steering wheel GMC ENVOY XL 2004 User Guide

Exterior Lamps
Your exterior lamps
knob is located on your
instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel.
c(Off):Turn the knob to this symbol and release it
to turn off the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) and
the automatic headlamps. An indicator will illuminate
when the position is selected. This position is not
available for vehicles rst sold in Canada.
i(Automatic DRL/AHS):Turning the knob to this
symbol puts the system into automatic headlamp mode.
An indicator will illuminate when the position is selected.
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the knob to this symbol to
manually turn on the following:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps):Turn the knob to this symbol to turn
on all the lamps listed as well as the headlamps.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic
Headlamp System will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be on.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered or
the system will be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your lights when driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather
or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems, so that
driving under bridges or bright overhead street lights does
not affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees a
change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
3-16

Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle may have this feature. The DIC display
is located on the instrument panel cluster above
the steering wheel. The DIC can display information
such as the trip odometer, fuel economy and
personalization features. The DIC buttons are located
on the steering wheel.
A.Trip Information:Press this button to display the
odometer, trip odometer and the timer.
B.Fuel Information:Press this button to display the
current range, average fuel economy, instant
fuel economy and engine oil life.C.Personalization:Press this button to change
personal settings for some of the options on your
vehicle.
D.Select:Press this button to reset certain functions
and turn off or acknowledge messages on the DIC.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay the DIC will display the current driver and the
information that was last displayed before the engine
was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the display. Pressing the trip stem will acknowledge
any warning or service messages. Pressing any of
the DIC steering wheel buttons (Trip Information, Fuel
Information, Personalization or Select button) will
also acknowledge any warnings or service messages.
The DIC has different modes which can be accessed by
pressing the four buttons on the DIC. These buttons
are trip information, fuel information, personalization and
select. The button functions are detailed following.
Trip Information
Use the trip information button to scroll through the
odometer, TRIP A, TRIP B and TIMER.
3-51

Display Language
To select your personalization for display language,
press the select button while DISPLAY LANGUAGE is
displayed on the DIC. Pressing the select button
will scroll through the available languages:
Choosing a language will display all of the information
on the DIC in the desired language.
If your vehicle is equipped with an Information Center,
press and hold the trip stem while the odometer is
displayed. While holding down the trip stem button, the
Information Center will begin to list the available
languages. The name of each language will be
displayed in its native language (ENGLISH for English,
FRANCAIS for French and ESPANOL for Spanish).
When you see the language that you would like, release
the trip stem. The Information Center will then display
the information in the language you chose.
If you accidentally choose a language you do not want
or understand, press and hold the trip information
button and the personalization button at the same time.
After a short time, the display will begin cycling
through the available languages. Release the buttons
when you see a language you would like. This will also
reset all of the current driver’s personalization features
to their factory default settings.
For vehicles with redundant steering wheel controls,
see “Personalization” under the DIC.
Select
The select button is used to reset certain functions and
turn off or acknowledge messages on the DIC display.
The select button also toggles through the options
available in each personalization menu. For example,
this button will reset the trip odometers, turn off the FUEL
LEVEL LOW message, and toggle through the languages
you can select the DIC to display information in.
DIC Warnings and Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC to notify the driver
that the status of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by the driver to correct the
condition. More than one message may appear at
one time. They will appear one behind the other. Some
messages may not require immediate action but you
should press the trip stem to acknowledge that you
received the message and clear it from the display.
Pressing any of the DIC steering wheel buttons
(Trip Information, Fuel Information, Personalization or
Select button) will also acknowledge any warnings
or service messages. Some messages cannot be
cleared from the display because they are more urgent.
These messages require action before they can be
removed from the DIC display. The following are
the possible messages that can be displayed and some
information about them.
3-60

LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR
If the driver’s side rear door is not fully closed this
message will appear on the display and you will hear
a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door
for obstacles, and close the door again. Check to see
if the message still appears on the DIC. Press the select
button to acknowledge this message and clear it from
the DIC display.
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR
If the passenger’s side rear door is not fully closed
this message will appear on the display and you
will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstacles, and close the door again.
Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC.
Press the select button to acknowledge this message
and clear it from the DIC display.
RFA # BATTERY LOW
If a remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low,
this message will appear on the DIC. The battery
needs to be replaced in the transmitter. Press the
select button to acknowledge this message and clear
it from the DIC display.
CURB VIEW ACTIVATED
The CURB VIEW ACTIVATED message is displayed
when one of the outside rear view mirrors move into the
curb view position. Refer to “Outside Curb View Assist
Mirrors” for more information.
TIGHTEN FUEL CAP
If the vehicle’s fuel cap is not tightened properly, this
message may appear on the DIC and a chime will
sound. Fully reinstall the fuel cap. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will
allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. The
DIC message will remain on until the message is
cancelled with the return button on the steering wheel.
The DIC message will also be cancelled if the ignition
is turned off.
The DIC message and the Service Engine Soon light
may come on again during a second trip if the fuel cap
is still not tightened properly. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 3-43for more information.
3-63

Radio Personalization
If your vehicle has this feature, it allows the driver to
return to the last used source: radio, cassette, or
CD using the remote keyless entry transmitter. This
feature can also store and recall AM and FM presets,
volume, tone, and the last selected radio station.
The number on the back of each transmitter, 1 or 2,
corresponds to driver 1 or 2. If transmitter 1 is used to
enter the vehicle, the last used audio source and/or
settings set by driver 1 will be recalled. If transmitter 2
is used to enter the vehicle, the last used audio
source and/or settings set by driver 2 will be recalled.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft of your
vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically by
learning a portion of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it
will not operate and LOCKED will appear on the display.
When the radio and vehicle are turned off, the blinking
red light indicates that THEFTLOCK
®is armed.
With THEFTLOCK
®activated, the radio will not operate
if stolen.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering
wheel. They include the following:
g(OnStar/Voice Recognition):If your vehicle has
OnStar®, press this button to interact with the OnStar®
system. See the OnStar®manual provided with your
vehicle for more information.
If your vehicle does not have OnStar
®, press this button
to silence the system. Press it again, or any other
radio button, to turn on the sound.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Assist System (TAS)...........................4-9
Locking Rear Axle........................................4-11
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-13
Loss of Control.............................................4-14
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle....................................................4-16
Driving at Night............................................4-30
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-31City Driving..................................................4-34
Freeway Driving...........................................4-35
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-36
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-37
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-38
Winter Driving..............................................4-40
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-44
Towing..........................................................4-45
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-45
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-45
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-49
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.......4-55
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-55
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Remember: Anti-lock does not 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 will not 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
Do not 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.
Traction Assist System (TAS)
Your two-wheel drive vehicle may have a Traction Assist
System (TAS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates
only if it senses that one or both of the rear wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power to limit
wheel spin.
The low traction symbol next to the button will come on
when the TAS is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or
hear the system working, but this is normal.
The Traction Assist System may operate on dry roads
under some conditions. When this happens, you
may notice a reduction in acceleration. This is normal
and doesn’t mean there’s a problem with your
vehicle. Examples of these conditions include a hard
acceleration in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift
of the transmission or driving on rough roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TAS begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
See “Cruise Control” underTurn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7. When the traction control off symbol
on the button is on, the TAS is off and will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
4-9

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 is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is 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 whenyou turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will 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 are
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — 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. SeeTraction Assist
System (TAS) on page 4-9.
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 will 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.
4-11

Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” 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 — if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can not; there is not
room. That is the time for evasive action — steering
around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes.
SeeBraking 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.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.
4-12

Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while you are 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.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger
can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides
and to crossroads for situations that might affect
your passing patterns. If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass,
wait for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and
lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might
indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass.
A broken center line usually indicates it is all
right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear).
Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or
a double solid line, even if the road seems empty
of approaching traffic.
4-13