suspension BUICK RAINIER 2006 Owner's Manual

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Locking Rear Axle..........................................4-8
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-9
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-13
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-16
Loss of Control.............................................4-17
Off-Road Driving...........................................4-18
Driving at Night............................................4-30
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-31City Driving..................................................4-34
Freeway Driving...........................................4-35
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-36
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-37
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-38
Winter Driving..............................................4-40
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-44
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-44
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-45
Towing..........................................................4-50
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-50
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-50
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
System....................................................4-50
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-52
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust
system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due
to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
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 may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
4-30

Your vehicle has an electronically controlled air
suspension system that automatically keeps your
vehicle level as you load and unload your vehicle.
SeeElectronically Controlled Air Suspension System
on page 4-50for additional information.
Certication/Tire Label
A vehicle specic Certication/Tire label is found
on the rear edge of the driver’s door. The label
shows the size of your vehicle’s original tires
and the ination pressures needed to obtain the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle.This is called Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, cargo, and trailer tongue weight,
if pulling a trailer.
The Certication/Tire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To nd out the actual loads
on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can
help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load
equally on both sides of the center line.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out.
Similar appearing vehicles may have different GVWRs
and capacity weights. Please note your vehicle’s
Certication/Tire label or consult your dealer for
additional details.
4-48

{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your vehicle’s weight ratings.
Ask your dealer to help you load your vehicle the
right way.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
If you put things inside your vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else-they will go as fast
as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly,
or if there is a crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
There is also important loading information for
off-road driving in this manual. See “Loading Your
Vehicle for Off-Road Driving” underOff-Road Driving
on page 4-18.
4-49

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service
if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle — such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and
“dolly towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels
on the ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a “dolly”).Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with any
of its wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must
be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in
this section.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Do not tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle
if any of its wheels will be on the ground.
Electronically Controlled Air
Suspension System
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled
air suspension system that automatically keeps your
vehicle level as you load and unload. The system
includes a compressor, two height sensors, and two air
springs supporting the rear axle.
The system also has an internal clock to prevent
overheating. If the system overheats, all leveling function
stops until the system cools down. During this time,
the indicator light on the air inator system will be
ashing.
4-50

The ignition has to be on for the system to inate, in
order to raise the vehicle to the standard ride height after
loading. The system can lower the vehicle to the
standard ride height after unloading with the ignition on
and also for up to 30 minutes after the ignition has
been turned off.
You may hear the compressor operating when you load
your vehicle, and periodically as the system adjusts
the vehicle to the standard ride height.
Load leveling will not function normally with the
inator hose attached to the inator outlet. Remove
the inator hose from the outlet during loading and
unloading.
If the vehicle is parked for an extended period of time,
some bleed down of the suspension is normal. Upon
starting the vehicle, proper height will be achieved.
Overload Protection
The air suspension system is equipped with overload
protection. Overload protection is designed to protect
the air suspension system, and it is an indicator to
the driver that the vehicle is overloaded. When
the overload protection mode is on, it will not allow
damage to the air compressor. However, do not
overload the vehicle. SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-45.If the suspension remains at a low height, the rear
axle load has exceeded GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating). When the overload protection mode is activated,
the compressor operates for about 30 seconds to
one minute without raising the vehicle depending on
the amount of overload. This will continue each time the
ignition is turned on until the rear axle load is reduced
below GAWR.
Indicator Light
The indicator light on the inator switch in the rear
passenger compartment also serves as an indicator for
internal system error. If the indicator light is ashing
without the load leveling function or the inator being
active, turn off the ignition. The next day turn on
the ignition and check the indicator light. The vehicle
can be driven with the light ashing, but if it is you
should have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
4-51

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash. If you have
to replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and you or others may be injured
in a crash. Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination and
road conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, re-adjust or remove the
device if it is contacting your vehicle, and do
not spin your wheels. If you do nd traction
devices that will t, install them on the
rear tires.
5-67

4. Press and release the switch to turn the air inator
on. The indicator light will remain on when the
inator is running.
The system has an internal clock to prevent the
system from overheating. The system will allow
about ve minutes of running time, then the
compressor will stop. The indicator light will then
begin to ash. When the indicator is off, the inator
can be started again by pressing the switch.
If the compressor is still hot, it may only run for a
short time before shutting off again.
5. Press and release the switch to turn the inator off.
Place the inator kit tools in the pouch and store
it in its proper location. Remove the inator hose
from the outlet during loading and unloading. Load
leveling will not function with the inator hose attached
to the inator outlet. SeeElectronically Controlled
Air Suspension System on page 4-50for more
information.To reinstall the cover, line up the tabs at the back of the
cover, put it in place and latch the tabs.
A continuous ashing indicator light may also indicate
a malfunction in the air suspension system. See
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension System on
page 4-50for more information.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak
out slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
5-69

Fuses Usage
1Electrically-Controlled Air
Suspension
2Passenger’s Side High-Beam
HeadlampFuses Usage
3Passenger’s Side Low-Beam
Headlamp
4 Back-Up-Trailer Lamps L6 Engine
5-97

Fuses Usage
1Electrically-Controlled
Air Suspension
2Passenger’s Side High-Beam
HeadlampFuses Usage
3Passenger’s Side Low-Beam
Headlamp
4 Back-Up-Trailer Lamps
5 Driver’s Side High-Beam Headlamp V8 Engine
5-100