traction control CHEVROLET BLAZER 2020 User Guide

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
Driving and Operating 169
3. If the vehicle cannot berestarted after stalling, set the
parking brake, shift into
P (Park), and turn the
vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it
rolled downhill.
. Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill.
A hill that can be driven straight
up or down might be too steep to
drive across. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels which could
cause a downhill slide or a
rollover.
. Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can
cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips
sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it —a rock, a rut,
etc. —and roll over. .
Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut
or depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
. If an incline must be driven
across, and the vehicle starts to
slide, turn downhill. This should
help straighten out the vehicle
and prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped
across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you could
be crushed or killed. Always get
out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud
—the deeper the mud, the lower
the gear. Keep the vehicle moving
to avoid getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires
tend to sink into the sand. This
affects steering, accelerating, and
braking. Drive at a reduced speed
and avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers.
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow
and ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
(Continued)

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
172 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0194.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0191.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode for vehicles equipped with
AWD. Select Snow/Ice Mode for
FWD only vehicles. See Driver
Mode Control 0196 and
All-Wheel Drive 0191.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0359. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
Driving and Operating 173
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0186.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 194.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 196 and
All-Wheel Drive 0191.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
194 Driving and Operating
activate the Antilock Brake System
(ABS) if the brake pedal is not
pushed hard enough to activate
ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal
movement during this time may
occur. Continue to apply the brake
pedal as the driving situation
dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely.
You may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving0163. When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA)
prevents the vehicle from rolling in
an unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release
to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator
pedal is applied. If the accelerator
pedal is not applied within a few
minutes, the Electric Parking Brake
will apply. The brakes may also
release under other conditions. Do
not rely on HSA to hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade
for HSA to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
TCS also applies torque to the
non-spinning wheel to increase
traction and acceleration.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
196 Driving and Operating
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster
and a DIC message may display.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn
off until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
guntil the
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC OFF light
gcome on and stay
on in the instrument cluster. A DIC
message may display. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on
again, press and release
g. The
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC OFF light
gin the instrument
cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on if the vehicle exceeds
56 km/h (35 mph). Traction control
will remain off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 245.
Driver Mode Control
If equipped, the Driver Mode Control
has the following Modes: Tour
(FWD), Sport, All-Wheel Drive
(AWD), Snow/Ice, Tow/Haul, and
Off-Road. Rotate the Driver Mode
Control knob on the center console
to make a mode selection. Continue
turning the knob through the
available modes. The selected
mode’s icon will light up on
the knob. If the vehicle is in Tour (FWD) or
AWD, it will stay in that mode
through future ignition cycles. If the
vehicle is in any other mode, it will
revert back to Tour (FWD) when the
vehicle is restarted.
Driver Mode Control Knob
5orqTour :
Vehicle is in Tour
(FWD) Mode. Use this mode during
normal driving conditions. See
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
0 162. Tour (FWD) Mode operates
in Front-Wheel Drive to improve fuel
economy.

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 197
8Sport :Sport Mode improves
vehicle handling and acceleration
on dry pavement. When active,
Sport Mode modifies steering
efforts, transmission shifting, AWD
torque, suspension tuning (when
properly equipped), and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
settings. For vehicles equipped with
AWD, choosing Sport Mode also
engages AWD.
4AWD (AWD Only) : AWD Mode
provides drive torque to all four
wheels. Select AWD to improve
traction and control on slippery road
surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet
pavement, snow, and ice. When in
AWD Mode, the AWD Mode
indicator will be on.
AWD is active in AWD, Sport, Tow/
Haul, and Off-Road Modes.
When using a compact spare tire on
an AWD vehicle, the system
automatically detects the compact
spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system.
To restore full AWD operation and
prevent excessive wear on the
system, replace the compact spare with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See
Compact Spare Tire
0 320.
6Snow/Ice (FWD Only) : Snow/
Ice Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice
covered roads by changing
accelerator pedal response.
_Tow/Haul : This feature can
assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load. Use this mode to assist
in maintaining desired vehicle
speeds when driving on downhill
grades by using the engine and
transmission. When active, Tow/
Haul Mode modifies transmission
shifting, steering effort, and Trailer
Sway Control. For AWD vehicles,
choosing Tow/Haul Mode also
engages AWD. See Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 229.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
assists when driving downhill.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the transmission to slow the vehicle.
The system will automatically
command downshifts to reduce
vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle
is on a low grade or when the
accelerator pedal is pressed.
While in the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) mode, grade braking
is deactivated, allowing the driver to
select a range and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade
braking is available for normal
driving and in Tow/Haul Mode.
See
Automatic Transmission 0187.
7Off-Road (AWD Only) : Use this
mode for off-road recreational
driving. When active, Off-Road
Mode modifies accelerator pedal
response, ABS, TCS, and the
StabiliTrak/ESC system. Choosing
Off-Road Mode also engages AWD.
For more information on Off-Road
Mode, see Off-Road Driving 0166.

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
198 Driving and Operating
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system begins to limit
wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0194. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0215. When
road conditions allow the cruise
control to be safely used, cruise
control can be turned back on.
Turning off the TCS or StabiliTrak/
ESC system will disengage the
cruise control.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
J: Press to turn the system on
and off. A white indicator appears in
the instrument cluster when cruise
is turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, move the thumbwheel up
briefly to resume to that speed or
press and hold to accelerate. If the
cruise control is already active, use
to increase vehicle speed.
SET− :Move the thumbwheel down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If the cruise control is
already active, use to decrease
vehicle speed.
*: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET− or
RES+ could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
J
off when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
200 Driving and Operating
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your
speed. When going downhill, you
might have to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep your speed
down. If the brake pedal is applied,
cruise control disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped, Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) allows the cruise control set
speed and following gap to be
selected. Read this entire section
before using this system. The
following gap is the following time
between your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in your path,
moving in the same direction. If no
vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC works like regular cruise
control. ACC uses camera and
radar sensors. See Radio
Frequency Statement 0365.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can apply acceleration or
limited, moderate braking to
maintain the selected following gap.
To disengage ACC, apply the brake
pedal. If ACC is controlling your
vehicle speed when the Traction
Control System (TCS) or StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system activates, the ACC may
automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0194. When road conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on.
Turning off the TCS or StabiliTrak/
ESC system will disengage the
cruise control.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see
“Alerting the Driver” in
this section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0163.

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
Driving and Operating 201
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:. On winding and hilly roads
or when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
The system may not detect
a vehicle ahead. Keep the
entire front of the vehicle
clean.
. Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow
conditions. ACC
performance is limited under
these conditions.
. On slippery roads where
fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive
wheel slip.
J:Press to turn the system on or
off. The indicator turns white on the
instrument cluster when ACC is
turned on.
RES+ : Move the thumbwheel up
briefly toward RES+ to resume the
previous set speed or to increase
vehicle speed if ACC is already
activated. To increase speed by 1
km/h (1 mph), move the thumbwheel
up toward RES+. To increase speed
to the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on
the speedometer, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES+ and
hold, then release. SET–
:Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET– briefly to set the speed
and activate ACC or to decrease
vehicle speed if ACC is already
activated. To decrease speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), move the
thumbwheel down toward SET–. To
decrease speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
move the thumbwheel down toward
SET– and hold, then release.
*:Press to disengage ACC
without erasing the selected set
speed.
[: Press to select a following gap
time (or distance) setting for ACC of
Far, Medium, or Near.
Switching Between ACC and
Regular Cruise Control
To switch between ACC and regular
cruise control, press and hold
*.
A Driver Information Display (DIC)
message displays. See Vehicle
Messages 0136.

Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13557845) - 2020 - CRC - 3/24/20
206 Driving and Operating
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage
and the driver will need to manually
apply the brakes to slow the
vehicle when:
.The sensors are blocked.
. The Traction Control System
(TCS) or StabiliTrak/ESC system
has activated or been disabled.
. There is a fault in the system.
. The radar falsely reports a
blockage when driving in a
desert or remote area with no
other vehicles or roadside
objects. A DIC message may
display to indicate that ACC is
temporarily unavailable.
The ACC indicator will turn white
when ACC is no longer active.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a following gap
behind a detected vehicle and slow
your vehicle to a stop behind that
vehicle. If the stopped vehicle ahead has
driven away and ACC has not
resumed, the vehicle ahead
indicator will flash as a reminder to
check traffic ahead before
proceeding. In addition, the left and
right sides of the Safety Alert Seat
will pulse three times, or three
beeps will sound. See
“Alert Type”
and “Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier” in
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0137.
When the vehicle ahead drives
away, move the thumbwheel up
toward RES+ or press the
accelerator pedal to resume cruise
control. If stopped for more than
two minutes or if the driver door is
opened and the driver seat belt is
unbuckled, the ACC automatically
applies the Electric Parking Brake
(EPB) to hold the vehicle. The EPB
status light will turn on. See Electric
Parking Brake 0192. To resume
ACC and release the EPB, press
the accelerator pedal. A DIC warning message may
display indicating to shift to P (Park)
before exiting the vehicle. See
Vehicle Messages
0136.
{Warning
If ACC has stopped the vehicle,
and if ACC is disengaged, turned
off, or canceled, the vehicle will
no longer be held at a stop. The
vehicle can move. When ACC is
holding the vehicle at a stop,
always be prepared to manually
apply the brakes.
{Warning
Leaving the vehicle without
placing it in P (Park) can be
dangerous. Do not leave the
vehicle while it is being held at a
stop by ACC. Always place the
vehicle in P (Park) and turn off
the ignition before leaving the
vehicle.