
loosely packed sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes,
the tires will tend to sink into the sand. This affects
steering, accelerating, and braking. Drive at a reduced
speed and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control.
On wet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you
will have difficulty accelerating. And, if the vehicle
does get moving, poor steering and difficult braking can
cause it to slide out of control.
{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can be
dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle on
safe surfaces only.
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Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving because
some drivers are likely to be impaired — by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside
rearview mirror.
Slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles because headlamps can only light up
so much road ahead.
Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out.
Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or
curves.
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 might need at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction
and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always
drive slower in these types of driving conditions
and avoid driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or owing water.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause pulling
to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through owing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you and
other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore
police warnings and be very cautious about trying to
drive through owing water.
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