steering GMC JIMMY 1997 User Guide

Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds\
of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips
on driving.
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4-3 4-6
4-6 4-9
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4-12 4-13
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4-28 4-29
4-32 4-3 3 Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving Control
of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss of Control
Driving Guidelines
Driving at Night
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing
(Four-wheel Drive with the
Manual Shift Transfer Case Only)
Recreational Vehicle Towing (Except
Four-wheel Drive with the Manual Shift
Transfer Case)
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
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4-37 4-4
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4-42 4-45
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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.
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.
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 314 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.

Braking in Emergencies
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
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Suppose you're steering througl1 a shxp CLII-V~. Tllen you
suddenly accelemtc.
Both control systems -- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration cim ciemand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What sho~~ld you do
if this ever happens'! Ease LIP on the
accelerator pedal. steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near CLI~V~S warn that ~OLI shoulcl
adjust your speed. Of co~~rse. 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 yo111- speed as you approach a
curve, do it before ~OLI enter the curve7 while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
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
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An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If yo^^ 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
SLICII emergency situations are always
possible is
a good rwson to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
I OFF- ROAD RECOVERY / ,+
-/// edge of paved surface
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pwement, 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. YOLI
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.
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0 Check your mirrors. glat~ce 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 yo~~r
inside mirror. acti\;ate 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 f'rom you
than it really is.)
a Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Loss of Control
Let's re\:iew what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems
(brakes. steering
;MI accelerution) don't ha\^ 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 a.nd
constantly seek an escape route
or area of less danger.
Skidding
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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 il 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 lilnited.
While driving
on a surface with reduced traction. try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or
braking (inclucling engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear).
Any sudden changes could cause the tircs lo slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until yo11r
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 yo11
to anticipate problems. They are not designed for
cornering at the same speeds
as conventional
two-wheel-drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are dcsigned
to perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions.
If at all possible. avoid shalp turns or abrupt
manewers. 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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Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be fimilix with the terrain and its
many different features. Here are some things
to consider.
Surfcm Corzc1i~io11.s. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, rrrud. snow
or ice. Each
of these surfaces affects the steering.
acceleration and braking
of your vehicle in different
ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you are on.
you may experience slipping. sliding, wheel spinning,
delayed acceleration, poor traction and longer
braking distances.
Su@ce Ohstclcles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle you if
you're not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are.
hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of
the
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terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
Does
the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There's
more discussion of these subjects later.)
Will
you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly? When you
drive over obstacles or rough terrain. keep
a
firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts. troughs or other
surface features can jerk
the wheel out of your hands if
you're not prepared.
When
you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even
with one or two wheels. you can't control the vehicle
as
well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface., it's
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden
tl1rnC ot- suclden braking.
In a way. off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving
on paved roads and highways.
There are
no road signs. posted speed limits or signal
lights.
You have to use your own good judgment about
what is
safe and what isn't.
Drinking
and driving can be very dangerous on any
1-oad. And this is certainly true for off-nmi driving. At
the very tirne you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes. perceptions and judgment can be
affected by
wen a small amount of alcohol. You could
have
:I serious -- or even fital -- accident if you drink
and drivc or ride with a drivel- who has been drinking.
See "Drunken Driving" in the Index.
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Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wl~ecls
won't get
good traction. You ca11.t accelerate ;IS quickly,
turning
is nm-e difficult, and you'll need longer
braking distances.
It's best to use
a low gear when you're in mud -- the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear.
In really deep mud.
the idea is to keep your vehicle moving
so ~OLI don't
get stuck.
When
you drive on sand, you'll sense a change in wheel
traction. But it will depend upon how loosely p~~ked the
sand is. On loosely prncked sand (as on beaches or sand
dunes) your tires will tend
to sink into the sand. This has
a11 effect on steering. accelerating and braking. You may
want
to reduce the air pressure in your tires slightly
when driving on sand. This will ilnprove traction.
Hard packed snow and
ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it's very easy to lose control. On wet
ice, for example, the traction is
so poor that you will
have difficulty accelerating. And if you do get moving.
poor steering and difficult braking
can C~LIS~ you to slide
out
of colltl*ol.
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or ws can be
dangerous. Underwat.er springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could
fall through the ice and you and
your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle
on safe surfaces
only.
Driving in Water
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If the water isn't too deep, then drive through it slowly.
At fast speeds, water splashes on your ignition system
and
your vehicle can stall. Stalling can dso occur if you
tailpipe is under water, yo~l*II never be able to start your
engine. When
you go through water. remember that
when your brakes get
wet. it nay take you longer
to stop.
2 wt your tailpipe under water. And. as long as your
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and
you and your passengers could drown. If it's
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Don't drive
through rushing water.
After Off-Road Driving
Relmove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody. chassis or 11nder the hood. These
accumulations CUI be a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand. have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can C~LIS~
glazing and 1111even braking. Check the body structure.
steering. suspension. wheels, tires and exlxwst 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.
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