Neutral CHEVROLET BLAZER 1997 2.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you’ll want to
consider a number of things:
0 How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
0 What’s the surface like? Smooth? Rough‘? Slippery‘?
Hard-pac ked dirt
‘? Gravel?
0 Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts’?
Logs? Boulders’?
0 What’s at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even
a river bottom with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low
gear. This
way. engine drag can help your brakes and
they
won‘t have to do all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping
y)ur
ehick under control at all times.
I A CAUTION:
1 I
Heavy braking when going aown a hill can cause
your brakes
to overheat and fade. This could
cause
loss of control and a serious accident.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill
and use
a low gear to keep vehicle speed
under control.
&= Are there some things I should not do when
driving down a
hill?
A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore them
you could lose control and have a serious accident.
0 When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that’s not too
steep
to drive down may be too steep to drive across.
You could roll over if you don’t drive straight down.
NEUTRAL (N). or with the clutch pedal depressed
in a manual shift. This is called “free-wheeling.”
Your brakes will have
to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
0 Never go downhill with the transmission in
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Q: Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if
it happens going downhill, here’s what to do.
0 Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Shift to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL (N) with the
Apply the parking brake.
nlanual
transmission) and, while still brakin,,
0 restart
the engine.
and drive straight down.
Shift back to a low gear. release the parking brake,
If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to decide
whether
to try to drive across the incline. Here are some
things
to consider:
0 A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When you
go straight up or
down
a hill. the length of the wheel base (the
distance from the front wheels
to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood
the vehicle will tumble end
over end.
But when you drive across an incline, the
much more narrow track width (the distance between
the left and
right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle
0
0
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an
incline puts more weight
on the downhill wheels.
This could cause
a downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be
a problem when you drive
across
a hill. Loose gravel. muddy spots, or even wet
If the vehicle slips sideways. it can hit something
that
will trip it (a rock. a rut, etc.) and roIl over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness
of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with
the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into
a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
2 orass can cause your tires to slip sideways. downhill.
For reasons like these, you need
to decide carefully whether
to try to drive across 31 incline. Just because the trail goes
;lcross the incline doesn’t mean you have to drive it. The
last vehcle
to try it might have rolled over.
A CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that’s too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed.
If you have any doubt
about the steepness
of the incline, don’t drive
across it. Find another route instead.
A
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and
also the brakes, tires. cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard
on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing
to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift
to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a
hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your
engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
I A CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work
of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a
lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and
transmission. and you can climb the
hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don‘t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something
in your lane. like a. stalled car or an accident.
You may see hishway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones.
a falling rocks area or winding
roads.
Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Recreational Vehicle Towing (Four-wheel Drive With Manual
Shift Transfer
Case Only)
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Place an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in FIRST ( 1 ).
3. Firmly attach the vehicle being towed to the tow
vehicle.
Do not tow the vehicle by the rear bumper
bar. Refer
to the hitch manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Place the manual shift transfer case shift lever in
NEUTRAL
(N).
I A CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P), for an automatic transmission, or
if your vehicle is in gear, for a manual
transmission.
You or others could be injured.
Make sure the parking brake
is firmly set before
you shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL
(N).
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed
is firmly attached to the tow vehicle.
6. Insert the ignition key into the ignition switch and
turn it
one notch forward of the LOCK position. This
places the key
in the OFF position, which unlocks
the steering column while preventing battery drain.
Unlocking the steering column
will allow for proper
movement
of the front wheelshires during towing.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
7 .?
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You
or others could be
i injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly
level ground, use the steps
that follow.
transfer case shift lever and your transfer case is
in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to
roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL (N).
I If you have four-wheel drive with a manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cabIes
can reach. but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection
you don't want. You wouldn't be able to
start your vehicle. and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put
an
automatic transmission in PARK (Pj or a manual
transmission
in NEUTRAL (N). If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle with a manual transfer case
shift lever. be sure the transfer case is not
in
NEUTRAL (N).
I A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric
Fan.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into
the cigarette
lighter. or accessory power outlets,
if you have this
option.
Turn off all lamps that aren't needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries.
In addition, it could save your radio!
I NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repair wouldn't be covered
by
your warranty.
I A CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric fan under the hood can
start up even
when the engine
is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in
a straight-ahead position with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle's steering column lock for this. The transmission
should be in NEUTRAL
(N) and the transfer case, if you
have one, should be in 2HI. The parking brake should
be released.
If your vehicie has a floor mounted shifter and no
electrical power, the electrical solenoid lock must be
overridden
to shift from PARK (P) to NEUTRAL (N).
Follow these steps:
1. Push the base of the shift lever boot forward with
your thumb.
2. Lift the boot and find the white solenoid lever.
1-
3.
4.
5.
Move the solenoid lever toward the driver's side to
unlock it.
While holding the solenoid lever in the unlock
position, press the shift lever button and shift into
NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the solenoid lever and snap the boot back
into place.
Don't have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or your transmission will
be damaged.
If these limitations must be exceeded, then
the drive wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” in the Index.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try
this for a minute or so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window
as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@) or
DRIVE (D) for automatic transmissions. If
you
no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just
to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
If
the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s
still no sign of steam, push the accelerator until
the engine speed
is about twice as fast as normal idle
speed. Bring the engine speed back to normal idle speed
after two or three minutes. Now
see if the warning stops.
But then, if you still have the warning,
turn ofthe
engine and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service
help right away.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level
place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
A CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people.
You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift
lever in PARK
(P) or shift a manual
transmission
to FIRST (1) or
REVERSE
(R).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle
with a manual transfer case shift lever,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. lbrn off the engine.
5. Put the wheel blocks at the front and
rear
of the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would be the
tire
on the other side of the vehicle, at
the opposite end.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Starter Switch Check
A CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly.
If it does, you or others could be
injured.
Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake (see ”Parking
Brake”
in the Index if necessary) and the regular brake
NOTE: Do not use the accelerator pedal. and be
ready to turn
off the engine imnlediately if it starts.
3. On automatic transmission vehicles.
try to start the
engine in each gear. The
starter should work only in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the starter works in
any other position. your vehicle needs service.
On manual transmission vehicles.
put the shift lever
in NEUTRAL (N), push the clutch down halfway
and try
to start the engine. The starter’ shoLlld work
only when the clutch is pushed down all the way to
the floor. If the starter works when the clutch isn’t
pushed all the way down. your vehicle needs service.
Brake-”kansmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Check
(Automatic Transmission)
I A CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly.
If it does, you or others could be
injured.
Follow the steps below.
’ . Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
It should be parked on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake (see ”Parking Brake’‘
in the Index if necessary).
NOTE: Be ready to apply the regular brake
immediately
if the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off. turn the key to the RUN
position, but don‘t start the engine. Without applying
the regular brake. try
to move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out
of PARK (P), your vehicle’s BTSI
needs service.
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