tow GMC JIMMY 2000 Owner's Guide

3-2
Comfort Controls
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle.
Standard Climate Control System
Fan Control
The knob on the left side of the heating system control
panel controls the fan speed. To increase airflow, move
the knob clockwise. To decrease airflow, move
it counterclockwise.Temperature Knob
The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the
relative temperature of the air flowing into the passenger
area of your vehicle. Move the knob clockwise toward
the red area for warmer air. Move the knob
counterclockwise toward the blue area for cooler air.
Mode Knob
The right knob on the control panel allows you to
choose the direction of air delivery.
OFF: This setting turns the system off. Some outside
air will still enter the vehicle whenever the vehicle is
moving forward.
MAX A/C: This setting provides maximum cooling
with the least amount of work. MAX A/C recirculates
much of the air inside your vehicle so it cools quickly.
This setting directs most of the air through the
instrument panel vents and a small amount through the
floor vents.
A/C: This setting cools the air entering your vehicle and
directs most of the air through the instrument panel
vents and a small amount through the floor vents.

3-4
Temperature Knob
The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the
desired air temperature in your vehicle. This knob will
allow you to adjust the interior air temperature
independently of the function knob setting. Move the
knob clockwise toward 82 for warmer air. Move the
knob counterclockwise toward 66 for cooler air.
Full Hot: If you turn the temperature knob past 82
F
(28
C), the system will go into the ªfull hotº mode. The
system will remain at that maximum heating setting and
the fan will blow at the speed the fan knob is set to. If
the fan is in AUTO, it will run at full speed.
Full Cold: If you turn the temperature knob past 66
F
(19
C), the system will go into the ªfull coldº mode.
The system will remain at that maximum cooling setting
and the fan will blow at the speed the fan knob is set to.
If the fan is in AUTO, it will run at full speed.
Choosing either maximum setting will not cause the
system to heat or cool any faster.Mode Knob - Automatic Operation
The right knob on the control panel allows you to
choose the direction of air delivery. When the system is
set for automatic operation, sensors will control the air
delivery mode. Air will come primarily from the floor or
instrument panel outlets, with some air directed to the
windshield to prevent fogging.
When the system is in AUTO mode, the air conditioning
light will turn on, and the recirculation and outside air
lights turn off. With the system in full auto control (both
the fan and mode knobs in AUTO), you still have the
ability to override any function. However, continually
overriding the outside air or the A/C compressor will limit
the ability of the system to cool the vehicle quickly.
If you push a button for a function which is not
available, the light next to that button will flash three
times to alert you that it's not available.
To find your comfort zone, start with the 74
F (23
C)
setting and allow about 20 minutes for the system to
adjust the temperature if necessary.

3-7 Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
For quick cool
-down on very hot days, use MAX A/C
with the temperature knob turned to the left. This setting
should be used to keep odors and/or dust from entering
the vehicle. For normal cooling on hot days, use A/C
with the temperature knob turned to the left.
On vehicles equipped with the Electronic Climate
Control system, this same performance can be achieved
as long as the A/C is enabled and the outside air button
is not active.
On cool but sunny days, use BI
-LEVEL A/C to deliver
warm air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
panel outlets.
When the air conditioner is on, you may sometimes
notice slight changes in your vehicle's engine speed
and power. This is normal because the system is
designed to cycle the compressor on and off to keep
the desired temperature.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using it. On cold days, use HEATER with the
temperature knob turned clockwise. BLEND is useful in
cool weather when you have fog or ice on the
windshield or side windows.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See ªEngine Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid days, use BLEND to keep the
windshield and side windows clear.
Use DEFROST to remove fog or ice from the
windshield quickly in extreme humid or cold conditions.
Turn the temperature knob to the right and move the fan
control toward high.

4-
4-1
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.
4
-2 Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle
4
-4 Defensive Driving
4
-4 Drunken Driving
4
-7 Control of a Vehicle
4
-8 Braking
4
-11 Steering
4
-13 Off-Road Recovery
4
-13 Passing
4
-15 Loss of Control
4
-16 Off-Road Driving with Your
Four
-Wheel-Drive Vehicle4
-30 Driving at Night
4
-31 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-34 City Driving
4
-35 Freeway Driving
4
-36 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-37 Highway Hypnosis
4
-38 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-40 Winter Driving
4
-44 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-46 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-48 Towing a Trailer

4-44
Recreational Vehicle Towing
There may be times when you want to tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle for use at your destination. Be
sure to use the proper towing equipment designed for
recreational vehicle towing. Follow the instructions for
the towing equipment.
When towing your vehicle, turn the ignition to OFF.
To prevent your battery from draining while towing,
remove the RDO BATT fuse from the instrument panel
fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse when you reach
your destination. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in
the Index.
Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles and Vehicles
with the Electronic Shift Transfer Case
Tw o-wheel-drive vehicles and vehicles with the
Electronic Shift Transfer Case should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. These transmissions have
no provisions for internal lubrication while being towed.
To properly tow these vehicles, they should be placed on
a platform trailer with all four wheels off the ground.
Towing with all four wheels on the ground should
be avoided.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable and your vehicle has
to be towed with all four wheels on the ground, the
propeller shaft to axle yoke orientation should be
marked and the propeller shaft removed following the
applicable service manual removal/installation
procedure. See ªService and Owner Publicationsº in
the Index.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the vehicle.

4-45 Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
(Automatic Transfer Case)
Use the following procedure to correctly tow your
vehicle on all four wheels:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Place the transmission in PARK (P).
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.4. With the engine running, shift the transfer case to
NEUTRAL. See ªFour
-Wheel Driveº in the Index
for the proper procedure to select the NEUTRAL
position for your vehicle.
CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case into NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P), for an automatic transmission, or
if your vehicle is in gear, for a manual
transmission. You or others could be injured.
Make sure the parking brake is firmly set before
you shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL. See
ªFour
-Wheel Drive (Automatic Transfer Case)º
in the Index.
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.
6. Turn the ignition to OFF. The OFF position unlocks
the steering column and reduces battery drain.
Unlocking the steering column will allow the proper
movement of the front wheels and tires during towing.

4-48 Payload
The payload capacity is shown on the Certification/Tire
label. This is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. Be sure to include the weight of the
occupants as part of your load. If you added any
accessories or equipment after your vehicle left the
factory, remember to subtract the weight of these things
from the payload. Your dealer can help you with this.
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle before you buy and install
the new equipment.
NOTICE:
Your warranty doesn't cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
Towing a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the brakes
may not work well
-- or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all the steps in this section.
Ask your dealer for advice and information about
towing a trailer with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.

4-49
Your vehicle may be able to tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle,
you should read the information in ªWeight of the
Trailerº that appears later in this section.
If yours was built with trailering options, as many are,
it's ready for heavier trailers. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this part. In it are many
time
-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:

There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you'll be driving. A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.

Consider using a sway control if your trailer will
weigh 2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control if your trailer
will weigh more than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can
ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.

Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.

Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and
don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.

If you have an automatic transmission, you can use
THIRD (3) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in THIRD (3)
when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and
extend the life of your transmission. If you have a
manual transmission and you are towing a trailer, it's
better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
See ªTow/Haul Modeº in the Index.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:

the weight of the trailer,

the weight of the trailer tongue

and the weight on your vehicle's tires.

4-50
Tow/Haul Mode (V6 Engine, Automatic
Transmission Equipped Models) (If Equipped)
The Tow/Haul Mode is a feature that assists when
pulling a heavy trailer. The purpose of the Tow/Haul
Mode is:

Reduce the frequency of shifts when pulling a
heavy trailer.

Provide the same shift feel when pulling a heavy
trailer as when the vehicle is unloaded.

Reduce the need to change throttle position when
pulling a heavy trailer.
This feature is turned on or
off by pressing a button on
the floor console. When the
feature is on, a light on the
instrument panel will
illuminate to indicate that
the Tow/Haul Mode has
been selected.See ªTow/Haul Mode Lightº in the Index. The
Tow/Haul Mode is automatically turned off each time
the vehicle is started.
The Tow/Haul Mode is most effective when the vehicle
and trailer combined weight is at least 75% of the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the maximum
trailer weight rating for the vehicle. See ªGross Vehicle
Weight Ratingº and ªTrailer Weightº in the Index.
The Tow/Haul Mode for hauling a heavy trailer is most
useful under the following conditions

When driving through hilly terrain at speeds below
55 mph (88 km/h).

When driving in low speed or stop and go traffic
below 55 mph (88 km/h).

When driving in parking lots.
Use the Tow/Haul Mode instead of the previous
recommendation to shift to THIRD (3) gear to improve
fuel economy at highway speeds and shift performance
at lower speeds. Operating in the Tow/Haul Mode when
not pulling a heavy trailer will not cause damage to the
vehicle, but you may experience reduced fuel economy
and undesirable performance from the engine and
transmission. The Tow/Haul Mode should be used
only when pulling a heavy trailer.

4-51 Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig.
For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options.
VehicleAxle
Ratio Max. Trailer Wt.
2
-Wheel Drive,
Auto. Trans.3.08
3.424,900 lbs. (2 224 kg)
5,900 lbs. (2 678 kg)
2
-Wheel Drive,
Manual Trans.3.42 4,400 lbs. (1 997 kg)
4
-Wheel Drive,
Auto. Trans.3.08
3.42
3.734,600 lbs. (2 088 kg)
5,600 lbs. (2 542 kg)
5,600 lbs. (2 542 kg)
4
-Wheel Drive,
Manual Trans.3.42
3.734,000 lbs. (1 816 kg)
4,500 lbs. (2 043 kg)Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight. The weight of the trailer tongue also
affects the maximum trailer weight. See ªWeight of the
Trailer Tongueº later in this section.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at the address listed in your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7