tow GMC SUBURBAN 1999 Owner's Guide

2-32
Running Your Engine While
You're Parked
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if
ever you have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaustº).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
(See ªBlizzardº in the Index.)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer case
in NEUTRAL (N) will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL (N). Always set your parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in
the Index.

2-34 Autoride
(If Equipped)
The Autoride
feature will provide a superior vehicle
ride and handling under a variety of passenger and
loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, lift/dive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride.
Autoride also interacts with the Tow/Haul switch that,
when engaged, will provide additional control of the
shock absorbers. This additional control results in better
ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle is
loaded or towing a trailer. See ªTow/Haul Modeº in
the Index for more information.
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.
Windows
Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower
manual windows.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
If you have the optional power windows, the controls
are located on each of the side doors.

2-37
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned
-out bulbs and a blown
fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index).
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low to high beam or high
to low beam, pull the multifunction lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel also
will be on.
Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature allows you to use your high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front of you that you
want to pass. It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not
so far that you hear it click.
If your headlamps are off or on low
-beam, your
high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on
as long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high
-beam indicator on the instrument panel will
come on. Release the lever to turn the high
-beam
headlamps off.

2-48
Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
Pull the tab under the mirror toward you to reduce glare
from headlamps behind you after dark. Push the tab
away from you for normal daytime operation.
Electrochromic Inside Rearview Mirror
with Compass (If Equipped)
When on, an electrochromic mirror 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.

2-49
Mirror Operation
The right button located at the bottom of the mirror turns
the electrochromic mirror on and off. The LED, located
to the right of the button, will come on when the
electrochromic mirror is turned on. To turn the mirror on,
press and hold the MIRROR button for three seconds.
The mirror will darken and remain dark until the button is
released. To turn the mirror off, press and release the
MIRROR button.Compass Operation
Press the COMP switch once briefly to turn the compass
on or off.
When the ignition and the compass feature are on, the
compass will show two character boxes for approximately
two seconds. After two seconds, the mirror will display the
compass heading.
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
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration if:

After five seconds, the display does not show a
compass heading (ªNº for North, for example),
there may be a strong magnetic field interfering with
the compass. Such interference may be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder
or a similar magnetic item.

The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.

2-52
Electrochromic Mirror Operation
The right side of the button, labeled TEMP and located
at the bottom of the mirror, turns the electrochromic
mirror on and off. An indicator light, located to the
right of the TEMP button, will come on when the
electrochromic mirror is turned on. To turn the mirror
on, press and hold the TEMP button for 15 seconds.
To turn the mirror off, press and hold the TEMP button
for 15 seconds. The indicator light will turn off.
Compass Operation
With the ignition on, the compass will show two character
boxes. The mirror will display the compass heading.
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
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration if:

After five seconds, the display does not show a
compass heading (ªNº for North, for example),
there may be a strong magnetic field interfering with
the compass. Such interference may be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder
or a similar magnetic item.

The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.
In order to calibrate, the letter ªCALº must be displayed in
the mirror compass windows. If ªCALº is not displayed,
push in the ªCOMPº button for approximately eight seconds
or until the letter ªCALº is displayed.
The compass can be calibrated in one of two ways:

Drive the vehicle in circles at five mph (8 km/h) or
less until the display reads a direction, or

Drive the vehicle on your everyday routine and after
several turns the compass will become calibrated and
will display a direction.

2-54 Outside Manual Adjust Mirrors
Adjust your outside mirrors so you can just see the side of
your vehicle and have a clear view of objects behind you.
The mirrors can be folded in to enter narrow doorways.
The use of hood
-mounted air deflectors and add-on
convex mirror attachments may adversely affect
mirror performance.
Camper-Type Outside Mirrors (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with camper-type mirrors,
they can be adjusted so you can have a clear view of
objects behind you.
Pull out the mirror head to extend it for better visibility
when towing a trailer.
Electric Outside Rearview Mirrors
(If Equipped)
The control is located on the
driver's door armrest.
Move the upper control to the left or right to choose the
mirror you want to adjust, then press the arrows on the
lower control pad to adjust the mirror.
Heated Outside Rearview Mirrors
(If Equipped)
The outside rearview mirrors with this option feature a
defrost mode.
To turn on the defrost feature, press the rear window
defogger button. See ªRear Window Defoggerº in the
Index for further information.

2-55 Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
Your vehicle has a variety of storage compartments
designed to store small items.
Glove Box
To open your glove box, move the switch toward the
passenger's side and pull the door open.
Cupholders
Your vehicle has cupholders in the middle of the
instrument panel, in the rear armrests and at the back
of the center console for rear passengers.
Center Console Storage Area (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a console compartment between
the bucket seats.
To open it, insert the console key into the lock and
unlock the console. Press the button and swing the
console lid open.

2-57
To use the shade, pull the shade handle toward the rear
of the vehicle. Latch the shade posts into the retaining
sockets on the cargo area trim panels.
To return the shade to the retracted position, pull up on
the shade handle to release the shade posts from the
retaining sockets. Let the shade move forward to the full
retracted position.
To remove the shade from the vehicle, first let the
shade go all the way into the holder. Then, grasping the
passenger's side shade endcap, push the shade endcap
toward the driver's side of the vehicle. The endcap
should lock in the compressed position. Lift the shade
up on the passenger's side, swing the shade rearward
and take it out of the vehicle.
To put the shade in the vehicle, first make sure the shade
slot in the holder faces rearward with the round surface
facing down. Then, hold the shade at an angle and place
the shade holder tab into the slot in the driver's side trim
panel. Move the other end of the shade forward and hold
it next to the passenger's side trim panel slot.Push the button on top of the passenger's side endcap.
This will allow the shade to extend into the trim slot.
Lightly pull on the shade holder to make sure it is
secure. On Suburban/Yukon XL models there are
two slots. The slots furthest forward allow the shade
to be used if the third seat is removed or folded down.
Cargo Tie Downs
There are cargo tie downs in
the rear cargo area that
allow you to strap cargo in
and keep it from moving
inside the vehicle.
When not using the tie downs, flip them down out of
the way.

2-60
To remove the front ashtray, press the retainer spring
and pull the ashtray toward you. To replace the ashtray,
place the ashtray on the slides at the side of its location
in the instrument panel. Then slide the ashtray back to
its original position.
To use the cigarette lighter, push it in all the way, and let
go. When it's ready, it will pop back out by itself.
NOTICE:
Holding a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it's heating can make it overload, damaging
the lighter and the heating element. Just push the
lighter all the way in and let go. When it's done,
it will pop back by itself.
Accessory Power Outlets
Two accessory power outlets are located near the
cigarette lighter. Use these outlets to power mobile
telephones or other devices designed to operate with
vehicle electrical systems.
The cigarette lighter is designed to fit only in the
receptacle to the right of the accessory power outlets.
Power outlets are also located in the rear cargo area on
the passenger side and in the rear of the center floor
compartment (if equipped with rear seat audio). To use
the outlets, remove the cover by lifting the pull tab.
When not in use, always cover the rear outlet with the
protective cap.