mirror GMC ENVOY 1999 Owners Manual

2-
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-6 Keyless Entry System
2
-9 Liftgate/Liftglass
2
-10 Theft
2
-11 Content Theft-Deterrent
2
-12 Passlock

2-13 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-14 Ignition Positions
2
-16 Starting Your Engine
2
-17 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-18 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-21 Tow/Haul Selector Switch
2
-21 Four-Wheel Drive
2
-25 Parking Brake
2
-26 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-28 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-29 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-30 Engine Exhaust
2
-30 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-31 Locking Rear Axle
2
-31 Windows
2
-33 Tilt Wheel
2
-33 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-40 Exterior Lamps
2
-42 Interior Lamps
2
-44 Mirrors
2
-46 Storage Compartments
2
-54 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
2
-55 Sun Visors
2
-55 Accessory Power Outlets
2
-58 Sunroof (If Equipped)
2
-58 Universal Transmitter
2
-62 Instrument Panel
2
-64 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-66 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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Mirrors
Electrochromic Day/Night Inside
Rearview Mirror
This mirror automatically changes to reduce glare from
headlamps behind you. A photocell on the back of the
mirror senses when it is becoming dark outside. Another
photocell built into the mirror surface senses when
headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced. The mirror will also
return to its clear daytime state when the vehicle is put
into REVERSE (R).
Press the AUTO button at the base of the mirror to turn
on the automatic feature. The button has an indicator
light to show it is on. Press the OFF button to turn the
automatic feature off.
Time Delay
The automatic mirror has a time delay feature which
prevents unnecessary switching from the night back to
the day position. This delay prevents rapid changing of
the mirror as you drive under lights and through traffic.
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Cleaning the Photocells
Use a cotton swab and glass cleaner to clean the
photocells when necessary.
Power Remote Control Mirror
The control is located on the
driver's door armrest.
Move the upper control to the left or right to choose the
mirror, then press the arrows on the control pad to adjust
the mirror.
Convex Outside Mirror
A convex mirror's surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right or left lane,
you could hit a vehicle. Check your inside mirror
or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Heated Outside Rearview Mirror
When you operate the rear window defogger, a defogger
also warms the heated driver's and passenger's outside
rearview mirrors to help clear them of ice, snow and
condensation. See ªRear Window Defoggerº in the
Index for more information.
Electrochromic Rearview Outside Mirror
Only the driver's side outside mirror will adjust for the
glare of headlamps behind you. See ªElectrochromic
Day/Night Inside Rearview Mirrorº earlier in
this section.
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2-46 Power Folding Mirrors
Your vehicle is equipped with power folding mirrors.
This feature can be helpful when taking your vehicle
through a car wash or through narrow spaces.
To fold the mirrors in, press the blank side of the switch
located on the driver's side door panel near the window.
To have the mirrors return to their normal position, press
the side of the switch with the graphic on it. The switch
will stay in whichever position it is placed.
If at any time your mirrors become disengaged, fold the
mirrors out manually and then use the switch to fold the
mirrors in and out. This will assure that the power fold
unit in your mirrors is properly engaged.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
To open your glove box, lift the lever on the front of the
glove box and lower the door. The glove box should not
be open while driving.
Overhead Console
The overhead console includes reading lamps, a driver
information system, a storage compartment for
sunglasses and a universal transmitter.
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NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overload, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
There may be a smaller ashtray in the rear of the center
floor console.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the top and
bottom visors (if your vehicle has them). You can also
swing the bottom visor from side
-to-side. Your visors
may have an extension that can be pulled out for
additional glare protection and a strap for holding small
items, such as maps.
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirror
Pull the sun visor down and lift the mirror cover to turn
on the lamps.
Accessory Inflator
Your vehicle is equipped with an air inflator system.
With it, you can inflate things like air mattresses and
basketballs, and you can also use it to bring your tires up
to the proper pressure.
The air inflator is located in
the rear compartment on the
passenger's side of the
vehicle. To remove the
cover, pull the tab on the
cover and pull it off.
The air inflator kit includes a 18
-foot (5.5 m) hose with
three nozzle adapters.
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3-6 Rear Window Defogger
The lines you see on
the rear window warm
the glass.
For best results, clear the window of as much snow or
ice as possible before using the rear window defogger.
To turn on the rear window defogger, find the button
marked REAR with the defog symbol on the lower right
corner of your climate control system. Press the button
until the light in the switch comes on, then release it. It
will only work if the ignition switch is turned to RUN.Pressing the REAR button on your climate control
system will also activate your heated outside mirrors.
This will help to keep ice, snow and condensation from
collecting on your mirror surfaces.
The rear window defogger will stay on for five to seven
minutes, then turn off. If you need additional warming
time, turn it on again. You can turn the defogger off at
any time by pressing the button.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape or decals
across the defogger grid on the rear window.
NOTICE:
Don't use a razor blade or something else sharp
on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
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Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.

Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
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
ªoverdrivingº those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't 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.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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If your 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, your
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, you'll
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 engine braking 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 ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving Guidelines
This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined as a
utility vehicle in Consumer Information Regulations
issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) of the United States
Department of Transportation. Utility vehicles have
higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make
them capable of performing in a wide variety of off
-road
applications. Specific design characteristics give them a
higher center of gravity than ordinary cars. An
advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road allowing you to anticipate problems.
They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional two
-wheel-drive vehicles any more than
low
-slung sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off
-road conditions. If at all
possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with
other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of control or
vehicle rollover.
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Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too
-fast or
too
-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in your
ªblindº spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
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Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway
hypnosisº? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness,
or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't let it
happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road in less than a second, and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.

Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.

If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. (See ªOff
-Road
Drivingº in the Index for information about driving
off
-road.)
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