steering CHEVROLET BLAZER 1997 2.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips on driving.
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Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of
a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss
of Control
Driving Guidelines
Driving at Night
Driving
in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving Before
Leaving
on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving
Recreational Vehicle Towing
(Four-wheel Drive with the
Manual Shift Transfer Case Only)
Recreational Vehicle Towing (Except
Four-wheel Drive with
the Manual Shift
Transfer Case)
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and
do it. That’s reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and
as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even
in 314 of a second, a vehicle
moving
at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency,
so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition
of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight
of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
Sometimes,
as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy to ask more
of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means
you can lose control
of your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you‘ you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the brakes
vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this is
normal. On vehicles
with four-wheel drive, your
anti-lock brakes work at all times
-- whether you are in
two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops
or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of us is subject to
the same laws
of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the
front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going
in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer
a vehicle on wet ice, you‘ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve
is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Suppose you‘re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems -- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should
YOLI do if this ever happens‘? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal. steer the vehicle the way you want
it
to go. and slow down.
Speed
limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed.
Of course. the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want
to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach it
curve. do it befhre you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try
to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
CLII-ut. klaintain ;I reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
acwlcrate
llntil >.ou are out of the curve. and then
accclcrate gcntlv into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over
a hill and
find
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere. or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops
right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems
by braking -- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t: there isn’t room. That’s
the time
for evasive action -- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See ”Braking
in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem.
to the left or
right depending on the space available.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can
turn
it a tull 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either
hand. Bur you hrt\*e to act fast, steer quickly, and
just ah quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided
the ob-jcct.
The fact that wch clncrgcncy situations are always
possible ih ;I good reason to practice defensive driving at
all
times and NYN satety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you're driving.
I OFF - ROA
v/// edge of paved surface
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be
fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so
that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You
can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the
right front tire contacts the pavement
edge. Then turn your
steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 accelerationj 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
“overdriving” 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
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 “mirrored surface“
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
t oear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
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 nmower track to make them capable
of
perfolming 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
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.
2 oround clearance is a better view of the road allowing you
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over mLmy different kinds
of terrain.
You need to be fatniliar with the terrain and its
many different features.
Here are some things to consider.
Surface Cmditiom. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel. rocks. grass. sand, mud, snow
or ice. Each
of these surfaces affects the steering,
acceleration and brakinz
of your vehicle in different
ways. Depending upon the kind of surfxe you are on.
you may experience slipping. sliding. wheel spinning.
delayed acceieration, poor traction and longer
braking distances.
Sru-fnce 0hstcrcle.v. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous.
A rock. log hole. rut or bump CUI startle you if
you're not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are
hidden
by grass, bushes. snow or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear'?
0 Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead'?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill'? (There's
more discussion
of these sub-jects later.)
Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quicklv'? When
you drive
over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a
firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or other
surface features can jerk the wheel out of
your hands if
you're not prepared.
When
you drive over bumps. rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave
the ground. If this happens. even
with one or two wheels, you can't control the vehicle as
well or at all.
Because you
will be on an unpaved surface. it's
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration.
sudden
turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are
no road signs. posted speed limits or signal
lights. You have to
use your own good judgment about
what is
safe and what isn't.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road.
And this is certainty true for off-road driving. At
the very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes. perceptions and judgment can be
affected
by even z1 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.
See "Drunken Driving" in the index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0
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Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps.
Use
a low gear and get a firm grip or1 the
steering wheel.
Get
a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain
your speed. Don't use more power than you need.
because
you don't want your wheels to start spinning
or sliding.
Try to drive straight up the
hill if at all possible. If
the path twists and turns, you might want to find
another route.
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I A CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and
possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills,
always try
to go straight up.
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Ease LIP on your speed as you approach the top of
the hill.
Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more visible
to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to
let opposing traffic know you.1-e there.
Use your headlamps even during the day. They make
you more 1:isible to oncoming traffic.
A CAUTION:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can
cause an accident. 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine @ What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or is about
A: If this happens, there are some things you should
to stall, and I can’t make it up the hill?
do. and there are some things you must not do.
First, here’s what
you should do:
0 Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it
from rolling backwards. Also, apply the parking brake.
0 If your engine is still running, shift the transmission
to REVERSE
(R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the hill
in REVERSE (R).
0 If your engine has stopped running, you’ll need to
restart it. With the brake pedal depressed and the
parking brake still applied, shift
the transmission to
PARK (P) (or, shift to NEUTRAL (N) if your
vehicle has a manual transmission) and restart
the
engine. Then, shift to REVERSE (R), release the
parking brake, and slowly back down the
hill as
straight as possible in REVERSE (R).
As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand
on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position. This
way, you’ll be able
to tell if your wheels are straight
and maneuver
as you back down. It’s best that you
back down the hill with your wheels straight rather
than
in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel
too far to the left or right will increase the possibility
of
a rollover.
Here are some things
you must not do if you stall, or are
about
to stall, when going up a hill.
0 Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into
NEUTRAL
(N) (or depressing the clutch, if you
have
a manual transmission) to “rev-up” the engine
and regain forward momentum. This
won’t work.
Your vehicle will roll backwards very quickly and
you could go out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake
to stop the
vehicle. Then apply
the parking brake. Shift to
REVERSE
(R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back straight down.
0 Never attempt to turn around if you are about to stall
when going up
a hill. If the hill is steep enough to
stall your vehicle, it’s steep enough to cause you to
roll over if you turn around. If you can’t make it up
the hill, you must back straight down the hill.
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