traction control GMC SAVANA 1996 Owners Manual

Windshield Washer
At the top of the lever, there’s a paddle with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the windshield,
push the paddle.
Washer fluid will spray as long
as you push the paddle.
When
you let go of the paddle, the wipers will continue
to wipe for approximately two more wipe cycles and
then either stop or return to the preset speed.
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A
bad mud splash can block your vision. You could hit
another vehicle or
go off the road. Check your washer
fluid level
often.
Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts off.
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding.
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
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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 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
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
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.
Stc . ring
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 “driver lost control” 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.
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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.
Suppose you’re 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.
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 “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
find
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’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering
around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very
well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking
in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) 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.
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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 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 surfxe 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 surfdce” -- and
slow down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving,
One reason
is that so111e drivers are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems,
or by fatigue.
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A CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and
you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires
on all wheels.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires
by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold
in the United States.) The
grades are molded
on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect
to these
grades, they must
also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria
(TYC) standards.
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Treadwear Temperature -- A, B, C
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions
on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the governrnent course as a tire
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due
to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
b oraded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction pelformance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction. The temperature
grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination,
can ca~w heat. buildup and possible tire failure.
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Steering ....................................... 4-8
Column Lock Check
.......................... 7-46
In Emergencies ................................ 4-9
Power
....................................... 4-8
Tips
......................................... 4-8
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-29
Storage Areas
.................................. 2-41
Storage. Vehicle
................................ 6-30
Stuck:
In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow .................. 5-35
Sunvisors
.................................... 2-41
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
.................. 1-2 1
Symbols. Vehicle .................................. v
Taillamp Bulb Replacement ...................... 6-36
Tape Player Care
............................... 3-28
Temperature Control. Climate Control System
......... 3- 1
Temperature Control. Passenger .................... 3-5
Theft
......................................... 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.......................... 3-23
Thermostat
.................................... 6-24
Third Gear. Automatic Transmission
................ 2- I9
Tilt Steering Wheel ............................. 2-29
Time. Setting the
................................ 3-9
Tire Chains
.................................... 6-50
TireLoading ................................... 4-26
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-26
Tires
......................................... 6- 41
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-48
BuyingNew
................................. 6-45
Chains
..................................... 6-50
Changing
a Flat .............................. 5-20
Cleaning
.................................... 6-54 Dual Operation
............................... 6-45
Inflation
.................................... 6-42
Intlation Check
............................... 7-44
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-43
Loading
.................................... 4-26
Pressure
.................................... 6-42
Temperature
................................. 6-47
Traction
.................................... 6-47
Treadwear
................................... 6-47
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-46
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-44
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-48
When It's Time for New
....................... 6-44
TorqueLock
................................... 2-23
Torque, Wheel
Nut .............................. 6-65
Torque, Wheel
Nut .............................. 5-32
Towing a Trailer
................................ 4-28
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-6
Trailer Brakes
..................................... 4-33
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-36
Drivingwith
................................. 4-34
Hitches
..................................... 4-32
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-37
Parking on Hills
.............................. 4-36
Safety Chains
................................ 4-33
Tongueweight
............................... 4-31
Total Weight
on Tires .......................... 4-32
Towing
..................................... 4-28
Turn Slgnals
................................. 4-35
Weight
..................................... 4-30
Wiring Harness
............................... 4-37
TopStrap
..................................... 1-38
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