2010 GMC Canyon Owners Manual

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See your dealer/retailer. SERV (Service) VEH (Vehicle) This message displays if your vehicle needs service. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer as soon as possible. REDUCED POWER This message displays when the vehicle’s engine power is reduced. Reduced engine power can affect the vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If this message is on, but there is no reduction in performance, proceed to your destination. The performance may be reduced the next time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed while this message is on, but acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime this message stays on, the vehicle should be taken to your dealer/retailer for service as soon as possible. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. SERV (Service) 4WD (Four-Wheel Drive) This message displays when there is a problem with the transfer case control system. Check the transfer case on your vehicle and have it serviced by your dealer/retailer. See Four-Wheel Drive on page 3-25 for more information about the transfer case. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. 4-40 SERVICE CHARG (Charge) SYS (System) This message displays if there is a problem with the battery charging system. Under certain conditions, the battery warning light may also turn on in the instrument panel cluster. See Charging System Light on page 4-24. The battery will not be charging at an optimal rate and the vehicle will lose the ability to enter the fuel economy mode. The vehicle is safe to drive, however have the electrical system checked by your dealer/retailer. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. SERVICE STAB (Stability) SYS (System) This message displays if there is a problem with the StabiliTrak system. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer. See StabiliTrak® System on page 5-6 for more information. STAB (Stability) SYS (System) OFF This message displays when the StabiliTrak system is turned off. See StabiliTrak® System on page 5-6 for more information. TRAC (Traction) OFF This message displays when the Traction Control System (TCS) is turned off by pressing the StabiliTrak button. See StabiliTrak® System on page 5-6 for more information. TRACTION FAULT This message will display if there is a problem with the TCS. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 5-8 for more information. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. TURN SIGNAL This message displays when the turn signal is on for about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of travel. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. 4-41 Notice: Contact your dealer/retailer before adding any equipment. Adding audio or communication equipment could interfere with the operation of the vehicle’s engine, radio, or other systems, and could damage them. Follow federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone equipment. Notice: The chime signals related to safety belts, parking brake, and other functions of your vehicle operate through the radio/entertainment system. If that equipment is replaced or additional equipment is added to your vehicle, the chimes may not work. Make sure that replacement or additional equipment is compatible with your vehicle before installing it. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 6-3. The vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio system can be played even after the ignition is turned off. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 3-18 for more information. Audio System(s) Determine which radio the vehicle has and read the following pages to become familiar with its features. { WARNING: Taking your eyes off the road for extended periods could cause a crash resulting in injury or death to you or others. Do not give extended attention to entertainment tasks while driving. This system provides access to many audio and non audio listings. To minimize taking your eyes off the road while driving, do the following while the vehicle is parked: • Become familiar with the operation and controls of the audio system. • Set up the tone, speaker adjustments, and preset radio stations. For more information, see Defensive Driving on page 5-2. 4-42 Radio(s) Setting the Clock AM-FM Radio Press and hold HR until the correct hour displays. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute displays. There is an initial two-second delay before the clock goes into time-set mode. To display the time with the ignition off, press RCL, HR, or MIN. Radio with CD (MP3/WMA) Press and hold the HR button until the correct hour displays. Press and hold the MIN button until the correct minute displays. The time can be set with the ignition on or off. To synchronize the time with an FM station broadcasting Radio Data System (RDS) information, press and hold the HR and MIN buttons at the same time until RDS TIME displays. To accept this time, press and hold the HR and MIN buttons, at the same time, for another two seconds. If the time is not available from the station, NO UPDAT (update) displays. RDS time is broadcast once a minute. After tuning to an RDS broadcast station, it could take a few minutes for the time to update. AM-FM Radio 4-43 With RDS, the radio can do the following: • Seek to stations broadcasting the selected type of programming. • Receive announcements concerning local and national emergencies. • Display messages from radio stations. • Seek to stations with traffic announcements. This system relies upon receiving speciﬁc information from these stations and only works when the information is available. In rare cases, a radio station could broadcast incorrect information that causes the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station. While the radio is tuned to an RDS station, the station name or call letters display instead of the frequency. RDS stations can also provide the time of day, a program type (PTY) for current programming, and the name of the program being broadcast. Radio with CD (MP3/WMA) Radio Data System (RDS) The audio system has a Radio Data System (RDS). RDS features are available for use only on FM stations that broadcast RDS information. 4-44 Playing the Radio PWR (Power): Press to turn the system on and off. o p VOL/VOLUME: Turn to increase or to decrease the volume. RCL (Recall) (AM-FM Radio): Press to switch the display between the radio station frequency, band, and the time. When the ignition is off, press to display the time. DISPL (Display) (Radio with CD): When the ignition is turned off, press to display the time. For RDS, press the DISPL knob to change what displays while using RDS. The display options are station name, RDS station frequency, PTY (program type), and the name of the program (if available). For XM™ (if equipped), press the DISPL knob while in XM mode to retrieve four different categories of information related to the current song or channel: Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel Number/ Channel Name. To change the default on the display, press the DISPL knob until you see the desired display, then press and hold this knob for two seconds. The radio produces one beep. The selected display is now the default. AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): Automatic volume automatically adjusts the audio system to make up for road and wind noise while driving. Set the volume at the desired level. Depending on the radio and displays, press to select MIN, MED, MAX AUTO VOL, or LOW, MEDIUM, and HIGH. AVOL displays. Each higher setting allows for more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds. Then while driving, automatic volume increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any speed. The volume level should always sound the same while driving. For the Radio with CD, NONE displays if the radio cannot determine the vehicle speed. To turn automatic volume off, press until OFF or AUTO VOL OFF displays. 4-45 q SCAN r: Press and hold for more than two seconds. SCAN or SCN displays and the radio produces one beep. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press either SCAN arrow again, to stop scanning presets. To scan preset stations, press and hold either SCAN arrow for more than four seconds. PSCN or PSC displays and the radio produces one beep or depending on the radio, two beeps. The radio goes to a preset station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next preset station. Press either SCAN arrow again, to stop scanning presets. The radio only scans stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band. Finding a Station AM FM (AM-FM Radio): Press to switch between FM1, FM2, or AM. The selection displays. BAND: Press to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). The selection displays. q r TUNE: Turn to select radio stations. q SEEK r: Press to go to the previous or to the next station and stay there. To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for two seconds until a beep sounds. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning. To scan preset stations, press and hold either arrow for more than four seconds until two beeps sound. The radio goes to the ﬁrst preset station stored on the pushbuttons, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next preset station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning presets. 4-46 Setting Preset Stations If the radio does not have XM, up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM) can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons. If the radio has XM, up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, six AM, six XM1 and six XM2) can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons. To program either radio: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). • For the AM-FM Radio, press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons until the radio beeps once. When that numbered pushbutton is pressed again, the station that was stored, returns. 5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) AUDIO: Push and release until BASS/TREB, or depending on the radio, BASS, MID, or TREB displays. Turn to increase or to decrease. The tone display shows the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or has static, decrease the treble. • For the AM-FM Radio, press and hold the w x arrows to increase or to decrease the tone. To adjust the bass/treble or bass/midrange/treble to the middle position, press and hold the AUDIO knob. The radio produces one beep and adjusts the display level to the middle position. • For the AM-FM Radio, adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select BAS (bass) or TRE (treble). Then press and hold for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. B (balance) and a zero or T (treble) and a zero displays. 4-47 To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or speaker control displays. ALL CENTERED displays and a beep sounds. • For the AM-FM Radio, adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle position, ﬁrst exit out of audio mode by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform that function or wait ﬁve seconds for the display to return to time of day. Then press and hold for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. CEN (center) displays. AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press to select customized equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical. To return to the manual mode, press the AUTO EQ button until CUSTOM displays. Then manually adjust the bass/treble, or bass/midrange/treble by using the AUDIO knob. Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, push and release until BAL (balance) displays. Turn to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. • For the AM-FM Radio, press and hold the w x arrows to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE or depending on the radio, FAD displays. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. • For the AM-FM Radio, press and hold the w x arrows to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. 4-48 To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position, push the AUDIO knob to select BAL or FADE/FAD, then push it again and hold it until one beep sounds. • For the AM-FM Radio, adjust balance or fade to the middle position by selecting BAL or FAD. Press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. B (balance) and a zero or F (fade) and a zero displays. To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED displays and a beep sounds. • For the AM-FM Radio, adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle position by exiting out of audio mode. To do this, press any button for the radio to perform that function or wait ﬁve seconds for the display to return to time of day. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. CEN (center) displays. Fade might not be available if the vehicle is a regular cab model. Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station (RDS and XM) To select and ﬁnd a desired PTY perform the following: 1. Press the P-TYPE to activate program type select mode. P-TYPE or TYPE and a PTY displays. 2. Turn the P-TYPE knob again, to select a PTY. 3. Once the desired PTY displays, press the SEEK / TYPE button to select and to take you to the PTY’s ﬁrst station. 4. To go to another station within that PTY by pressing the SEEK / TYPE button twice to display the PTY and then go to another station. To cancel the seek, press the SEEK / TYPE button. This also exits the program type seek mode and returns to the last tuned station. If both PTY and TRAF (traffic) are on, the radio searches for stations with the selected PTY and traffic announcements. 4-49 If the radio cannot ﬁnd the desired program type, NONE displays and the radio returns to the last tuned station. SCAN: To scan PTYs, press and hold the SEEK / SCAN until a beep sounds. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. BAND (Alternate Frequency): Alternate frequency lets the radio switch to a stronger station with the same program type. To turn alternate frequency on, press and hold BAND for two seconds. AF ON displays. The radio could switch to stations with a stronger frequency. To turn alternate frequency off, press and hold BAND again for two seconds. AF OFF displays. The radio does not switch to other stations. This function does not apply for XM Satellite Radio Service. Setting Preset PTYs (RDS) Only For the Radio with CD player, the six pushbuttons have factory PTY presets. Up to 12 PTYs (six FM1 and six FM2), can be programmed on the numbered pushbuttons. To program PTYs: 1. Press BAND to select FM1 or FM2. 2. Turn the P-TYPE knob to activate program type select mode. TYPE and the last selected PTY displays. 3. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons until a beep sounds. When that numbered pushbutton is pressed, the PTY that was set, returns. 5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. 4-50 RDS Messages ALERT!: For the Radio with CD, the Alert feature warns of local or national emergencies. When an alert announcement comes on the current radio station, ALERT! displays. The announcement is heard, even if the volume is low or a CD is playing. If a CD is playing, play stops during the announcement. Alert announcements cannot be turned off. ALERT! is not affected by tests of the emergency broadcast system. This feature is not supported by all RDS stations. INFO (Information): If the current station has a message, the information symbol or INFO displays. Press this button to see the message. The message can display the artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc. If the entire message is not displayed, parts of the message displays every three seconds. To scroll through the message, press and release the INFO button. A new group of words display after every press of this button. Once the complete message has displayed, the information symbol or INFO disappears from the display until another new message is received. The last message can be displayed by pressing the INFO button. The last message stays on the display until a new message is received or the radio is tuned to a different station. When a message is not available from a station, NO INFO displays. TRAF (Traffic): For the Radio with CD, if TRAF displays, the tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements. When a traffic announcement is broadcast on this station you will hear it. If the station does not broadcast traffic announcements, press the TRAF button and the radio seeks to a station that does. When a station that broadcasts traffic announcements is found, the radio stops seeking and TRAF displays. If no station is found that broadcasts traffic announcements, NO TRAF displays. If TRAF displays, press the TRAF button to turn off the traffic announcements. The radio plays the traffic announcement if the volume is low. The radio interrupts the play of a CD if the last tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements. This function does not apply to XM Satellite Radio Service. 4-51 Radio Messages CAL ERR or CAL (Calibration Error): The audio system has been calibrated for the vehicle from the factory. If CAL or CAL ERR displays it means that the radio has not been conﬁgured properly for the vehicle and it must be returned to your dealer/retailer for service. LOC or LOCKED: This message displays when the THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer. XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM is a satellite radio service that is based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM Satellite Radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. A service fee is required to receive the XM service. For more information, contact XM at xmradio.com or call 1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and xmradio.ca or call 1-877-438-9677 in Canada. Radio Messages for XM Only See XM Radio Messages on page 4-60 later in this section for further detail. Playing a CD (Radio with Single CD Player) Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in, and READING displays. The CD should begin playing. To insert a CD with the ignition off, ﬁrst press the Z (eject) button or the DISPL knob. If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. When the CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays. The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner. 4-52 Care of Your CDs If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. Handle them carefully. Store CD-R(s) in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the bottom surface of the disc. If the surface of a CD is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD does not play properly or not at all. Do not touch the bottom side of a CD while handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process starts from the center to the edge. Care of Your CD Player Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD with a marking pen. The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD player mechanism. Notice: CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an attempt is made to play scratched or damaged CDs, the CD player could be damaged. While using the CD player, use only CDs in good condition without any label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player and the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and debris. If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in this section. If a label is added to a CD, or more than one 4-53 1 FLD x (Previous): This button is inactive when playing a CD. 2 FLD w (Next): This button is inactive when playing a CD. 3 REV (Fast Reverse): Press and hold to reverse quickly within a track. Press and hold for less than two seconds to reverse at 10 times the normal playing speed. Press and hold for more than two seconds to reverse at 20 times the normal playing speed. Release to play the passage. ET (elapsed time) and the elapsed time of the track displays. 4 FWD (Fast Forward): Press and hold to advance quickly within a track. Press and hold for less than two seconds to advance at six times the normal playing speed. Press and hold for more than two seconds to advance at 17 times the normal playing speed. Release to play the passage. ET and the elapsed time of the track displays. 6 RDM (Random): Press to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM ON displays. RDM and the track number displays when each track starts to play. Press again to turn off random play. RDM OFF displays. 4-54 q SEEK r: Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current or the previous track. Press the right arrow to go to the start of the next track. Pressing either arrow for more than two seconds scans the next tracks, playing the ﬁrst eight seconds of each track until all of the tracks have been previewed. Press either arrow again to stop scanning and to play the track. o TUNE p: Turning this knob fast tracks reverse or advances through tracks. The track number displays for each track. DISPL (Display): Press to see how long the current track has been playing. ET and the elapsed time of the track displays. To change the default on the display (track or elapsed time), press until you see the desired display, then press and hold for two seconds. The radio produces one beep. The selected display is now the default. BAND: Press to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD remains inside the radio for future listening. CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press to play a CD when listening to the radio. The CD symbol displays when a CD is loaded. Z (Eject): Press to eject a CD. Eject can be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs can be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed ﬁrst. Playing an MP3/WMA CD-R Disc Radios with the MP3/WMA feature are capable of playing an MP3/WMA CD-R disc. For more information on how to play an MP3/WMA CD-R disc, see Using an MP3 on page 4-56 later in this section. CD Messages CHECK CD: If this message displays and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons: • It is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play. • You are driving on a very rough road. When the road becomes smoother, the CD should play. • The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. • The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again. • The format of the CD might not be compatible. See Using an MP3 on page 4-56 later in this section. • There could have been a problem while burning the CD. • The label could be caught in the CD player. If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer/retailer when reporting the problem. 4-55 Using an MP3 MP3/WMA CD-R Disc MP3/WMA Format If you burn your own MP3/WMA disc on a personal computer: • Make sure the MP3/WMA ﬁles are recorded on a CD-R disc. • Make sure playlists have a .mp3 or .wpl extension, other ﬁle extensions might not work. • Files can be recorded with a variety of ﬁxed or variable bit rates. Song title, artist name, and album are displayed by the radio when recorded using ID3 tags version 1 and 2. • Create a folder structure that makes it easy to ﬁnd songs while driving. Organize songs by albums using one folder for each album. Each folder or album should contain 18 songs or less. • Make sure to ﬁnalize the disc when burning an MP3/WMA disc, using multiple sessions. It is usually better to burn the disc all at once. The player is able to read and play a maximum of 253 folders, 50 playlists, 20 sessions, and 949 ﬁles. Long ﬁle names, folder names, or playlist names may use more disc memory space than necessary. 4-56 To conserve space on the disc, minimize the length of the ﬁle, folder, or playlist names. An MP3/WMA CD-R that was recorded using no ﬁle folders. The system can support up to 11 folders in depth, though, keep the depth of the folders to a minimum in order to keep down the complexity and confusion in trying to locate a particular folder during playback. If a CD contains more than the maximum of 253 folders, 50 playlists, 20 sessions, and 949 ﬁles, the player lets you access and navigate up to the maximum, but all items over the maximum are played. Root Directory The root directory is treated as a folder. If the root directory has compressed audio ﬁles, the directory displays as F1 ROOT. All ﬁles contained directly under the root directory are accessed prior to any root directory folders. However, playlists (Px) are always accessed before root folders or ﬁles. Empty Directory or Folder If a root directory or a folder exists somewhere in the ﬁle structure that contains only folders/subfolders and no compressed ﬁles directly beneath them, the player advances to the next folder in the ﬁle structure that contains compressed audio ﬁles. The empty folder does not display. No Folder When the CD contains only compressed ﬁles, the ﬁles are located under the root folder. The next and previous folder functions have no function on a CD that was recorded without folders or playlists. When displaying the name of the folder the radio displays ROOT. When the CD contains only playlists and compressed audio ﬁles, but no folders, all ﬁles are located under the root folder. The folder down and the folder up buttons search playlists (Px) ﬁrst and then go to the root folder. When the radio displays the name of the folder, the radio displays ROOT. Order of Play Tracks are played in the following order: • Play begins from the ﬁrst track in the ﬁrst playlist and continues sequentially through all tracks in each playlist. When the last track of the last playlist has played, play continues from the ﬁrst track of the ﬁrst playlist. • If the CD does not contain any playlists, then play begins from the ﬁrst track under the root directory. When all tracks from the root directory have played, play continues from ﬁles according to their numerical listing. After playing the last track from the last folder, play begins again at the ﬁrst track of the ﬁrst folder or root directory. When play enters a new folder, the display does not automatically show the new folder name unless you have chosen the folder mode as the default display. See DISPL (display) later in this section for more information. The new track name displays. File System and Naming The song name that displays is the song name that is contained in the ID3 tag. If the song name is not present in the ID3 tag, then the radio displays the ﬁle name without the extension (such as .mp3) as the track name. Track names longer than 32 characters or four pages are shortened. Parts of words on the last page of text and the extension of the ﬁlename does not display. Preprogrammed Playlists Preprogrammed playlists which were created by WinAmp™, MusicMatch™, or Real Jukebox™ software can be accessed, however, they cannot be edited. These playlists are treated as special folders containing compressed audio song ﬁles. 4-57 Playing an MP3/WMA Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in, and READING displays. The CD should begin playing and the CD symbol displays. If you want to insert a CD with the ignition off, ﬁrst press the Z button or the DISPL knob. If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays. 1 FLD x (Previous Folder): Press this button to go to the ﬁrst track in the previous folder. Pressing this button while in folder random mode takes you to the previous folder and plays the tracks in random order in that folder. 2 FLD w (Next Folder): Press this button to go to the ﬁrst track in the next folder. Pressing this button while in folder random mode takes the CD to the next folder and plays the tracks in random order in that folder. 3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this button to reverse quickly within a track. Press and hold this button for less than two seconds to reverse at 10 times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for more than two seconds to reverse at 20 times the normal playing speed. Release this button to play the passage. REV and the elapsed time of the track displays. 4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this button to advance quickly within a track. Press and hold this button for less than two seconds to advance at 10 times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for more than two seconds to advance at 20 times the normal playing speed. Release this button to play the passage. FWD and the elapsed time of the track displays. 6 RDM (Random): To play the tracks in random order in the current folder or playlist, press and release this button. FLDR RDM (folder random) displays. Once all of the tracks in the current folder or playlist have played, the system moves to the next folder or playlist and plays all of the tracks in random order. 4-58 To play all the tracks in random order on the CD, press and hold this button for two seconds. A beep sounds and DISC RDM (disc random) displays. This feature does not work with playlists. When in random, pressing and releasing either SEEK arrow takes the CD to the previous or to the next random track. Press and release this button again to turn off random play. NO RDM (no random) displays. q SEEK r: Press the left SEEK arrow to go to the start of the previous track. Press the right SEEK arrow to go to the start of the next track. Pressing either SEEK arrow for more than two seconds searches the previous or next tracks at two tracks per second. Release the button to stop searching and to play the track. o TUNE p: Turning this knob fast tracks reverse or advances through the tracks in all folders or playlists. The track number and ﬁle name displays for each track. Turning this knob while in random fast tracks reverse or advances the tracks in sequential order. DISPL (Display): Press this knob to switch between track mode, folder/playlist mode, and time of day mode. The display shows only eight characters, but there can be up to four pages of text. If there are more than eight characters in the song, folder, or playlist name, pressing this knob within two seconds takes you to the next page of text. If there are no other pages to be shown, pressing this knob within two seconds takes you to the next display mode. • Track mode displays the current track number and the ID3 tag song name. • Folder/playlist mode displays the current folder or playlist number and the folder/playlist name. • Time of day mode displays the time of day and the ID3 tag song name. To change the default on the display, press the DISPL knob until you see the desired display, then press and hold this knob for two seconds. The radio produces one beep and the selected display is now the default. INFO (Information): INFO displays when a current track has ID3 tag information. Press this button to display the artist name and album contained in the tag. INFO disappears from the display when the information in the ID3 tag has ﬁnished being read. 4-59 BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD remains inside the radio for future listening. Loading: The radio system is acquiring and processing audio and text data. No action is needed. This message should disappear shortly. CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. The CD symbol illuminates on the display when a CD is loaded. Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject can activate while either the ignition or radio is off. CDs can be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed ﬁrst. XM Radio Messages XL (Explicit Language Channels): These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696). Updating: The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds. No Signl: The system is functioning correctly, but the vehicle is in a location that is blocking the XM signal. When the vehicle is moved into an open area, the signal should return. Off Air: This channel is not currently in service. Tune to another channel. CH Unavl: This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned. Tune to another station. If this station was one of the presets, choose another station for that preset button. Unauth: This channel is blocked or cannot be received with your XM Subscription package. No Info: No artist, song title, category, or text information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. NotFound: No artist, song title, category, or text information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. XM Lock: The XM receiver in your vehicle could have previously been in another vehicle. For security purposes, XM receivers cannot be swapped between vehicles. If this message is received after having your vehicle serviced, check with your dealer/retailer. 4-60 Radio ID: If this message is received when tuned to channel 0, there could be a receiver fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer. Unknown: If this message is received when tuned to channel 0, there could be a receiver fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer. Check XM: If this message does not clear within a short period of time, the receiver could have a fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer. Theft-Deterrent Feature Non-RDS Radios THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of your vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically by learning a portion of the Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it does not operate and LOC displays. With THEFTLOCK® activated, the radio does not operate if stolen. RDS Radios THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of your vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically by learning a portion of the Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it does not operate and LOCKED displays. When the radio and vehicle are turned off, the blinking red light indicates that THEFTLOCK® is armed. With THEFTLOCK® activated, the radio does not operate if stolen. Radio Reception Frequency interference and static can occur during normal radio reception if items such as cell phone chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and external electronic devices are plugged into the accessory power outlet. If there is interference or static, unplug the item from the accessory power outlet. 4-61 AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause station frequencies to interfere with each other. For better radio reception, most AM radio stations boost the power levels during the day, and then reduce these levels during the night. Static can also occur when things like storms and power lines interfere with radio reception. When this happens, try reducing the treble on the radio. FM Stereo FM signals only reach about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Although the radio has a built-in electronic circuit that automatically works to reduce interference, some static can occur, especially around tall buildings or hills, causing the sound to fade in and out. XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. In addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage, bridges, garages, or tunnels may cause loss of the XM signal for a period of time. Cellular Phone Usage Cellular phone usage may cause interference with the vehicle’s radio. This interference may occur when making or receiving phone calls, charging the phone’s battery, or simply having the phone on. This interference causes an increased level of static while listening to the radio. If static is received while listening to the radio, unplug the cellular phone and turn it off. 4-62 Fixed Mast Antenna The ﬁxed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged as long as it is securely attached to the base. If the mast becomes slightly bent, straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it. Occasionally check to make sure the antenna is tightened to its base. If tightening is required, tighten by hand until fully seated plus one quarter turn. XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System The XM Satellite Radio antenna is located on the roof of the vehicle. Keep the antenna clear of obstructions for clear radio reception. If the vehicle has a sunroof, the performance of the XM system may be affected if the sunroof is open. Chime Level Adjustment The radio is used to adjust the vehicle’s chime level. To change the volume level of the chime, press and hold pushbutton 6 with the ignition on and the radio power off. The volume level will change from the normal level to loud, and LOUD will appear on the radio display. To change back to the default or normal setting, press and hold pushbutton 6 again. The volume level will change from the loud level to normal, and NORMAL will appear on the radio display. Each time the chime volume is changed, three chimes will sound to indicate the new volume selected. Removing the radio and not replacing it with a factory radio or chime module will disable vehicle chimes. 4-63 ✍ NOTES 4-64 Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle ............5-2 Defensive Driving ...........................................5-2 Drunk Driving .................................................5-2 Control of a Vehicle ........................................5-3 Braking .........................................................5-3 Antilock Brake System (ABS) ...........................5-5 Braking in Emergencies ...................................5-5 StabiliTrak® System ........................................5-6 Traction Control System (TCS) .........................5-8 Limited-Slip Rear Axle .....................................5-9 Steering ........................................................5-9 Off-Road Recovery .......................................5-11 Passing .......................................................5-11 Loss of Control .............................................5-12 Off-Road Driving ...........................................5-13 Driving at Night ............................................5-25 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ..................5-26 Before Leaving on a Long Trip .......................5-27 Highway Hypnosis ........................................5-27 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................5-28 Winter Driving ..............................................5-29 If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .............................................5-31 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out .................5-32 Recovery Hooks ...........................................5-32 Loading the Vehicle ......................................5-33 Truck-Camper Loading Information ..................5-40 Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab ..................5-40 Towing ..........................................................5-41 Towing Your Vehicle .....................................5-41 Recreational Vehicle Towing ...........................5-41 Towing a Trailer ...........................................5-48 Trailer Recommendations ...............................5-60 5-1 Drunk Driving { WARNING: Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reﬂexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. Do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a driver who will not drink. Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a global tragedy. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and attentiveness. Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle Defensive Driving Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The ﬁrst step in driving defensively is to wear your safety belt — See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 2-13. { WARNING: Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do and be ready. In addition: • Allow enough following distance between you and the driver in front of you. • Focus on the task of driving. Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in injury or possible death. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life. 5-2 Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured. For persons under 21, it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological, and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking. Control of a Vehicle The following three systems help to control the vehicle while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the vehicle. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect vehicle performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 6-3. Braking See Brake System Warning Light on page 4-25. Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is reaction time. 5-3 Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a second. But that is 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 three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 feet). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between the vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lot of heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic and allowing realistic following distances eliminates a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder to push down. If the engine stops, there will still be some power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect vehicle performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 6-3. 5-4 Antilock Brake System (ABS) This vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that helps prevent a braking skid. When the engine is started and the vehicle begins to drive away, ABS checks itself. A momentary motor or clicking noise might be heard while this test is going on. This is normal. If there is a problem with the ABS, this warning light stays on. See Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light on page 4-26. Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what happens with ABS: A computer senses that the wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at both rear wheels. ABS can change the brake pressure to each wheel, as required, faster than any driver could. This can help the driver steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As the brakes are applied, the computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. Remember: ABS does not change the time needed to get a foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, there will not be enough time to apply the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even with ABS. Using ABS Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down ﬁrmly and let antilock work. The brakes might vibrate or some noise might be heard, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies ABS allows the driver to steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help more than even the very best braking. 5-5 Brake Assist This vehicle has a Brake Assist feature designed to assist the driver in stopping or decreasing vehicle speed in emergency driving conditions. This feature uses the stability system hydraulic brake control module to supplement the power brake system under conditions where the driver has quickly and forcefully applied the brake pedal in an attempt to quickly stop or slow down the vehicle. The stability system hydraulic brake control module increases brake pressure at each corner of the vehicle until the ABS activates. Minor brake pedal pulsations or pedal movement during this time is normal and the driver should continue to apply the brake pedal as the driving situation dictates The Brake Assist feature will automatically disengage when the brake pedal is released or brake pedal pressure is quickly decreased. StabiliTrak® System The vehicle has an electronic stability control system called StabiliTrak. It is an advanced computer controlled system that assists the driver with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions. StabiliTrak activates when the computer senses a discrepancy between the intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak selectively applies braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s brakes to assist the driver with keeping the vehicle on the intended path. When the vehicle is started and begins to move, the system performs several diagnostic checks to insure there are no problems. The system may be heard or felt while it is working. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with the vehicle. The system should initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h). In some cases, it may take approximately two miles of driving before the system initializes. If cruise control is being used when StabiliTrak activates, the cruise control automatically disengages. The cruise control can be re-engaged when road conditions allow. See Cruise Control on page 4-7. If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak, a SERVICE STAB SYS message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC). See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-37 for more information. When this message is displayed, the system is not working. Adjust your driving accordingly. 5-6 StabiliTrak and Traction Control (TCS) come on automatically whenever the vehicle is started and the systems are reset with each ignition cycle. However, when the transfer case is placed in Four-Wheel-Low mode, StabiliTrak is automatically disabled. See Four-Wheel Drive on page 3-25 for more information. It is recommended to leave the system on for normal driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn the TCS portion of the system off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow, and it is necessary to “rock” the vehicle to attempt to free it. If traction control is turned off, only the brake-traction control portion of traction control will work. The engine speed management will be disabled. In this mode, engine power is not reduced automatically and the drive wheels can spin more freely. This can cause the brake-traction control to activate constantly. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 5-31. The StabiliTrak/TCS light will ﬂash on the instrument panel cluster when the TCS system or StabiliTrak is both on and activated. The StabiliTrak/TCS button is located on the instrument panel. To turn off TCS, press and release the StabiliTrak/TCS button. The StabiliTrak/TCS light comes on in the instrument panel cluster, and TRAC OFF comes on the DIC. To turn TCS back on, press and release the StabiliTrak/TCS button. To turn off TCS and StabiliTrak, press and hold the StabiliTrak/TCS button until the TRAC OFF and STAB SYS OFF messages come on the DIC and the StabiliTrak/TCS light comes on the instrument panel. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak back on, press and release the StabiliTrak/TCS button. When the TCS or StabiliTrak system is turned off, the StabiliTrak/TCS light and the appropriate TRAC OFF or STAB SYS OFF message will be displayed on the DIC. The vehicle will still have brake-traction control when TCS or StabiliTrak is off, but will not be able to use the engine speed management system. The StabiliTrak/TCS light ﬂashes when either system is actively working. See Traction Control Operation following for more information. 5-7 Traction Control System (TCS) The Traction Control System (TCS) is part of StabiliTrak. TCS limits wheel slip which is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that any of the wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, TCS applies the brakes to limit wheel spin and also reduces engine power. The system may be heard or felt while it is working. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with the vehicle. Notice: spin excessively while the StabiliTrak, ABS and brake warning lights and any relevant DIC messages are displayed, the transfer case could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Reduce engine power and do not spin the wheel(s) excessively while these lights and messages are displayed. TCS can operate on dry roads under some conditions. When this happens, the system may be heard working or a reduction in acceleration may be noticed. If the wheel(s) of one axle is allowed to This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with the vehicle. Examples of these conditions include hard acceleration in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of the transmission or driving on rough roads. If cruise control is being used when TCS begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control automatically disengages. The cruise control can be re-engaged when road conditions allow. See Cruise Control on page 4-7. The message TRACTION FAULT appears in the Driver Information Center (DIC) when a TCS or Antilock Brake System (ABS) problem has been detected and the vehicle needs service. When this message is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-37. The StabiliTrak/TCS light will ﬂash on the instrument panel cluster when the TCS system or StabiliTrak is both on and activated. 5-8 The StabiliTrak/TCS button is located on the instrument panel. To turn off TCS, press and release the StabiliTrak/TCS button. The StabiliTrak/TCS light comes on in the instrument panel cluster, and TRAC OFF comes on the DIC. To turn TCS back on, press and release the StabiliTrak/TCS button. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect the vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 6-3. Limited-Slip Rear Axle Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle can give more traction on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the time, but when traction is low, this feature allows the drive wheel with the most traction to move the vehicle. Steering Power Steering If power steering assist is lost because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, the vehicle can be steered but it will take more effort. Steering Tips It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is the one factor that can be controlled. If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before entering the curve, while the front wheels are straight. Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. 5-9 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. These problems can be avoided by braking — if you can stop in time. But sometimes you cannot stop in time because there is no room. That is the time for evasive action — steering around the problem. The vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply the brakes. See Braking on page 5-3. It is better to remove as much speed as possible from a collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. 5-10 An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, it can be turned 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. Off-Road Recovery The vehicle’s right wheels can drop off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while 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 the vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. Turn the steering wheel 8 to 13 cm, 3 to 5 inches, (about one-eighth turn) until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. Passing Passing another vehicle on a two-lane road can be dangerous. To reduce the risk of danger while passing: • Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect a successful pass. If in doubt, wait. • Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines that could indicate a turn or an intersection. Never cross a solid or double-solid line on your side of the lane. • Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass. Doing so can reduce your visibility. • Wait your turn to pass a slow vehicle. • When you are being passed, ease to the right. 5-11 Loss of Control Let us review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems — brakes, steering, and acceleration — do not have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. Remember: StabiliTrak® assists the driver with directional control. See StabiliTrak® System on page 5-6. If the StabiliTrak® System is off, then a steering or cornering skid will need to be handled entirely by the driver using counter steering techniques and an acceleration skid will be best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. If the 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, the 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, 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 reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until the 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 Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. 5-12 Off-Road Driving Vehicles with four-wheel drive can be used for off-road driving. Vehicles without four-wheel drive should not be driven off-road except on a level, solid surface. The airbag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Always wear your safety belt and observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road and this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special alertness and driving skills, your reﬂexes, perceptions, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a serious — or even fatal — accident if you drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Off-roading can be great fun but has some deﬁnite hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. When off-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves are not banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill. Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers. Failure to operate the vehicle correctly off-road could result in loss of vehicle control or vehicle rollover. Off-roading involves some new skills. That is why it is very important that you read these driving tips and suggestions to help make off-road driving safer and more enjoyable. Before You Go Off-Roading • Have all necessary maintenance and service work done. • Make sure there is enough fuel, that ﬂuid levels are where they should be, and that the spare tire is fully inﬂated. • Be sure to read all the information about four-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual. • Make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle has them, are properly attached. • Know the local laws that apply to off-roading where you will be driving or check with law enforcement people in the area. • Be sure to get the necessary permission if you will be on private land. 5-13 Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving WARNING: (Continued) • Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle’s center of gravity, making it more likely to roll over. You can be seriously or fatally injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof. Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward and low as possible. There are some important things to remember about how to load your vehicle. • The heaviest things should be on the ﬂoor, forward of the rear axle. Put heavier items as far forward as you can. • Be sure the load is properly secured, so things are not tossed around. You will ﬁnd other important information under Loading the Vehicle on page 5-33 and Tires on page 6-57. { WARNING: • Cargo on the load ﬂoor piled higher than the seatbacks can be thrown forward during a sudden stop. You or your passengers could be injured. Keep cargo below the top of the seatbacks. • Unsecured cargo on the load ﬂoor can be tossed about when driving over rough terrain. You or your passengers can be struck by ﬂying objects. Secure the cargo properly. WARNING: (Continued) 5-14 Environmental Concerns Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfying recreation. However, it also raises environmental concerns. We recognize these concerns and urge every off-roader to follow these basic rules for protecting the environment: • Always use established trails, roads, and areas that have been specially set aside for public off-road recreational driving and obey all posted regulations. • Avoid any driving practice that could damage shrubs, ﬂowers, trees, or grasses or disturb wildlife. This includes wheel-spinning, breaking down trees, or unnecessary driving through streams or over soft ground. • Always carry a litter bag and make sure all refuse is removed from any campsite before leaving. • Take extreme care with open ﬁres (where permitted), camp stoves, and lanterns. • Never park your vehicle over dry grass or other combustible materials that could catch ﬁre from the heat of the vehicle’s exhaust system. Traveling to Remote Areas It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going to a remote area. Know the terrain and plan your route. Get accurate maps of trails and terrain. Check to see if there are any blocked or closed roads. It is also a good idea to travel with at least one other vehicle in case something happens to one of them. For vehicles with a winch, be sure to read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch can be handy if you get stuck but you will want to know how to use it properly. Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-roading requires some new and different skills. Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. Use your arms, hands, feet, and body to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce. 5-15 Controlling the vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of the best ways to control the vehicle is to control the speed. At higher speeds: • You approach things faster and have less time to react. • There is less time to scan the terrain for obstacles. • The vehicle has more bounce when driving over obstacles. • More braking distance is needed, especially on an unpaved surface. { WARNING: When you are driving off-road, bouncing and quick changes in direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you to lose control and crash. So, whether you are driving on or off the road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts. Scanning the Terrain Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. Be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Surface Conditions: Off-roading surfaces can be hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow, or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the vehicle’s steering, acceleration, and braking in different ways. Depending on the surface, slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer braking distances can occur. Surface Obstacles: Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can startle you if you are not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow, or even the rise and fall of the terrain itself. 5-16 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? • Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction quickly? When driving 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. When driving over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, the wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you cannot control the vehicle as well or at all. Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is especially important to avoid sudden acceleration, sudden turns, or sudden braking. Off-roading requires a different kind of alertness from driving on paved roads and highways. There are no road signs, posted speed limits, or signal lights. Use good judgment about what is safe and what is not. Driving on Hills Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what the vehicle can and cannot do. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven, no matter how well built the vehicle. { WARNING: Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive down them, you cannot control your speed. If you drive across them, you will roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness, do not drive the hill. 5-17 Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, decide if it is too steep to climb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, but you might not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs. Consider this as you approach a hill: • Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in places? • Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire slipping? • Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you will not have to make turning maneuvers? • Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts? • What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way to ﬁnd out. • Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion. 5-18 Driving Uphill Once you decide it is safe to drive up the hill: • Use a low gear and get a ﬁrm grip on the steering wheel. • Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain speed. Not using more power than needed can avoid spinning the wheels or sliding. { WARNING: Turning or driving across steep hills can be dangerous. You could lose traction, slide sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills, always try to go straight up. • Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to ﬁnd another route. • Ease up on the speed as you approach the top of the hill. • Attach a ﬂag to the vehicle to be more visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills. • Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to let opposing traffic know you are there. • Use headlamps even during the day to make the vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic. { WARNING: Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can cause an accident. There could be a drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You could be seriously injured or killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert. If the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannot make it up the hill: • Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it from rolling backwards and apply the parking brake. • If the engine is still running, shift the transmission to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill in R (Reverse). • If the engine has stopped running, you need to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed and the parking brake still applied, shift the automatic transmission to P (Park) or the manual transmission to Neutral and restart the engine. Then, shift to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in R (Reverse). • While backing down the hill, put your left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position so you can tell if the wheels are straight and can maneuver as you back down. It is best to back down the hill with the wheels straight rather than in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or right will increase the possibility of a rollover. 5-19 { WARNING: Shifting the transfer case to Neutral can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in P (Park). This is because the Neutral position on the transfer case overrides the transmission. You or someone else could be injured. If you are going to leave your vehicle, set the parking brake and shift the transmission to P (Park). But do not shift the transfer case to Neutral. Things not to do if the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, when going up a hill: • Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into N (Neutral), or pressing the clutch pedal if the vehicle has a manual transmission, to rev-up the engine and regain forward momentum. This will not work. The vehicle can roll backward very quickly and could go out of control. • Never try to turn around if about to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep enough to stall the vehicle, it is steep enough to cause it to roll over. If you cannot make it up the hill, back straight down the hill. If, after stalling, you try to back down the hill and decide you just cannot do it, set the parking brake, shift to P (Park) or 1 (First) with a manual transmission, and turn off the engine. Leave the vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphill side and stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled downhill. Do not shift the transfer case to Neutral when you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear. 5-20 Driving Downhill When off-roading takes you downhill, consider: • How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain vehicle control? • What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel? • Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders? • What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks? If you decide you can go down a hill safely, try to keep the vehicle headed straight down. Use a low gear so engine drag can help the brakes so they do not have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping the vehicle under control at all times. { WARNING: Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This could cause loss of control and a serious accident. Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under control. Things not to do when driving down a hill: • When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too steep to drive down might be too steep to drive across. The vehicle could roll over. • Never go downhill with the transmission in N (Neutral), called free-wheeling. The brakes will have to do all the work and could overheat and fade. Vehicles are much more likely to stall when going uphill, but if it happens when going downhill: 1. Stop the vehicle by applying the regular brakes and apply the parking brake. 2. Shift to P (Park) and, while still braking, restart the engine. 3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake, and drive straight down. 4. If the engine will not start, get out and get help. 5-21 Driving Across an Incline An off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a hill. To decide whether to try to drive across the incline, consider the following: { WARNING: Driving across an incline that is too steep will make your vehicle roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness of the incline, do not drive across it. Find another route instead. • A hill that can be driven straight up or down might be too steep to drive across. When going straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel base — the distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels — reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end. But when driving across an incline, the narrower track width — the distance between the left and right wheels — might not prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over. Driving across an incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels which could cause a downhill slide or a rollover. • Surface conditions can be a problem. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass can cause the tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that will trip it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over. • Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into a rut or depression, the vehicle can tilt even more. For these reasons, carefully consider whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because the trail goes across the incline does not mean you have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over. If you feel the vehicle starting to slide sideways, turn downhill. This should help straighten out the vehicle and prevent the side slipping. The best way to prevent this is to “walk the course” ﬁrst, so you know what the surface is like before driving it. 5-22 Stalling on an Incline { WARNING: Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle stopped across an incline is dangerous. If the vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed or killed. Always get out on the uphill (high) side of the vehicle and stay well clear of the rollover path. If the vehicle stalls when crossing an incline, be sure you, and any passengers, get out on the uphill side, even if the door there is harder to open. If you get out on the downhill side and the vehicle starts to roll over, you will be right in its path. If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the path the vehicle will take if it does roll over. Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, the wheels do not get good traction. Acceleration is not as quick, turning is more difficult, and braking distances are longer. It is best to use a low gear when in mud — the deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud, keep the vehicle moving so it does not get stuck. When driving on sand, wheel traction changes. On loosely packed sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes, the tires will tend to sink into the sand. This affects steering, accelerating, and braking. Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction. On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you will have difficulty accelerating. And, if the vehicle does get moving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause it to slide out of control. { WARNING: Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can be dangerous. Underwater 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. 5-23 Driving in Water { WARNING: Driving through rushing water can be dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream and you and your passengers could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can still wash away the ground from under your tires, and you could lose traction and roll the vehicle over. Do not drive through rushing water. Heavy rain can mean ﬂash ﬂooding, and ﬂood waters demand extreme caution. Find out how deep the water is before driving through it. Do not try it if it is deep enough to cover the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe — you probably will not get through. Deep water can damage the axle and other vehicle parts. If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it. At faster speeds, water splashes on the ignition system and the vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get the tailpipe under water. If the tailpipe is under water, you will never be able to start the engine. When going through water, remember that when the brakes get wet, it might take longer to stop. See Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 5-26. After Off-Road Driving Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These accumulations can be a ﬁre hazard. After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings cleaned and checked. These substances can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system for damage and check the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage. The vehicle requires more frequent service due to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for additional information. 5-24 Driving at Night Night driving is more dangerous than day driving because some drivers are likely to be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Night driving tips include: • Drive defensively. • Do not drink and drive. • Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside rearview mirror. • Slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles because headlamps can only light up so much road ahead. • Watch for animals. • When tired, pull off the road. • Do not wear sunglasses. • Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps. • Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicle clean — inside and out. • Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or curves. No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But, as we get older, these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. 5-25 Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under your vehicle’s tires so they actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet. Other Rainy Weather Tips Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips include: • Allow extra following distance. • Pass with caution. • Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape. • Keep the windshield washer ﬂuid reservoir ﬁlled. • Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires on page 6-57. • Turn off cruise control. Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive slower in these types of driving conditions and avoid driving through large puddles and deep-standing or ﬂowing water. { WARNING: Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not work as well in a quick stop and could cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal until the brakes work normally. Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. Driving through ﬂowing water could cause your vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore police warnings and be very cautious about trying to drive through ﬂowing water. 5-26 Before Leaving on a Long Trip To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider having it serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing. Things to check on your own include: • Windshield Washer Fluid: Reservoir full? Windows clean — inside and outside? • Wiper Blades: In good shape? • Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: All levels checked? • Lamps: Do they all work and are lenses clean? • Tires: Are treads good? Are tires inﬂated to recommended pressure? • Weather and Maps: Safe to travel? Have up-to-date maps? Highway Hypnosis Always be alert and pay attention to your surroundings while driving. If you become tired or sleepy, ﬁnd a safe place to park your vehicle and rest. Other driving tips include: • Keep the vehicle well ventilated. • Keep interior temperature cool. • Keep your eyes moving — scan the road ahead and to the sides. • Check the rearview mirror and vehicle instruments often. 5-27 Hill and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on ﬂat or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in these conditions include: • Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape. • Check all ﬂuid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission. • Going down steep or long hills, shift to a lower gear. { WARNING: If you do not shift down, the brakes could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let the engine assist the brakes on a steep downhill slope. { WARNING: Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down and they could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have the engine running and the vehicle in gear when going downhill. • Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. • Top of hills: Be alert — something could be in your lane (stalled car, accident). • Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks area, winding roads, long grades, passing or no-passing zones) and take appropriate action. See Off-Road Driving on page 5-13 for information about driving off-road. 5-28 Winter Driving Driving on Snow or Ice Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be treated with salt or sand. Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under the tires slick, so there is even less traction. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. The StabiliTrak® System on page 5-6 improves the ability to accelerate on slippery roads, but slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions. When driving through deep snow, it might be beneﬁcial to turn off the traction control part of the StabiliTrak® System to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds. Once beyond the deep snow, push the StabiliTrak® button again to turn traction control back on. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 5-5 improves vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads, but apply the brakes sooner than when on dry pavement. Allow greater following distance on any slippery road and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering maneuvers and braking while on ice. Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces. 5-29 Blizzard Conditions Being stuck in snow can be in a serious situation. Stay with the vehicle unless there is help nearby. If possible, use the Roadside Assistance Program on page 8-7. To get help and keep everyone in the vehicle safe: • Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers on page 4-3. • Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror. { WARNING: Snow can trap engine exhaust under the vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to get inside. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If the vehicle is stuck in the snow: • Clear away snow from around the base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking the exhaust pipe. • Check again from time to time to be sure snow does not collect there. WARNING: (Continued) 5-30 WARNING: (Continued) • Open a window about 5 cm (two inches) on the side of the vehicle that is away from the wind to bring in fresh air. • Fully open the air outlets on or under the instrument panel. • Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting that circulates the air inside the vehicle and set the fan speed to the highest setting. See Climate Control System in the Index. For more information about carbon monoxide, see Engine Exhaust on page 3-34. Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it or smell it, so you might not know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking the exhaust. Run the engine for short periods only as needed to keep warm, but be careful. To save fuel, run the engine for only short periods as needed to warm the vehicle and then shut the engine off and close the window most of the way to save heat. Repeat this until help arrives but only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. Moving about to keep warm also helps. If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and then when you run the engine, push the accelerator pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than the idle speed. This keeps the battery charged to restart

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2010 GMC Canyon Owners Manual