Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
Driving and Operating 191
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 192
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . 209
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 210
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 211
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 221
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 236
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 247
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
194 Driving and Operating
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power SteeringCaution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
The vehicle has electric power steering.
It does not have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered, but may require increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an extended
period of time while the vehicle is not
moving, power assist may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is held
against that position for an extended period
of time, power steering assist may be
reduced. Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
Driving and Operating 197
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight up or down
the hill.
.Slow down when approaching the top of
the hill.
.Use headlamps even during the day to
make the vehicle more visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high speed
can cause a crash. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be seriously
injured or killed. As you near the top of a
hill, slow down and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or backward
with the transmission in N (Neutral). The
brakes could overheat and you could lose
control.
.When driving down a hill, keep the
vehicle headed straight down. Use a low
gear because the engine will work with
the brakes to slow the vehicle and help
keep the vehicle under control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down a hill
can cause your brakes to overheat and
fade. This could cause loss of control and
you or others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending
a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle
speed under control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart the engine.
.If driving uphill when the vehicle
stalls, shift to R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle around.
If the hill is steep enough to stall the
vehicle, it is steep enough to cause it
to roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the hill,
back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in N (Neutral)
using only the brake.
.The vehicle can roll backward quickly
and you could lose control.
.If driving downhill when the vehicle
stalls, shift to a lower gear, release
the parking brake, and drive straight
down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake, shift into
P (Park), and turn the vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle
would take if it rolled downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle across
the incline of the hill. A hill that can be
driven straight up or down might be too
steep to drive across. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill
wheels which could cause a downhill slide
or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a problem.
Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it
can hit something that will trip it —a
rock, a rut, etc. —and roll over.
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
206 Driving and Operating
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This canbe done while the vehicle is moving.
After shifting to N (Neutral), firmly apply
the brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the ignition off. The
shift lever must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0215.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while moving may
cause loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags. While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over, and
must be shut off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator Light) :
This mode allows some electrical accessories
to be used when the engine is off. With the ignition off, pressing the button
one time without the brake pedal applied
will place the ignition system in ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after five minutes to
prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator Light) :
This
mode is for driving and starting. With the
ignition off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the button once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START. Once
engine cranking begins, release the button.
Engine cranking will continue until the
engine starts. See Starting the Engine 0206.
The ignition will then remain in ON/RUN.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction indicator lamp
as may be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and the
brake pedal not applied, pressing and
holding ENGINE START/STOP for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in Service
Mode. The instruments and audio systems
will operate as they do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will not be able to be driven. The
engine will not start in Service Mode. Press
the button again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start in any
other position. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could
damage the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or accessories,
you could change the way the engine
operates. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
See
Add-On Electrical Equipment 0257.
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
Driving and Operating 209
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord or an
extension cord can damage the cord and
may result in overheating and fire.
.Plug the cord into a three-prong
electrical utility receptacle that is
protected by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded outlet could
cause an electric shock.
.Use a weatherproof, heavy-duty,
15 amp-rated extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the recommended
extension cord in good operating
condition, or using a damaged heater
or extension cord, could make it
overheat and cause a fire, property
damage, electric shock, and injury.
.Do not operate the vehicle with the
heater cord permanently attached to
the vehicle. Possible heater cord and
thermostat damage could occur.
.While in use, do not let the heater
cord touch vehicle parts or sharp
edges.
.Before starting the vehicle, unplug the
cord. Keep the cord away from any
moving parts.5. Before starting the engine, be sure to
unplug and store the cord as it was
before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a
dealer in the area where you will be parking
the vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the ignition is
in RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 215.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the button on the shift lever
and pushing the shift lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine
Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle
with the engine running. It could
overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park)
with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even (Continued)
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
210 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and move
the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting
Into Park 0209. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0247.
If you have to leave the vehicle with the
engine running, be sure the vehicle is in
P (Park) and the parking brake is set before
you leave it. After you have moved the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from P (Park) without first
pressing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever was
not fully locked in P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of the
vehicle puts too much force on the parking
pawl in the transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not done
properly and then it is difficult to shift out
of P (Park). To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into P (Park). To
find out how, see
“Shifting Into Park” listed
previously.
If torque lock does occur, your vehicle may
need to be pushed uphill by another vehicle
to relieve the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic
shift lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to prevent movement of
the shift lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is on and the brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged or low
voltage (less than 9 volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged battery or a
battery with low voltage, try charging or
jump starting the battery. See Jump Starting
- North America 0323 for more information.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Release the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0215.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever. If unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift lever button again.
3. Move the shift lever.
If the shift lever will not move from P (Park),
consult your dealer or a professional towing
service.Parking over Things That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under the vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves,
dry grass, or other things that can burn.
Active Fuel Management
This vehicle's engine may be equipped with
Active Fuel Management, which allows the
engine to operate on either all of its
cylinders, or in reduced cylinder operation
mode, depending on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as
cruising at a constant vehicle speed, the
system will operate in reduced cylinder
operation mode, allowing the vehicle to
achieve better fuel economy. When greater
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
212 Driving and Operating
Automatic Transmission
P :This position locks the drive wheels. Use
P (Park) when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park)
with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and move
the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting
Into Park 0209 and
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 247.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park)
before starting the engine. The vehicle has
an automatic transmission shift lock control
system. With the ignition on, fully apply the
regular brake, then press the button on the
shift lever before shifting from P (Park).
If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever, then push the
shift lever all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift lever
into another gear. See Shifting out of Park
0 210.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle is
stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging
the transmission, see If the Vehicle Is Stuck
0 201.
N : In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on
the brake pedal, the vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while the engine is running at
high speed.
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15165663) - 2022 - CRC - 4/27/21
Driving and Operating 215
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric brake boost
have hydraulic brake circuits that are
electronically controlled when the brake
pedal is applied during normal operation.
The system performs routine tests and turns
off within a few minutes after the vehicle is
turned off. Noise may be heard during this
time. If the brake pedal is pressed during
the tests or when the electric brake boost
system is off, a noticeable change in pedal
force and travel may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
prevent a braking skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when the
vehicle is first driven. A momentary motor
or clicking noise may be heard while this
test is going on, and the brake pedal may
move slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light stays on. SeeAntilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 0105.
ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot on the brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead, there will
not be enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing or feeling ABS
operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. See Electric Parking Brake
Light 0105 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 0105.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.