wheel CHEVROLET S10 2003 2.G Owner's Manual

Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you
see while exiting the vehicle. These lights will stay on
for a short period of time and then will go out, if the
DOME OVERRIDE button is in the out position.
Front Map Lamps
If your vehicle is a Crew Cabžand has front map
lamps, they are located in the overhead console. For all
other vehicles that have this feature, they are located
on the inside rearview mirror. The front map lights
that are located on the inside rearview mirror will
automatically come on for approximately 40 seconds
when the doors are unlocked with the remote keyless
entry transmitter (if equipped) or until the ignition key is
turned to RUN or ACCESSORY. The lamps will also
stay on for approximately 40 seconds after you exit the
vehicle, unless you lock the doors with the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
You can also turn the lamps on and off by pressing the
switch near each lamp.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open any door.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
instrument panel brightness thumbwheel, located next to
the exterior lamps control, all the way up to the
second notch. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
You can use the DOME OVERRIDE button, located
below the exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when any door is opened,
or to remain off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
in. With the button in, the dome lamps will remain off
when any door is opened. To return the lamps to
automatic operation, press the button again and return it
to the out position. With the button in this position, the
dome lamps will come on when you open any door. This
will override the illuminated entry feature, unless you
use your remote keyless entry transmitter (if equipped)
to unlock the vehicle.
3-16

Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of the windows is a result of high
humidity (moisture) condensing on the cool window
glass. This can be minimized if the climate control
system is used properly. There are two modes to clear
fog or frost from your windshield and side windows.
Use the defog mode to clear the windows of fog
or moisture and warm the passengers. Use the defrost
mode to remove fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. For best results, clear all snow and ice
from the windshield before defrosting.
-(Defog):This mode can be used on cool, humid
days to keep the windshield and side windows clear.
1(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to the
windshield and the side window outlets, with only a
little air directed to the ¯oor outlets. When you select this
mode, the system runs the air-conditioning compressor
unless the outside temperature is at or below freezing.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Outlet Adjustment
The ¯ow through outlets on your vehicle allow outside
air to enter your vehicle while it is moving. Outside
air will also enter your vehicle while the air-conditioning
compressor is running.
Use the thumbwheels located in the center and on the
sides, to change the direction of the air ¯owing
through the outlets.
3-21

Security Light
This light will come on
brie¯y when you turn the
key toward START.
The light will stay on until
the engine starts.
If the light ¯ashes, the Passlock
žsystem has entered a
tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start, seePasslockž
on page 2-19.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
ž
system. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlockž,
and you should see your dealer.
Also, see
Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-17for
additional information regarding the SECURITY light.
Service Four-Wheel Drive Warning
Light
If you have this light, it
should come on brie¯y
when you turn on the
ignition, as a check
to show you it is working.
The SERVICE 4WD light comes on to indicate that
there may be a problem with the four-wheel drive system
and service is required. Malfunctions can be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent,
which may prevent serious damage to the vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing a malfunction.
3-37

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Locking Rear Axle..........................................4-9
Steering........................................................4-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-13
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle....................................................4-14
Driving at Night............................................4-28
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-30
City Driving..................................................4-33Freeway Driving...........................................4-34
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-35
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-36
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-36
Winter Driving..............................................4-38
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . .4-42
Towing..........................................................4-44
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-44
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-44
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-48
Truck-Camper Loading Information..................4-51
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-53
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab..................4-53
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-54
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Let's say the road is wet and you're driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here's what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
4-8

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
®rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but
this is normal.
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.
Locking Rear Axle
If your vehicle has this feature, your locking rear axle
can give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the
time, but when one of the rear wheels has no traction
and the other does, this feature will allow the wheel with
traction to move the vehicle.
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 ªdriver lost controlº 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.
4-9

Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems Ð steering and acceleration Ð 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 you 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 a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently 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 ®nd
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 Ð if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room.
That's the time for evasive action Ð steering around the
problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes.
See
Braking on page 4-6. 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.
4-10

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 full 180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer
quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving
at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may ®nd that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while you're driving.
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.
4-11

·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 ¯ashing, 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 is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
4-13

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 Ð such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº Ð and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.Off-Road Driving with Your
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel
drive.
Also, see
Anti-Lock BrakesunderBraking on page 4-6.
If your vehicle doesn't have four-wheel drive, you
shouldn't drive off-road unless you're on a level, solid
surface.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some de®nite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.
©Off-roading© means you've left the great North American
road system behind. Traffic lanes aren't marked.
Curves aren't banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In
short, you've gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that's
why it's very important that you read this guide.
You'll ®nd many driving tips and suggestions. These will
help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
4-14