weight CHEVROLET BLAZER 1997 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Models Only)
I A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly
set. If you have four-wheel
drive with
a manual 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). And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is
in PARK (P) and your parking brake
is firmly set before
you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into the
PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward you (or pressing the
button
on a console shift lever). If you can, it means that
the shift lever wasn't
fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission
into PARK (PI properly, the weight of the
vehicle may
put too much force on the parlung pawl in the
tr'msmission.
You may find it difficult to pull the shift
Icver out of PARK (P). This is called "torque lock." To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver's seat.
To find out how, see "Shifting Into PARK (P)" in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur. you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill
to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Loading cargo that weighs more than 200 lbs.
(91 kg) on the luggage carrier may damage your
vehicle. When you carry large things, never let
them hang over the rear or the sides
of your
vehicle. Load your cargo
so that it rests on the
slats and does not scratch or damage the vehicle.
Put the cargo against the side rails and fasten it
securely to the luggage carrier. Put the main
weight as far forward as you can.
Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when
loading your vehicle. For more information
on vehicle
capacity and loading, see “Loading Your Vehicle”
in
the Index.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving,
check now and then
to make sure the luggage carrier and
cargo are still securely fastened.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
To use the lighter, press it in all the way, and let go.
When it’s ready, it will pop back by itself.
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.
The front ashtray must be completely pulled out to the
open position before the ashtray cover opens and
smoking material can be deposited.
2-6 1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the
highway death
toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things
that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
0 Judgment
0 Muscular Coordination
0 Vision
0 Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half
of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol.
In most cases,
these deaths are
the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, some
17,000 annual motor
vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use
of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured.
Many adults
-- by some estimates, nearly half the adult
population
-- choose never to drink alcohol, so they
never drive after drinking. For persons under
2 1, it’s
against the law
in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to solve this highway safety problem
is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But
what
if people do? How much is “too much” if the
driver plans
to drive? It’s a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends
on each person and situation,
here
is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
0 The drinker’s body weight
0 The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking
0 The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.
According to
the American Medical Association, a
180-lb. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC
by drinking three 4-ounce ( 120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had
1 - 1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
4-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It's the amount of alcohol that counts. For example. if
the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces
or
90 In1 of liquor each) within an hour. the person's
BAC would be close
to 0.12 percent. A person who
consumes food just before or during drinking
will have a
somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference.
too. Women generally have
a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol
is carried in body water. this means that a
woman
generally will reach a higher BAC level than a
man
of her same body weight when each has the same
number
of drinks.
The law
in many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC
of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states. and
throughout Canada. the limit
is 0.08 percent. In some
other countries. it's even lower. The BAC
limit for all
comnlercial drivers
in the United States is 0.04 percent.
The
BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six
drinks
(in one hour). Of course. as we've seen. it
depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks. and how
quickly the person drinks them.
But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of
many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All
drivers are impaired at BAC levels above
0.05 percent.
Statistics
show that the chance of being in a collision
increases sharply for drivers who have
a BAC of
0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a
collision. At a BAC level of 0. IO percent. the chance of
this driver having a collision is 12 times greater: at a
level of 0.15 percent. the chance is 35 times greater!
4-4

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.
4-6

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
4-24

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Recreational Vehicle Towing (Except Four-wheel Drive
With
Manual Shift Transfer Case) Loading
Your Vehicle
Vehicles
with two-wheel drive or the optional electronic
shift transfer case require special modifications before
they can be towed in this manner. Please contact your
dealer
for the towing information that is appropriate for
your particular vehicle.
Vehicles with all-wheel drive
(AWD) can not be towed
in this manner.
The Certificationflire label is found on the driver’s door
edge, above the
door latch. The label shows the size of
your original tires and the inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is
called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The
GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle. all occupants,
fuel, cargo and trailer tongue weight, if pulling a trailer.
4-42

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The Certificatioflire label also tells you the maximum
weights for
the front and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR).
To find 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 centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the
GAWR for either
the front or rear axle.
If you
do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Similar appearing vehicles may have different
GVWRs
and payloads. Please note your vehicle’s
Certificationmire label or consult your dealer for
additional details.
I A CAUTION:
~~~____ ~~ ~
Do not load your vehicie any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can break,
or it can change the way your vehicle handles. These
could cause you to lose control. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask
your dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that
fail because of overloading.
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’ll keep going.
.. .. 4-43

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ~ A CAUTION: ~
~
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and
~ injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in
1 a crash.
~ Try to spread the weight evenly.
~ 0 Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
0 Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.
0 Don't leave an unsecured child restraint in
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever
you can.
0 Don't leave a seat folded down unless you
need to.
~ your vehicle.
There's also important loading information
lor off-road
driving
in this manual. See "Loading Your Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving" in the Index.
Payload
The payload capacity is shown on the Certificationflire
label.
This is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle
can carry. Be sure to include the weight of the
occupants as part
of your load. If you added any
accessories or equipment after your vehicle
left the
factory, remember
to subtract the weight of these things
from
the payload. Your dealer can help you with this.
Add-on Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle before ~OLI buy and install
the new equipment.
NOTICE:
Your warranty doesn't cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
L
4-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
a
a
a
a
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig
will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control if your trailer
will
weigh 2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always
use
a sway control if your trailer will weigh more
than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle
or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow
a trailer, don‘t drive over 50 mph (80 kmh) and
don’t make starts
at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can use
DRIVE
(D) (or. as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing
a trailer. Operating your vehicle in
DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will minimize heat
buildup and extend the life
of your transmission. If
you have a manual transmission and you are towing
a trailer, it’s better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just
drive
in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a
lower gear).
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
0 the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends
on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed. altitude, road grades. outside
temperature and how much your vehicle
is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that
you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options.
4-46