Page 193 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 1 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-1 1
{
W ARNIN G
M any hill s are sim ply to o ste ep
f o r an y ve hic le . If yo u driv e up
t h em ,yo u will sta ll. If yo u driv e
d ow n th e m ,yo u ca n not co ntr o l
y o ur sp ee d. If yo u driv e acro ss
t h em ,yo u will ro ll o ve r. Y ou co u ld
b e se rio u sly in ju re d or kille d.
I f yo u ha ve any dou bt about th e
s te ep ness, do no t driv e th e hill.A pp ro ach in g aHil lW hen yo u app ro a ch ahill , decid e
i f it is to o ste ep to clim b, desc e nd,
o r cro ss. S te e pn ess ca n be hard
t o ju dge. O n ave ry sm all h ill, fo r
e xa m ple , th ere may be asm ooth ,
c o nsta nt in clin e wit h only a sm all
c h ange in ele va tio n where yo u ca n
e asily se e all th e way to th e to p.
O n ala rg e hill, th e in clin e may get
s te epe r as yo u near th e to p, bu t yo u
m ig ht not se e th is be ca use th e cre st
o f th e hill is hid d en by bush es,
g ra ss, or sh ru bs. C
onsid er th is as yo u app ro a ch ahil l:
.
I s th ere aco nsta nt in clin e,
o r doe s th e hil l g et sh a rp ly
s te epe r in pla ce s?
.
Is th ere good tr a ctio n on th e
h ill s id e, or w il l th e su rfa ce ca use
t ir e slip pin g?
.
Is th ere astr a ig ht path up or
d ow n th e hill so yo u will n ot
h ave to make tu rn in g
m aneuve rs ?
.
A re th ere obstr u ctio ns on th e hill
t h at ca n blo ck yo ur pa th , su ch
a s bou ld ers , tr e es, lo gs, or ru ts ?
.
W hat is be yo nd th e hill? Is th ere
a cli f f, an em ba nkm ent, a
d ro p-o ff, a fe nce ? Get ou t and
w alk th e hill if yo u do not kn o w .
I t is th e sm art w ay to fin d out.
.
Is th e hill sim ply to o ro u gh?
S te e p hills ofte n ha ve ru ts ,
g ulli e s, tr o ughs, an d exp ose d
r o ck s be ca use th ey are more
s u sce ptib le to th e effe cts of
e ro sio n.
D riv in g UphillO nce yo u decid e it is sa fe to driv e
u p th e hill:.
U se a lo w gear and get a fir m
g rip on th e ste erin g wheel.
.
G et a sm ooth sta rt up th e hill
a nd tr y to main ta in sp eed. N ot
u sin g more pow er th an need ed
c a n avo id sp in nin g th e wheels or
s lid in g.
{
W ARNIN G
Turn in g or driv in g acro ss ste ep
h ills ca n be dangero us. Y ou co uld
l o se tr a ctio n, slid e sid ew ays, an d
p oss ib ly ro ll o ve r. Y ou co uld be
s e rio usly in ju re d or kil le d. W hen
d riv in g up hil ls , alw ays tr y to go
s tr a ig ht up..
T ry to driv e str a ig ht up th e hill if
a t all p ossib le . If th e path tw is ts
a nd tu rn s, yo u mig ht w ant to fin d
a noth er ro ute .
Page 194 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 2,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 2 Driv in g an d Opera tin g.
E ase up on th e sp e ed as yo u
a ppro ach th e to p of th e hil l.
.
A tta ch afla g to th e ve hic le to
b e more vis ib le to appro ach in g
t r a ffic on tr a ils or hills .
.
S oun d th e ho rn as yo u appro ach
t h e to p of th e hill to le t opposin g
t r a ffic kn o w yo u are th ere .
.
U se he ad la m ps eve n durin g th e
d ay to make th e ve h ic le more
v is ib le to onco m in g tr a ff ic .
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g to th e to p (c re st) of a
h ill a t fu ll sp ee d ca n ca use an
a ccid en t. T he re co u ld be a
d ro p-o ff , em bankm ent, cli f f,
o r eve n ano th er ve hic le . Y ou
c o uld be se rio u sly in ju re d or
k ille d. A s yo u nea r th e to p of a
h ill, slo w do w n and sta y ale rt. I
f th e ve hic le sta lls , or is ab out to
s ta ll, and yo u ca n not m ake it up
t h e hil l:
.
P ush th e bra ke ped alto sto p
t h e ve h ic le and ke ep it fr o m
r o lli n g backw ard s and app ly th e
p ark in g bra ke .
.
If th e en gin e is still ru nnin g , sh if t
t h e tr a nsm is sio n to R (R eve rs e ),
r e le ase th e park in g bra ke , an d
s lo w ly back do w n th e hill in
R (R eve rs e ).
.
If th e en gin e ha s sto pp ed
r u nnin g, yo u nee d to re sta rt it .
W it h th e bra ke pedalp re sse d
a nd th e park in g bra ke still
a ppli e d, sh if t th e auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n to P (P ark ) or th e
m anualtr a n sm is sio n to Neutr a l
a nd re sta rt th e eng in e. T hen ,
s h if t to R (R eve rs e ), re le ase th e
p ark in g bra ke , an d slo w ly back
d ow n th e hill a s str a ig ht as
p ossib le in R (R eve rs e ).
.
W hil e backin g dow n th e hill , put
y o ur le ft hand on th e ste erin g
w heela t th e 12 o'c lo ck posit io n
s o yo u ca n te ll if th e wheels are
s tr a ig ht and ca n maneuve r as
y o u back dow n. It is best to ba ck
d ow n th e hil l w it h th e wheels
s tr a ig ht ra th er th an in th e le ft or
r ig ht dir e ctio n. Turn in g th e wheel
t o o fa r to th e le ft or rig ht w ill
i n cre ase th e possib ili t y of a
r o ll o ve r.
T hin g s not to do if th e ve hic le sta ll s ,
o r is about to sta ll, w hen goin g up
a hill :
.
N eve r atte m pt to pre ve nt a
s ta ll b y sh if tin g in to N (N eutr a l) ,
o r pre ssin g th e clu tc h pedalif
t h e ve hic le has a manual
t r a nsm is s io n, to re v-u p th e
e ngin e and re gain fo rw ard
m om entu m .T his will n ot w ork .
T he ve hic le ca n ro ll b ackw ard
v e ry quic kly and co uld go out of
c o ntr o l.
Page 195 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 3,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-1 3
.
N eve r tr y to tu rn aro und if about
t o sta ll w he n go in g up ahil l.
I f th e hill is ste ep enough to sta ll
t h e ve h ic le , it is ste e p enough
t o ca use it to ro ll o ve r. If yo u
c a nnot m ake it up th e hill , back
s tr a ig ht do w n th e hill .
I f, afte r sta ll in g, yo u tr y to back
d ow n th e hill a nd decid e yo u ju st
c a nnot do it , se t th e park in g bra ke ,
s h if t to P (P ark ) or 1 (F ir s t) w it h a
m anua ltr a nsm is sio n, and tu rn off
t h e engin e . Leave th e ve hic le and
g o get so m e he lp . E xit on th e uphil l
s id e and sta y cle ar of th e path
t h e ve hic le wou ld ta ke if it ro lle d
d ow nhill. D o no t sh if t th e tr a nsfe r
c a se to Neu tr a lw hen yo u le ave th e
v e hic le . Lea ve it in so m e gea r.
{
W ARNIN G
Shif t in g th e tr a nsfe r ca se to
N eutr a lca n ca u se yo ur ve hic le to
r o ll e ve n if th e tr a n sm is sio n is in
P (P ark ). T his is beca use th e
N eutr a lp osit io n on th e tr a nsfe r
c a se ove rr id es th e tr a n sm is sio n.
Y ou or so m eon e els e co uld be
i n ju re d. If yo u are goin g to le ave
y o ur ve h ic le , se t th e park in g
b ra ke an d sh if t th e tr a nsm is sio n
t o P (P ark ). B ut do not sh if t th e
t r a nsfe r ca se to Neutr a l.
D riv in g Dow nhillW hen off- ro adin g ta ke s yo u
d ow nhill, co nsid er:.
H ow ste ep is th e dow nhill? W ill I
b e able to main ta in ve hic le
c o ntr o l?
.
W hat is th e su rfa ce li k e ?
S m ooth ? Rough? Slip pery ?
H ard -p acke d dir t? Gra ve l?
.
A re th ere hid den su rfa ce
o bsta cle s? Ruts ? Logs?
B ould ers ?
.
W hat is at th e botto m of th e hil l?
I s th ere ahid den cre ek bank or
e ve n ariv e r botto m wit h la rg e
r o cks?
Page 196 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 4,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 4 Driv in g an d Opera tin gIf yo u de cid e yo u ca n go dow n a
h ill sa fe ly , tr y to ke ep th e ve hic le
h eade d str a ig ht dow n. U se alo w
g ear so eng in e dra g ca n help th e
b ra ke s so th e y do no t have to do all
t h e work . D esce nd slo w ly , ke epin g
t h e ve hic le und er co n tr o la t all
t im es.
{
W ARNIN G
H eavy bra kin g when goin g dow n
a hill ca n ca u se yo u r bra ke s to
o ve rh eat and fa de . T his co uld
c a use lo ss of co ntr o la nd a
s e rio us accid e nt. A pp ly th e
b ra ke s li g h tly when desce nd in g a
h ill a nd use alo w ge ar to ke ep
v e hic le sp e ed un de r co ntr o l. T
hin gs not to do when driv in g dow n
a hil l:
.
W hen driv in g dow nhill, avo id
t u rn s th a t ta ke yo u acro ss th e
i n cli n e of th e hil l. A hill th a t is not
t o o ste e p to driv e dow n mig ht be
t o o ste e p to driv e acro ss. T he
v e hic le co uld ro ll o ve r.
.
N eve r go dow nhill w it h th e
t r a nsm is sio n in N (N eu tr a l) ,
c a lle d fr e e-w he elin g. T he bra ke s
w il l h ave to do all th e work and
c o uld ove rh eat and fa de.
V ehic le s are much more lik e ly to
s ta ll w hen go in g uph ill , but if it
h appens whe n goin g dow nhill:
1 . Sto p th e ve hic le by app ly in g th e
r e gula r bra ke s and app ly th e
p ark in g bra ke .
2 . Shif t to P (P ark ) and, w hile stil l
b ra kin g , re sta rt th e eng in e.
3 . Shif t back to alo w gea r, re le ase
t h e park in g bra ke , and driv e
s tr a ig h t dow n.
4 . If th e engin e will n o t sta rt, get
o ut and get help .
D riv in g Acro ss an In clin eA n off- ro ad tr a il w ill p ro bably go
a cro ss th e in clin e of a hill . To decid e
w heth er to tr y to driv e acro ss th e
i n clin e, co nsid er th e fo ll o w in g:
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g acro ss an in clin e th at is
t o o ste ep will m ake yo ur ve hic le
r o ll o ve r. Y ou co uld be se rio usly
i n ju re d or kil le d. If yo u have any
d o ubt about th e ste epness of th e
i n clin e, do not driv e acro ss it .
F in d anoth er ro ute in ste ad..
A hil l th at ca n be driv e n str a ig ht
u p or dow n mig ht be to o ste ep
t o driv e acro ss . W hen goin g
s tr a ig ht up or dow n ahill , th e
l e n gth of th e wheelb ase th e
d is ta nce fr o m th e fr o nt w heels to
t h e re ar w heels re duce s th e
l ik e li h ood th e ve hic le will tu m ble
Page 197 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 5,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-1 5
e nd ove r end. B ut w hen driv in g
a cro ss an in clin e, th e narro w er
t r a ck wid th th e dis ta nce
b etw een th e le ft and rig ht
w heels mig h t not pre ve nt th e
v e hic le fr o m til t in g and ro llin g
o ve r. D riv in g acro ss an in clin e
p uts m ore weig ht on th e dow nhill
w heels whic h co u ld ca use a
d ow nhill slid e or a ro llo ve r.
.
S urfa ce co n dit io ns ca n be a
p ro ble m .Lo ose gra ve l, m uddy
s p ots , or eve n wet gra ss ca n
c a use th e tir e s to slip sid ew ays,
d ow nhill. If th e ve hic le sli p s
s id e w ays , it ca n hit so m eth in g
t h at w ill tr ip it aro ck, a ru t,
e tc . and ro ll o ve r.
.
H id d en ob sta cle s ca n make th e
s te epn ess of th e in cli n e eve n
w ors e . If yo u driv e acro ss a ro ck
w it h th e uph ill w heels , or if th e
d ow nh il l w hee ls dro p in to a ru t
o r dep re ssio n , th e ve h ic le ca n til t
e ve n more .
F or th ese re aso ns, ca re fu lly
c o nsid er w heth e r to tr y to driv e
a cro ss an in clin e. Ju st be ca use th e
t r a il g oe s acro ss th e in cli n e does
n ot m ean yo u ha ve to driv e it . T he
l a st ve hic le to tr y it m ig ht have
r o lle d ove r.
I f yo u fe elth e ve h ic le sta rtin g to
s li d e sid ew ays, tu rn dow nhill. T his
s h ould help str a ig hte n out th e
v e hic le and pre ve nt th e sid e
s li p pin g. T he be st w ay to pre ve nt
t h is is to w alk th e co u rs e fir s t, so
y o u kn o w wha t th e su rfa ce is lik e
b efo re driv in g it .
S ta llin g on an In clin e
{
W ARNIN G
G ettin g out on th e dow nhill (lo w )
s id e of a ve hic le sto pped acro ss
a n in clin e is dangero us. If th e
v e hic le ro lls ove r, yo u co uld be
c ru sh ed or kill e d. A lw ays get out
o n th e uphill (h ig h) sid e of th e
v e hic le and sta y well cle ar of th e
r o llo ve r path .
I f th e ve hic le sta lls when cro ssin g
a n in clin e, be su re yo u, and any
p ass e ngers , get out on th e uphil l
s id e, eve n if th e door th ere is
h ard er to open. If yo u get out on
t h e dow nhill sid e and th e ve hic le
s ta rts to ro ll o ve r, yo u wil l b e rig ht in
i t s path .
I f yo u have to walk dow n th e slo p e,
s ta y out of th e path th e ve hic le will
t a ke if it does ro ll o ve r.
Page 198 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 6,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 6 Driv in g an d Opera tin gD riv in g in Mud,S an d,S now ,
o r Ic eW hen yo u driv e in mud, sn ow ,
o r sa nd , th e whee ls do not get
g ood tr a ctio n. A cc e le ra tio n is not as
q uic k , tu rn in g is m ore dif f ic u lt , and
b ra kin g dis ta nce s are lo nger.
I t is best to use a lo w ge ar w hen in
m ud th e deep er th e mud, th e
l o w er th e ge ar. In re ally deep mud,
k e ep th e ve h ic le movin g so it does
n o t get stu ck.
W hen driv in g on sa n d, w heel
t r a ctio n ch an ges. O n lo o se ly packe d
s a nd, su ch as on bea ch es or sa nd
d u nes, th e tir e s will te nd to sin k
i n to th e sa nd. T his aff e cts ste erin g,
a cce le ra tin g, and bra kin g. D riv e at
a re du ce d sp eed an d avo id sh arp
t u rn s or ab ru pt m an euve rs . H
ard packe d sn ow and ic e off e r
t h e wors t tir e tr a ctio n . O n th e se
s u rfa ce s, it is ve ry easy to lo se
c o ntr o l. O n wet ic e , fo r exa m ple , th e
t r a ctio n is so poo r th a t yo u will h ave
d if fic u lt y acce le ra tin g . A nd, if th e
v e hic le does get m ovin g, po or
s te erin g and dif f ic u lt bra kin g ca n
c a use it to slid e out of co n tr o l.
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g on fr o ze n la ke s, pon ds,
o r riv e rs ca n be dan gero us.
U nderw ate r sp rin gs, cu rr e n ts
u nder th e ic e , or su dd en th aw s
c a n weake n th e ic e . Y our ve hic le
c o uld fa ll th ro u gh th e ic e and
y o u and yo u r passe ng ers co u ld
d ro w n. D riv e yo u r ve h ic le on sa fe
s u rfa ce s on ly .
D riv in g in W ate r
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g th ro ugh ru sh in g wate r ca n
b e dangero us. D eep wate r ca n
s w eep yo ur ve hic le dow nstr e am
a n d yo u and yo ur passe ngers
c o uld dro w n. If it is only sh all o w
w ate r, it ca n still w ash aw ay th e
g ro und fr o m under yo ur tir e s, and
y o u co uld lo se tr a ctio n and ro ll
t h e ve hic le ove r. D o not driv e
t h ro u gh ru sh in g wate r.
H eavy ra in ca n mean fla sh flo odin g,
a n d flo od wate rs dem and extr e m e
c a utio n.
F in d out how deep th e wate r is
b e fo re driv in g th ro ugh it . D o not
t r y it if it is deep enough to co ve r
t h e wheelh ubs, axle s, or exh aust
p ip e yo u pro bably will n ot get
t h ro ugh. D eep wate r ca n dam age
t h e axle and oth er ve hic le parts .
Page 199 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 7,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-1 7
If th e wate r is not to o deep, driv e
s lo w ly th ro ug h it . A tfa ste r sp eeds,
w ate r sp la sh e s on th e ig nit io n
s y ste m and th e ve h ic le ca n sta ll .
S ta llin g ca n als o occ u r if yo u get th e
t a ilp ip e un der w ate r. If th e ta ilp ip e is
u nde r w ate r, yo u will n eve r be able
t o sta rt th e eng in e. W hen goin g
t h ro ugh wate r, re m em ber th at w hen
t h e bra ke s get w et, it m ig ht ta ke
l o nger to sto p. S ee Driv in g on W et
R oads on pag e 91 7.A fte r O ff-R oad Driv in gR em ove an y bru sh or de bris th at
h as co lle cte d on th e underb o dy,
c h ass is , or un de r th e hood. T hese
a ccu m ula tio ns ca n be afir e haza rd .
A fte r opera tio n in mud or sa nd,
h ave th e bra ke li n in g s cle aned and
c h eck e d. T he se su b sta nce s ca n
c a use gla zin g an d uneve n bra kin g.
C heck th e bod y str u ctu re , ste erin g ,
s u sp e nsio n , w heels , tir e s, and
e xh aust sys te m fo r da m age and
c h eck th e fu elli n e s and co olin g
s y ste m fo r an y le aka ge. T
he ve hic le re quir e s m ore fr e que nt
s e rv ic e due to off - r o ad use . R efe r
t o th e Main te nan ce Sch edule fo r
a ddit io n alin fo rm atio n.
D riv in g on W et R oad sR ain and wet ro ads ca n re du ce
v e hic le tr a ctio n an d affe ct yo u r
a bilit y to sto p an d acce le ra te .
A lw ays driv e slo w er in th ese ty p e s
o f driv in g co ndit io n s and avo id
d riv in g th ro ugh la rg e pud dle s an d
d eeps ta n din g or flo w in g wate r.
{
W ARNIN G
W et bra ke s ca n ca use cra sh e s.
T hey m ig h t no t w ork as well in
a quic k sto p and co u ld ca use
p ull in g to on e sid e . Y ou co u ld
l o se co ntr o lo f th e ve hic le .
( C ontin u ed)
W ARNIN G (C ontin ued )
A fte r driv in g th ro ugh ala rg e
p uddle of w ate r or a ca r/v e hic le
w ash , li g htly apply th e bra ke
p edalu ntil th e bra ke s work
n orm ally .
F lo w in g or ru sh in g wate r cre ate s
s tr o ng fo rc e s. D riv in g th ro ugh
f lo w in g wate r co uld ca use yo u r
v e hic le to be ca rrie d aw ay. If th is
h appens, yo u and oth er ve hic le
o ccu pants co uld dro w n. D o no t
i g nore polic e warn in gs and be
v e ry ca utio us about tr y in g to driv e
t h ro ugh flo w in g wate r.H yd ro p la n in gH yd ro pla nin g is dangero us. W ate r
c a n build up under th e ve hic le 's
t ir e s so th ey actu ally rid e on th e
w ate r. T his ca n happen if th e ro a d
i s wet enough and yo u are goin g
f a st enough. W hen th e ve hic le is
h yd ro pla nin g, it has li t tle or no
c o n ta ct w it h th e ro ad.
Page 200 of 406

Bla ck pla te (1 8,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 8 Driv in g an d Opera tin gT here is no hard and fa st ru le about
h yd ro pla n in g. T he best ad vic e is to
s lo w dow n whe n th e ro ad is wet.O th er R ain y W eath er Tip sB esid es slo w in g do w n, oth er w et
w eath er driv in g tip s in clu de:.
A llo w extr a fo ll o w in g dis ta nce .
.
P ass wit h ca u tio n.
.
K eep win dsh ie ld wip in g
e quip m ent in good sh ape.
.
K eep th e win d sh ie ld wash er flu id
r e se rv o ir fille d.
.
H ave go od tir e s wit h pro per
t r e ad depth . S ee Tir e s on
p age 10 5 0.
.
T urn off cru is e co ntr o l.
H ig hw ay Hyp no sisA lw ays be ale rt and pay atte ntio n
t o yo ur su rro un din g s while driv in g.
I f yo u be co m e tir e d or sle epy, fin d
a sa fe pla ce to park th e ve h ic le
a nd re st. O
th er driv in g tip s in clu de :
.
K eep th e ve h ic le well ve ntil a te d.
.
K eep in te rio r te m pe ra tu re co ol.
.
K eep yo ur eye s m ovin g sca n
t h e ro ad ahea d and to th e sid e s.
.
C heck th e re arv ie w mir ro r and
v e hic le in str u m ents ofte n .
H ill an d Moun ta in Road sD riv in g on ste e p hills or th ro ugh
m ounta in s is dif fe re nt th an driv in g
o n fla t or ro llin g te rr a in . T ip s fo r
d riv in g in th e se co ndit io ns in clu d e:.
K eep th e ve h ic le se rv ic e d and in
g ood sh a pe.
.
C heck all flu id le ve ls an d bra ke s,
t ir e s, co o li n g syste m ,and
t r a nsm is sio n.
.
S hif t to alo w er ge ar w hen goin g
d ow n ste ep or lo n g hills .
{
W ARNIN G
If yo u do not sh if t dow n, th e
b ra ke s co uld get so hot th at th ey
w ould not w ork well . Y ou would
t h en have poor bra kin g or eve n
n o ne goin g dow n a hill. Y ou co uld
c ra sh . S hif t dow n to le t th e engin e
a ss is t th e bra ke s on a ste ep
d o w nhill slo pe.
{
W ARNIN G
C oastin g dow nhill in N (N eutr a l)
o r w it h th e ig nit io n off is
d a ngero us. T he bra ke s wil l h ave
t o do all th e work of slo w in g dow n
a n d th ey co uld get so hot th at
t h ey would not w ork well. Y ou
w ould th en have poor bra kin g or
e ve n none goin g dow n ahill. Y ou
c o uld cra sh . A lw ays have th e
e n gin e ru nnin g and th e ve hic le in
g e ar w hen goin g dow nhill.