mirror CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1996 Owners Manual

Mirrors
Inside Mirror
Push or pull the tab
under the mirror to
reduce glare from
headlamps behind you
after dark.
Electrochromic lnside Rearview Mirror with Compass
(Option)
Your vehicle may have an optional electrochromic inside rearview mirror.
An electrochromic inside rearview mirror, when on, automatically dims to
the proper level to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror also includes an eight point compass display
in the upper right
corner of
the mirror face. When on, the compass automatically calibrates as
the vehicle is driven.
To use the electrochromic mirror only, move the switch at the bottom of the
mirror
to the M position. To use the electrochromic mirror as well as the
compass, move the switch to the
C/M position. To turn both features off,
move the switch to
the OFF position.
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Compass Operation
When the ignition is on and the mirror switch is in the C/M position, the
compass display will show two character boxes for approximately two
seconds.
If, after two seconds, the display does not show a compass heading
(“N” for North, for example), there may be strong magnetic field interfering
with the compass. Such interference may include magnetic antenna mounts,
a magnetic note pad holder, or a similar magnetic item. If removing these
items does
not correct the condition, see your GM dealer for assistance.
When cleaning
the mirror, use a paper towel or similar material dampened
with glass cleaner.
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that
may cause liquid cleaner
to enter the mirror housing.
Compass Variance
Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance cross-country trip, it
will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for compass
variance. Compass variance
is the difference between earth’s magnetic
North and true geographic North.
If not adjusted to account for compass
variance, your compass could give false readings.
To adjust for compass variance:
1. Press and hold the CAL switch, located at the bottom of the mirror
housing, for five seconds
until a zone number appears in the display.
2. Find your current location and variance zone number on the following
zone map.
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3. Press and hold the CAL switch until the new zone number appears in
the display. After you release the switch, the display will
show a
compass direction within a few seconds.
Outside Mirrors
Adjust your outside
mirrors
so you can
just see the side
of
your vehicle, and have
a clear view of objects
behind you. Some
mirrors can be folded
in
to enter narrow
doorways.
Electric Outside Rearview Mirrors
If you have electric mirrors, they can be adjusted to point where you want
from inside the vehicle.
Select the mirror you
want to move by
moving the center
of
the switch, located on
the driver’s door
armrest, to
R (right) or
L (left).
Then, adjust the mirror angle by pressing the outer arrows on the switch
until the mirror is adjusted where you want it.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror may be convex.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the driver’s
seat.
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Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You can also swing them
out to help
block glare at the front and side windows.
-. ,,.. ....,..........
Your visor may have a
mirror on it.
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Rear Window Wiper and Washer
Some visors have
mirrors with lights. If
the mirror has lights,
they will come on
when
you lift the
mirror cover.
The rear window wipedwasher switch
is on your instrument
panel, to
the passenger
side
of the gage
cluster.
To turn the wiper
on, slide the switch all the way up.
For delay wiping, slide the switch even with
DELAY in the center position
of the rear wiper control. The wiper will cycle every nine seconds.
To wash the window, push in on the switch. Window washer fluid will
continue to spray until the switch is released. The wiper will continue with
three more wipes and then return
to the setting that was chosen before the
lever was pushed.
The rear window washer uses
the same fluid bottle as the front windshield
washer.
If the fluid level is low in the washer fluid bottle, you may not be
able to wash your rear window.
If you can wash your windshield, but not
your rear window, check the fluid level.
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Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re
awaiting an opportunity. For
one thing, following too closely reduces
your area of
vision, especially if you’re following a larger vehicle.
Also,
you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly
slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like
a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but
stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move
so you
will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane.
If the way
is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more
than makes up for the distance
you would lose by dropping back. And
if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only
slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up
to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But
take care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out to pass
the slow vehicle. Remember
to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
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 if 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 lights 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 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 “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible.
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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.
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
- such as enough water, ice or packed
snow
on the road to make a “mirrored surface” - and slow down when you
have any doubt.
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
narrower track to make them capable
of performing 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 ground
clearance is a better view
of the road allowing you to anticipate problems.
They are
not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional
2-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.
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After Off-Road Driving
Remove any biush or debris that has collected on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations
can be a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand, have the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for
damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some
drivers are likely to be impaired
- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems,
or by fatigue.
Here are some tips
on night driving.
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Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and
keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light
up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road
in a safe place and rest.
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Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal.
A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just
before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways,
turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their
own special rules.
The most important advice
on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and
keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers
are
driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance there
is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have
a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you
should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend
with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your
shoulder as often as necessary. Try
to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the
prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make
sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot.
Once you
are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable
following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.
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There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum
of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen to
you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second,
and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
your mirrors and your instruments frequently.
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
on the highway
as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. (See
“Off-Road Driving”
in the Index for information about driving off-road.)
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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.
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